Some traditions become so deeply woven into the fabric of a community that it is difficult to imagine life without them. For generations of families throughout Rochester and beyond, the Art & Apples Festival is one of those cherished traditions.
For sixty years, families have celebrated the arrival of fall with a visit to Rochester Municipal Park. Children who once explored artist booths hand-in-hand with their parents now return with children and grandchildren of their own. Friends reconnect, neighbors gather, and new memories are created alongside decades of treasured ones.
This year, the Art & Apples Festival celebrates its 60th anniversary, marking not only the longevity of the event but also the spirit of the community that has embraced it since 1965.
What began as a local effort to celebrate creativity has grown into one of the nation’s most respected fine art festivals. Artists from 30 states submitted applications this year, and the festival continues to receive national recognition, recently earning a ranking as the #11 Fine Art and Design Festival in the country.
Despite that national acclaim, the festival has remained true to the values that made it special from the beginning: community, creativity, and connection.
"There are community members who have been attending since the very first festival," organizers share. "We also have artists who have participated for more than 30 years."
For many families, Art & Apples is part of their personal history. It is where they purchased their first original piece of artwork, watched a child perform with a local dance group, enjoyed a favorite apple treat, or spent an afternoon strolling beneath the trees.
The setting itself contributes to the festival’s charm. Spread across 30 scenic acres of Rochester Municipal Park, Art & Apples offers a relaxed atmosphere unlike many festivals held on crowded city streets.
Art remains the heart of the festival. Each year, hundreds of juried artists transform the park into an outdoor gallery featuring paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, glasswork, clothing, and more. With 16 artistic mediums represented, visitors encounter a remarkable variety of talent and creativity.
The festival’s commitment to artistic excellence has helped it attract some of the country’s most accomplished artists while continually introducing fresh perspectives through rotating jurors and new artistic voices.
Its impact extends well beyond a single September weekend. Many people do not realize that the festival helped lay the foundation for what would eventually become the Paint Creek Center for the Arts. The original organizers believed art should be accessible to everyone, and their vision ultimately led to the creation of institutions that continue supporting the arts today.
Festival proceeds help fund classes, exhibitions, educational programs, and creative opportunities throughout the year, strengthening Rochester’s cultural landscape for future generations.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the volunteers, sponsors, community partners, artists, and visitors who make the festival possible. Their collective efforts reflect what makes Rochester such a special place.
As Art & Apples celebrates sixty remarkable years, its greatest achievement is not simply the art on display. It is the memories created, the connections formed, and the traditions passed from one generation to the next. Art & Apples is more than a festival—it is a community masterpiece, sixty years in the making.
Learn more by visiting https://pccart.org
There are a LOT of responsibilities, and we truly couldn’t do it without our volunteers.
" It’s incredible that this event is not only such a major part of our local community, but brings such success to our artists as well." - Shaun Hayes, Executive Director, PCCA
Whether you’re looking for paintings, ceramics, jewelry, clothing, or photography, we have 16 art mediums covered, and so much for people to appreciate.