This October, the beloved Glastonbury Apple Harvest & Music Festival will celebrate a milestone: its 50th anniversary. Set for Friday–Sunday, October 17–19, 2025, at Riverfront Park (300 Welles St.), the festival promises three full days of music, food, rides, and community spirit.
The Apple Harvest and Music Festival, affectionately known as “Apple Fest,” has been a staple of fall in Glastonbury for decades. Organized by the Connecticut River Valley Chamber of Commerce, and presented by Pratt & Whitney and The Flood Law Firm, this award winning annual event draws families from across the region.
This year’s golden‑jubilee edition boasts an expanded schedule and features 50 bands on four stages, a tribute to half a century of harvest‑time festivities. The lineup spans local and regional acts, offering something for every music lover—and reflecting the festival’s evolution from modest community gatherings to Connecticut’s largest Music Festival.
Beyond music, the festival’s offerings remain refreshingly diverse. Attendees will find a full midway experience, with amusement rides, an expanded Harvest Pub, a curated crafter center, family-friendly KidZONE KidsZONE, and the traditional 5K road race on Sunday. Free shuttle service runs from Glastonbury High School, easing access and parking for festival‑goers.
Last year’s 49th festival attracted an estimated 25,000 visitors, and organizers expect this year's golden celebration to draw even more. With enhancements across entertainment, craft vendors, and the festival layout, the 2025 event underscores its place as a fall favorite with deep roots.
Community leaders are emphasizing both heritage and innovation in this year's Apple Fest.
“Our Apple Fest Committee is so excited about this year’s event! In fact, we met in January to start discussing what we would be adding to the 50th Anniversary”, says Chamber President, Jessica Olander. “Our Chamber Ambassadors will be on site hosting a nostalgia booth, in September we are launching a limited-edition ornament hunt with our member businesses, and our Entertainment Chair, Chip McCabe managed to get 50 bands for the 50th!”
In a town known for its historic charm—Glastonbury boasts the second‑highest number of colonial-era homes in Connecticut—the festival stands as a modern complement, blending outdoor recreation with cultural enrichment.