Apples the star of Browning Orchard Festival

Morehead State University (MSU) held its annual Browning Orchard Festival Sunday, Oct. 1, near Wallingford, in northeast Fleming County.

People traveled from all over to enjoy in the family fun festivities, but the star of the day was clearly the orchards’ famous apples.

“We weren’t set to start until noon, but people were lining up at 10:30 to get apples!” CEO of the Morehead State University Foundation and Vice President of Advancement, James Shaw said. “We had a very good crop of apples this year.”

Others agreed….

“We’re having trouble just keeping up,” Keegan Dailey said as he peeled apples for the crowd to taste. “Last year we had about 1,200 people come to the festival, but I think we’ve had twice as many as that all ready.”

Dailey, a native of Frankfort and a student of MSU was joined by fellow student Morgan Clark, a MSU student from Mercer County, who peeled apples as fast a she could while people lined up to taste a wide variety of apples grown at the orchard.

“Every year the festival grows and we are proud to support the festival as part of our regional heritage,” Shaw said about the large crowd that gathered.

The event featured apple tasting, apple-picking, horseback rides, hayrides, face painting, corn hole, and crafts, along with many other family-friendly activities, grilled hotdogs and hamburgers were a favorite at the concessions and all day musical performances by the Kentucky Center for Traditional Music added to the relaxed atmosphere for all who attended.

The Department of Agricultural Sciences had informative booths set up and offered many Kentucky Proud products for sale including, apples and cider, pumpkins, mums and much more.

For additional information on the event contact the Office of Alumni Relations and development at 606-783-2033.