Friends of Piper’s Orchard to Host Eighth Annual Festival of Fruit
The Friends of Piper’s Orchard invite the community to join them in celebrating Carkeek Park’s historic orchard on September 13. Events will include cider pressing and tasting, live music, activities for kids, guided tours of the historic orchard and more.
When: Saturday, September 13, 2013
What time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (cider making presentation will run from 2:30 – 4)
Where: Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center, 950 N.W. Carkeek Park Rd., Seattle
Cost: The festival is free and open to the public.
Parking: Visitors are encouraged to park below the learning center. Volunteers will be directing guests.
More info: 206-684-0877 or www.pipersorchard.org
All are welcome to join for:
• Informational presentations: Experts including the renowned Dr. Bob Norton, retired research scientist from WSU Extension in Mt. Vernon, and Shaun Shepherd from Portland’s Home Orchard Society will give talks on apple varieties and identification.
• Apple identification: Bring apples from your home orchard for variety identification.
• Fresh pressed cider: Visitors are encouraged to try out making cider the old-fashioned way, with a hand cranked cider press.
• Homemade pie: Visitors are welcome to donate homemade pies. Fresh warm cider and slices of homemade pie will be available for a nominal cost, with proceeds to support ongoing maintenance of the orchard.
• Orchard tours: Expert volunteers who have painstakingly restored the orchard will lead tours, pointing out the heirloom varieties that are going strong as well as younger trees and newly planted grape vines.
• Apple Tasting: Visitors will have the chance to taste heirloom apple varieties that are grown in the orchard.
• Kids’ crafts: Little ones will enjoy organized arts and crafts activities.
• Cider making presentation:Watch and learn how to make cider during a presentation starting at 2:30 p.m.
The Friends of Piper’s Orchard is a group of dedicated volunteers who discovered and then rescued the historic North Seattle orchard from invasive plants. The annual Festival of Fruit raises awareness and funds to help the volunteers ensure that the orchard, originally planted in the 1890s, will survive at least another 100 years.
The Festival is sponsored by Friends of Piper’s Orchard, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Carkeek Park Advisory Council, Seattle Tree Fruit Society and City Fruit.
