As fall officially starts Tuesday, Sept. 22, Onalaska Alliance for Sustainable Community members are putting the final touches on this year’s annual Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival.
This year’s festival features the traditional events scheduled over the first weekend in October, including the royalty coronation, a parade, apple pie contests, apple cider pressing, a farm and homestead tour, and more.
Festivities start with the Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival’s 2025 royal court bingo tournament and bake sale on Thursday, Oct. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m., inside the Onalaska Elementary School’s gymnasium located at 489 Carlisle Ave. in Onalaska. The 2025 Apple Harvest royal court includes Apple Harvest Queen Makaela Hearn, Apple Harvest Princess Paige and Little Miss Apple Harvest Devin Sturza.
Then, on Friday, Oct. 2, the Plentiful Harvest Art Quilt Show featuring hand-stitched artwork by members of Heavenly Quilts and Fabrics will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Onalaska Community Presbyterian Church, 288 Carlisle Ave.
Then, the coronation of the 2026 Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival royal court will take place at 6 p.m. in the Onalaska Elementary School gymnasium.
The rest of the weekend’s events are as follows:
Saturday, Oct. 3
• The Apple Harvest Festival pancake breakfast, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Onalaska Community Presbyterian Church. No cost was listed, but donations benefiting the Onalaska Preschool are welcome.
• Fresh apple cider pressing, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Onalaska Community Youth Center, 233 Central Ave. in Onalaska. The cost is $5 to $10 per jug, and those looking to get some fresh cider must bring their own apples and containers.
• Apple pie contest opens at 8:30 a.m., with entrants asked to bring two pies for judging at the contest booth near the intersection of Carlisle Avenue and 4th Street no later than 9:30 a.m. People’s choice voting will also be available for $2 a bite, and a pie auction will also be held at 1:20 p.m. For more information and the registration form, visit the Onalaska Alliance’s website at https://www.onalaskaalliance.org/pie-contests.html.
• The Apple Fun Run 5K, with registration opening at 7:30 a.m. and the run itself to begin at 9 a.m. at the Carlisle Lake Smokestack located at the end of Alexander Road in the Carlisle Lake Park.
• The Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival vendor fair, featuring dozens vendors set up on Carlisle Avenue south of the Onalaska High School, along with a food court and busker stage from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• The Plentiful Harvest Art quilt show, featuring hand-stitched artwork by members of Heavenly Quilts and Fabrics on display from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Onalaska Community Presbyterian Church.
• The Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival beer and cider garden, open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. set up on Carlisle Avenue for those 21 and older.
• The 2026 Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival parade, starting at 11:30 a.m. heading south on Carlisle Avenue before turning west on Second Street West. This year’s parade grand marshals are the members of the Larson family, honoring the legacy of Gladys Larson and her descendants. Born in Mary’s Corner in 1936 according to the Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival’s event guide, Gladys moved to Onalaska in 1953 after marrying her husband, Louie Larson, and still lives there today with her family, which now includes 34 grandchildren and 80 great-grandchildren.
• Music on the main stage on Carlisle Avenue begins following the parade, with Evan and Tina starting at 11:30 a.m., followed by Brian Green and The Highwaymen performing at 12:30 p.m., The Rusty Diamonds performing at 1:45 p.m. and Johnny Rockamore starting at 2:35 p.m.
• The Apple Harvest Festival cornhole tournament, with check-in starting at noon and play beginning at 1 p.m. at the Little League baseball fields. Entry is $40 per person and the tournament will feature two-person teams facing off in a double elimination format following American Cornhole Association rules.
Sunday, Oct. 4
• The 2025 Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival farm and homestead tour, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This self-guided free tour features a total of eight stops where attendees can explore local farms and businesses at their leisure along with asking questions to the farmers. Attendees are asked to leave pets at home. Participating farms include 3 Dog Cider and Brewstillery, with its tasting room located at 2040 U.S. Highway 12 in Ethel and its apple orchard located at 1402 state Route 122 in Silver Creek; Weiler Beef, located at 187 Brim Road in Onalaska; Bee Inspired Garden, 482 Burnt Ridge Road, Onalaska; Cowlitz Hill Guernseys, located at 208 Fuller Road in Salkum; Rabbit Ridge Nursery, located at 249 Smokey Ridge Road in Onalaska; Olde Archers Farm, LLC, located at 1404 U.S. Highway 12 in Ethel and the Onalaska Alliance headquarters, located at 310 Carlisle Ave. in Onalaska. For more information including a map, visit the Onalaska Alliance’s website at https://www.onalaskaalliance.org/farm-tour.html.
• The 2025 Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival Hoedown event, from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Mason Jar event center, located at 637 Leonard Road in Onalaska. Along with family-friendly entertainment including a Mr. Twister magic show, axe throwing, line dancing and glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, barbecue pulled-pork and grilled cheese sandwiches will be served for dinner, with sides. Tickets are $25 per person, or $60 for a family bundle for two adults and two children, and must be purchased in advance on the Onalaska Alliance’s website at https://www.onalaskaalliance.org/store/p4/farm-to-table.html. Proceeds benefit the Onalaska Alliance’s community projects along with the care and maintenance of Carlisle Lake Park.
For more information on the 2026 Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival including the full event guide, visit the Onalaska Alliance’s website at https://tinyurl.com/yad4m5y7 or email OnalaskaAlliance09@gmail.com.
