Mill Neck Manor Apple Festival 2026: 70th year brings new activities

Find apple any way you can slice it — in jam, pies, cider, strudels, fritters — at the Apple Festival at Mill Neck Manor, which returns Oct. 10 and 11. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the event, presented by Mill Neck Manor School for Deaf, and promises to be the biggest one yet.

"This festival is all about the spirit of community. The local residents mixed with our deaf and hard of hearing community," chief operating officer Timothy P. Charon says. "There’s a seasonal atmosphere that comes with apples and so many different things you can do with them from cider to pies. Plus, there are several varieties to choose from."

The Apple Festival began as a sale of apples that grew in the 600-tree orchard on campus.

"Back in the ’50s and ’60s, cars used to pull up to buy some cider and apples to go," Charon says. "Now it’s a full weekend of events."

APPLE EVERYTHING

Bushels of fresh apples coming from a variety of upstate farms will be sold in large boxes ($30), small boxes ($18) and 5-pound bags ($11).

"There’s going to be seven types of apples this year: Jonagold, Gala, Snapdragon, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Crispin and Fuji," Charon says. "The most popular is Snapdragon by far."

There will be a multitude of apple products for sale, including apple jam, apple pie, apple cider, apple strudel, apple-flavored cheese, candy apples, apple cider doughnuts, apple butter and apple fritters.

APPLE PIE EATING CONTESTS

Several apple pie eating contests are set to be held over both days, including a kids version (under 18) too.

"You must eat an apple pie as safely and fast as you can without using your hands, which must remain behind your back," Charon says. "The first person to finish by only using their mouth is the winner." All winners will receive medals.

NEW ADDITIONS

Some new features have been added to Mill Neck Manor’s traditions for its 70th year.

The Apple Festival Walk of Fame will be unveiled to honor 15 volunteers who have helped make the Apple Festival a success for decades.

"We want to celebrate the people that make this festival possible," Charon says. "The Apple Festival Walk of Fame will go on from year-to-year. This is the start of it."

The Walk of Fame will contain a history exhibit featuring artifacts and pictures from past festivals. There will be photo-ops with three festival mascots: Adam Mac the Apple, Barry Banana and Mr. Broccoli.

A new hayride ($5 adults, $3 kids) gets introduced this year, holding up to 10 people and running approximately 8 minutes.

"The ride will go up to the Manor House on the asphalt road, around the circle and back," Charon says.

KIDS ACTIVITIES AND VENDORS

There will be an area dedicated to children’s games and inflatable rides. Other kid activities will include sand art, face painting, plus a U-pick pumpkin patch with pumpkin decorating. The waterfront center also offers a touch tank with sea creatures.

A tented outdoor market with more than 60 vendors is scheduled to be selling home decor, crafts, clothing, jewelry and more.

FALL FOODS

Along with apples, taste some fall treats like bratwurst and kielbasa hot off the grill, along with hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers. Don’t miss the roasted corn-on-the-cob dipped in butter and flavored with your choice of seasonings, homemade empanadas, fresh fudge, potato pancakes with applesauce as well as chicken fingers and fries.

On your way out, visit the cheese house selling Golden Age cheeses, 20 varieties of McCutcheon’s jams and artisan breads. Also, check out the Karl Ehmer meat shop featuring a selection of meats visitors can buy wholesale.