What began in 1982 as an open house at a new sales barn has grown into one of Greene County’s largest and most anticipated tourist events of the year. Deal’s Orchard will host its 34th annual Fall Festival this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10-11, at the orchard west of Jefferson just south of County Road E-53. The event draws as many as 10,000 people from virtually all parts of the state.
As in past years, there will be wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, a haunted house manned by spooky Boy Scouts, spin art, a corn maze, caramel apples, apple fritters, apple pie, apple cider, and, of course, apples in every variety that will grow in Iowa.
Apple Acres Family Fun Zone will be open, and there will be hayrides and pony rides, too.
Fiddler Dave Bellegante will play at 11 am Saturday and at 12 pm Sunday. The cider press will be running Saturday morning, and the new Donut Robot machine will likely be making apple cider donuts most of the weekend. Those who want to just sit and enjoy the festive atmosphere may enjoy the new three-seasons room added to the west side of the Apple Barn. The addition includes handicap-accessible restrooms.
The Horn o’ Plenty FFA chapter at Greene County High School will host a petting zoo both days. The petting zoo is one of the chapter’s larger fundraisers for the year, and members invite all to visit the tent and get “up close” to the farm animals they more often drive past.
There is no admission to the fall festival, although there are charges for some of the activities. The forecast calls for clear, warm, and gently breezy weather both days of the festival.
