197: Top 5 Picks for Franklin County CiderDays

197: Top 5 Picks for Franklin County CiderDays

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist October 16, 2019 Duration: 48:13

Top 5 Picks for Franklin County CiderDays

Franklin County CiderDays takes place on the first weekend of November every year as it has been for the past 25 years.

Yes, this November 1-3, 2019 is the 25th Annual and the number of events taking place across the county are outstanding.

Download CiderDays schedule

Here are my Top 5 Picks if your time is limited and/or you are wondering what to do during this epic fest.

CiderDays sign

In this chat we go with #5 to #1

5. 2nd Annual New England Cider Tour October 31st

8am - 6:30pm Start and End point Greenfield, MA

New England Cider Tour

4. Cider Pub Sing 7:30 - 9pm November 1st

9pm The Crowning of Pomona with Judith Maloney of West County Cider

Location: Episcopal Church Parish Hall, the back hall of Saint James Church

8 Church St, Greenfield, MA

3. Cider Salon, November 2nd

3:30 - 5:00 Cider Salon I: Tasting of Ciders from across N. America $35/ticket Unity Park, Turners Falls

5:45 - 7:15 Cider Salon II: Tasting of Ciders from across N. America $35/ticket Unity Park, Turners Falls

2. Peckville Road, Greenfield

Take a drive up Peckville Road and stop at West County Cider and Apex Orchard

Take a walk in the orchard

Views looking out to New Hampshire and Mount ManadnockCiderDay sign - Ria's Making cider workshop

#1 Pick if you can only do one thing?

Find the Apple Pretzels in each tree in the orchard at New Salem Preserves & Heritage Cider and see one of the oldest Perry Pear trees in the US!Apple Pretzels at New Salem Preserves and Heritage Cider

Location:

67 S Main St

New Salem, Massachusetts

Extra Bonus offerings at CiderDays to check out!

Author Book Signings November 2

Ben Watson: Cider Hard and Sweet 2-3pm

John Bunker Apples and the Art of Detection 4:30-5:30pm

Michael Phillips The Hollistic Orchard, The Apple Grower, Mycorrhizal Planet 4:30-5:30

Location: Two Birds

  • 106 Avenue A
  • Turners Falls, Massachusetts 01376
  • 413) 863-5782

Exhibit: 25 Years of CiderDays October 25 - November 6, 2019

Over twenty-five years, CiderDays has evolved to a three day, county-wide festival celebrating the apple in all of its forms and providing sessions on every aspect of apple usage. The Great Falls Discovery Center hosts an exhibition of historic cider presses and images that honor the orchards, producers and enthusiasts who have advanced the art of cidermaking. Sponsored by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. November 1-3, 2019. For a full schedule visit: ciderdays.org.

Great Falls Discovery Center

  • Hours: 10 am - 4pm
  • Free

Location:

  • 2 Avenue A
  • Turners Falls MA 01376
  • 413-863-3221

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There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

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