Home / South County / Sweet Success: McCloud’s Apple Harvest Festival Draws Record Crowd

Sweet Success: McCloud’s Apple Harvest Festival Draws Record Crowd

October 13, 2025 9:04 pm

Post Views: 465

The weather worked out well for a break during the week of rainstorms to draw a record-breaking crowd to McCloud’s Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 11th.

It was only half way through the six hour festival, and already the face painting booth designed over 40 young faces.

Last year, over 6,000 people attended this annual event, which was very impressive. But this year, the McCloud Chamber announced that over 8,000 people were on Main Street enjoying the 141 vendor booths, along with the 9 different food vendors, and all the annual activities geared for young and old.

Children picking out their pumpkins to take home at the Pumpkin Patch which was quite popular.

The Chamber made room for the huge draw they expected from well-known local singer and performer Summer Schappell, who performed on stage with the group called Front Porch. Years ago, even Gwen Stefani was so impressed when coaching Schappell that she had her join her team. In 2015, Schappell performed on The Voice, and from 2012 to 2015 she released four popular singles.

Every seat was filled when performer Summer Schappell with the band Front Porch hit the stage.

People flocked around the apple press wanting to taste the ‘real stuff’ that the McCloud Garden Club provided. They also offered hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies for free in front of the McCloud Heritage Museum for those who needed a boost during the day. For the more mature connoisseurs, there was beer tasting.

Young families gathered around to guess the weight of the pumpkin.

The pumpkin weight-guessing contest was so popular they ran out of paper. This year’s pumpkin weighed 86.6 lbs. The winner received a gift certificate to the McCloud Market.

Everyone enjoyed tasting the apple desserts that were given away after the Apple Dessert Contest, which had 22 contestants. This year, organizers changed from the Apple Pie Contest to the Apple Dessert Contest. The criteria for judges were based on appearance, originality and creativity, taste and aroma, texture and execution, and overall impression. First place went to GeeiaWildwoman for her apple pumpkin salted caramel cupcakes. Second place was won by Megan with her caramel apple pie bars. And Tami Banbury took third place with her apple upside-down cake.

Through all the fun and excitement at the Apple Harvest Festival, an unexpected but wonderful sight was witnessing Kaitlyn and Angel, both 21-years-old, tying the knot.

Happy Hooves Mobile Petting Zoo was not only a favorite of most children, but adults also had fun handling silky chickens, ducks, friendly goats, and miniature ponies. Next to that was the pumpkin field where kids got to roam through the grassy field to pick out their pumpkins and have their pictures taken at fun backdrops for just $5.

When asked what his favorite event was, 7-year-old Jaxson Wood said, “The free Halloween stuff.”

Long-time resident Suzanne Abbott took a tour of the festival with her daughter and granddaughter. She said, “I’m amazed at all the people here today. It wasn’t like this 48 years ago. It has grown so much over the years. It is like being in a big city, almost.”

The Siskiyou Humane Society had a corral of young dogs and puppies for people to enjoy and maybe adopt. Others brought their own dogs and walked around with them on leashes. One person who goes by the name of Cabacho brought his pet goat named Pokatello to the festival. He said of the Apple Harvest Festival, “At the first of the season was the Mushroom Festival, which was great. But it is fantastic to have a fun festival like this later in the season.”