Here at Blinis, we are interested in all things food-related and as the nights are drawing in, our thoughts turn to hearty autumnal fare. With our very own ‘Devon Apple Cake’ a firm favourite on the Blinis main menu, we are looking forward to a bumper crop of new local apples in the next few weeks.

Apple Days

Around the country, apple days are becoming more and more popular. Celebrating the apple harvest has happened for centuries in the UK. With over 2,500 apple varieties in this country alone, that is definitely something to celebrate each year. National Apple Day was first held on 21 October 1990. It has been celebrated every year since. Local festivals aren’t just about the picking. Most offer visitors the chance to press apples in traditional presses to make lovely fresh apple juice. Many also give cider-making demonstrations.

Local Apple Days in Devon

Here are just a few of the local East Devon Apple Days taking place in October:

Harvest Apple Day in Honiton – will be held on Saturday 5 October at the Thelma Hulbert Gallery between 2 & 5pm. The free event includes:  pressing your own apples to make juice; toasting toffee apples over the campfire and story-telling with live music.

Killerton Apple Festival, Killerton House – Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 October – 10am-5pm
Visitors can bring their own apples to be pressed into juice. There will be lots of children’s activities and workshops.

Killerton House also has a ‘Big Pick Weekend’ on Saturday & Sunday 6 October. Visitors can help to pick apples in the orchards. These will be used for pressing and cider-making at the festival the following weekend.

Apple Days at Middle Moorhayne Farm, Yarcombe on Satuday 12 October and at Glebe Park, Upottery on Sunday 13 October. Both start at 12pm and finish at 4pm.
Visitors are invited to bring along washed apples ready for pressing.