News

N.C. Apple Festival draws big crowds

Wendell Erwin helps keep apples stocked at the Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard stand at the N.C. Apple Festival.

By Lightning Reports, Published: August 24, 2025

The weather is shaping up to be near perfect for this weekend's North Carolina Apple Festival, with sunny days, highs in the 70s and a relatively low chance of rain on Sunday and Monday.

The festival opened on Friday with blue skies, moderate temperatures and light crowds. Saturday was expected to be another picture-perfect day for the festival with highs in the mid-70s and sunny skies. There's a 30 percent chance of rain or thunderstorms on Sunday with a high of 71. Labor Day, highlighted by the King Apple Parade, should be mostly sunny with a high of 71 and 30 percent chance of showers, the National Weather Service said.

Here's what you need to know:

• Main Street will be closed to traffic between Caswell Street and Seventh Avenue for the festival, with street closures starting on Thursday, Aug. 28. No parking will be allowed on Main Street after 2 p.m. between Caswell and Allen and no parking after 3 p.m. from Allen to Seventh Avenue. Main Street will be closed until Labor Day afternoon following the parade and festival cleanup.
• For the safety and comfort of pets, non-service animals are discouraged at the Apple Festival. Festival attendees should leave pets comfortably at home. No drones are permitted to fly in the festival area. 
• Parking is available in city surface lots and the parking deck on Fifth Avenue West. During the festival, the parking deck will operate with a $10 daily flat-rate fee. During peak festival hours, volunteers will be present to assist users at the gates. To assist with weekend festival traffic, the parking deck gate at Church Street will be enter-only and the Fifth Avenue parking deck gate will be exit-only.  
• The City Hall parking lot located at 160 6th Avenue East will be dedicated for handicapped parking on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Additional parking information on city lots can be viewed at www.hvlnc.gov/parking. 
• Bicycle parking will be available at the south end of Main Street, right off the Ecusta Trail. This parking will be managed by Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, Bike-Walk HVL and iDaph events for a small fee. The riding of skateboards, bicycles and other vehicles is not permitted in the festival footprint. 
• Please be aware that many privately owned parking lots in Hendersonville charge for parking. Ensure you follow all posted signage to prevent the chance of being towed.  

For more information on the Apple Festival and entertainment schedules, visit https://www.ncapplefestival.org/   

Hendersonville Farmers Market  

The Hendersonville Farmers Market takes place from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Maple Street next to the Historic Train Depot. For more information visit hendersonvillefarmersmarket.com

The King Apple Parade  

The King Apple Parade takes place starting at 2:30 p.m. The parade viewing area extends along Main Street from Five Points to Kanuga/Caswell. Spectators are requested to refrain from watching the parade south of Caswell, as this section is designated for float departure. Street closures beyond the Main Street festival closure will occur to accommodate the parade route and parade staging areas.   

Parade street closures

Parade staging will occur on Oakland Street from Asheville Highway to Sixth Avenue West and along Bearcat Boulevard in front of Hendersonville High School. The southbound lane of Asheville Hwy will also be used for staging after 1:30 pm when the detour route begins. Additional information for parade participants and spectators can be found at ncapplefestival.org. Parade detours:   

• Southbound traffic traveling towards downtown on Asheville Highway will be diverted to Fleming Street for U.S. 64 and Church Street connections.  

• Westbound traffic on U.S. 64 will be directed to Seventh Avenue and Maple, or Locust and North Main. 

• Commercial truck traffic traveling inbound on Four Seasons Boulevard will be rerouted via Duncan Hill/Signal Hill to reach Asheville Highway or Dana/Tracy Grove for southside connections.  

• Immediately before the parade, South Main Street will close for the parade unloading area. 

Government offices close

Hendersonville city offices will be closed on Monday for Labor Day. City garbage, recycling and brush collection will not take place. Collection for Monday customers will be delayed by one week with collection resuming on Monday, Sept. 8. Any extra bagged garbage from Monday customers will be picked up on Sept. 8.