CiderDays is a community event celebrating all things apples in Franklin County, Massachusetts. 2009 marks the 15th year of this event and there will be two days of orchard tours, cidermaking and tastings, workshops and much more. This is for all who love apples, fresh or hard cider, apple cuisine, apple orchards or just being in New England in the fall. There is a charge for some of the activities but there is no admission for the self-guided tour of the orchards or the Marketplace at the Shelburne Buckland Community Center in Shelburne Falls (Saturday — note that the venue has changed this year).

Tickets for CiderDays 2009 will be on sale on this site beginning August 1, 2009.

Scroll down to find 2009 event highlights or download the event schedule.

2009 Event Highlights:

For complete information, download the preliminary event schedule (PDF)

• Workshops, Talks and Tastings from beginner through advanced for cider makers, home orchardists and cider afficionados at various locations throughout the weekend (Saturday and Sunday)

• Apple Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, 8 - 11 am, at Second Congregational Church, Court Square, Greenfield

• The Cider Salon — tastings of dozens of ciders from around the country at the White Church Community Center in Old Deerfield. No admission without a ticket. (Saturday) Buy Ticket

• CiderDay Harvest Supper — Chef Paul Correnty will create a savory fall feast featuring apples, cider and other locally grown foods. The dinner will be held in the Blue & White Society Room at the PVMA Teachers' Center (10 Memorial St) in Old Deerfield. Buy Ticket

• New Salem Orchards hosts its Apple Festival with child-friendly apple pressing, live alpacas, cider donuts, caramel apples, hot squash/cider soup, roasted hot dogs over a bonfire, apples, sweet cider, sun-cooked preserves and more! (Saturday and Sunday)

• Cider Varieties for Commercial Growers led by Ian Merwin, apple grower and pomologist at Cornell University. This will be a small group discussion of varieties suitable for commercial growers. Held at the 3rd floor conference room at the McCuskers Building in Shelburne Falls, from 10-12 on Saturday. Cost $10

• Organic Orchardist Michael Phillips wassails apple trees at New Salem Orchards on Saturday (1 - 2 pm). Michael is also leading an orchard walk at Clarkdale Fruit Farms on Sunday (1 - 2 pm).

• Tom Burford gives talks on grafting (Saturday 10 - 11) and orchard restoration (11:15 - 12:00) at Apex Orchards.

• From Apple to Bottle on Sunday at the White Church Community Center in Old Deerfield. Farnum Hill and West County Cider present a tasting of few of their ciders with the coupled with a tasting of the apples that went into them. Buy Ticket

• Apples from the Slow Food Ark on Sunday at the White Church Community Center in Old Deerfield led by Ben Watson and Tom Burford. Buy Ticket

• Cider and Cheese Pairing on Sunday at the White Church Community Center in Old Deerfield led by Ben Watson and Antony Liberti and Leslie Mann from South End Formaggio.
Buy Ticket

• The Marketplace at the Shelburne Buckland Community Center in Shelburne Falls, with local artisans and producers, food vendors, and, of course, apples!