Britain's best harvest festivals and apple days

Celebrate autumn and delight in seasonal food and drink by attending a harvest and apple festival near you. We've gathered together a selection of festivals perfect cider and apple lovers.

Harvest Celebrations, Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire: 24-25th September

Enjoy harvest celebrations at Canons Ashby, a National Trust property based in Northamptonshire. Help yourself to delicious garden produce for a donation, explore the ancient parkland on the Harvest Trail or help to press apple juice from the produce that grows in the historic grounds.

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• British harvest guide: history and traditions 
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• British apple guide: traditional varieties and recipe ideas 

Castle Douglas Harvest Food Festival, Scotland: 7th September

This Scottish festival is set to include food and drink demonstrations throughout the whole town, while a street market offers diverse Scottish produce. All of this will be accompanied by workshops and music displays, all in reach of the independent high street so you can spend the day browsing and discovering harvest produce. www.visitscotland.com

York food and drink festival: 23rd September – 3rd October

Enjoy some of the region’s best street food, interactive demonstrations and activities.

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Holmfirth food and drink festival, Yorkshire: 17th and 18th September

This year’s market will focus on local Fairtrade and ethical businesses. In the heart of the Yorkshire Pennies, it promises to be a fun family day out packed with live music, good food and fantastic competitions. holmfirthfoodanddrink.org

Malvern Autumn Show, Worcestershire: 23rd – 24th September

In association with Westons Cider Mill, returns for a fantastic harvest festival brimming with special guests, giant vegetables, stunning floral displays and family entertainment. Taking place from at Three Counties Showground.

Traditional Harvest Festival, Chiltern Open air museum, Bucks: 28th - 29th September

Watch the museum’s restored 1947 threshing machine in action and see the historic farm in action, with plenty of animals to make friends with. Over the weekend the Henton chapel will host a display of harvest produce, mostly grown in the museum’s history gardens. There are harvest crafts for all the family too.

Llanerachon Apple Festival, Ceredigion: 5th October

This festival, set in a Georgian villa that lies within the Aeron valley, Ceredigion, will host autumn walks, crafts and food stalls in celebration of the apple season. Take along your own apples to learn how to identify different types of the fruit, and return home with freshly pressed apple juice of your own making. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Heritage Orchard Days, Brogdale: 24^th September – 20^th October

Set in a beautiful orchard, Brogdale Farm is the National Centre for fruit, with 2200 varieties of apple - more than any other collection in the world. Over the weekend, there are hundreds of different rare and heritage apple varieties you can try before you buy, alongside tractor and walking tours of the orchard. There’s also weekend long entertainment and craft stalls offering unique gifts.