The 22nd annual Haywood County Apple Harvest Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 16, in downtown Waynesville.

The annual festival, which celebrates the beauty of the harvest season in Haywood County, features handmade arts and crafts, locally grown apples and apple products for sale. In addition, the festival will feature food vendors of all types, educational and information booths, authentic mountain music, dance groups, and a children’s fun area.

Scheduled performers for this year’s festival include Gray Wolf, the Hominy Valley Boys, Simple Folk, Frog Level Philharmonic and the Josh Fields Band. Adult and youth clogging groups will also perform throughout the day providing non-stop entertainment from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. With more than 25,000 people attending last year’s festival, Haywood County looks forward to a great vendor turnout and a great day for visitors, local merchants and local residents.  

New for the 2010 festival is the Miss and Master Apple Harvest Festival Natural Beauty Pageant. The pageant will be held in the children’s fun area next in the United Community Bank Parking area. Applications may be picked up at Fun Things Etc. prior to festival day.

The Haywood County Apple Harvest Festival is presented by the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Waynesville Association, the Haywood County Extension Service and the Haywood County Apple Growers.

Festival sponsors include Progress Energy, BluePrints for Business, New Meridian Technology, Clear Channel Communications, O.C.’s BBQ, The Smoky Mountain News, Fun Things Etc. and The Mountaineer.

For information contact the Greater Haywood County Chamber of Commerce at 828.456.3021.