Harvest on the Ridge: 2012 APPLE FESTIVAL
September 15, 2012
The Sparta Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present the annual Harvest on the Ridge Apple Festival in September. The Apple Festival is a family oriented event celebrating the harvest of fresh fruits and vegetables in grown in Sparta, Michigan.
As a gateway to “the Ridge“, a geographically prime and pristine area for growing fruits and vegetables, Sparta is a perfect place to find fresh picked and u-pick grown crops each Fall, follow color tours bursting with brilliant reds and yellows, and create a memory picking out your very own pumpkin to carve. In addition to the world class farmers markets and farm tours, the kids events, entertainments, and food makes the events downtown truly enjoyable. In addition, downtown Sparta will be the host of an Arts & Craft Show, live music, kids games, and much more.
Download the 2011 Harvest on the Ridge Festival Flier (PDF) for all of the event details!
2011 Event Forms:
Harvest Sponsorship Form (PDF)
Craft Show Entry Form (PDF)
Sparta’s Harvest 5K Fun Run (PDF)
Antique Tractor Show Pre-registration Form (PDF)
Antique Tractor Show Flier (PDF)
William Tell Archery Contest Entry Form (PDF)
J. Couch Race Entry Form (PDF)
Apple Dessert Bake Off Entry Form (PDF)
Photo Competition Entry Form (PDF)
1st annual couch race
2011 Event Details:
9 am Sparta’s Harvest 5K Fun Run
A 5K fun run through the streets & 100 acres of nature trail! Registration starts at 8 am at Sparta Civic Center (75 N. Union St., Sparta). Cost: $10. Participants receive a T-shirt. Cross country timing. Mail-in Registration form on-line at spartachamber.com or at The Club Fitness & Tanning. Details call (616) 887-2454.
10 am Downtown Sidewalk & Indoor Sales Through Sparta
10 am Harvest Art & Craft Show
Arts & Craft booths in Rogers Park. Spaces available, registration form online.
10 am Tom’s Hometown Bakery Fresh Donuts & Coffee, Sparta United Methodist Church Bake Sale, Specialty Carmel Apples by Tasty Treat, & Hills Brothers Cider Tasting!
10:30 am The J. Couch Race
Wanted: Old Runners & Fast Couches. This event will delight spectators with fast, funny, & uniquely created couches- all on wheels- as their five person teams race downtown Sparta on N. Union St. Register at 10 am.
11 am Pulled Pork Sandwich, Chips, & Juice
Hosted by Sparta Lions in the Civic Center; $4.00 Combo
11 am Hartwood Art—Chainsaw Carving Demonstration
Noon Downtown Trini’s & Margarita Joe’s Fresh Fajitas!
1 pm Antique Tractor Show
Sponsored by Hessel-Cheslek Funeral Home. Registration form online or register onsite at 11 am.
1 pm Photo Contest by Sparta Photo Club
Enter your best original photo for contest display to win prizes and learn more about the Sparta Photo Club. Registration form online.
1 pm Harvest Beer Tent Opensfeaturing Michigan Beers & Wines. Special assortment from the Michigan Beer Cellar: Octoberfest, Top Secret American IPA, & Great American Cream Ale.
3 pm “Just Cuz” Square Dancing Lessons
Bring your best moves and learn how to Square Dance in Roger’s Park!
4 pm Apple Dessert Bake off
Hosted by Ottawa Kent Insurance. Drop off desserts at 3 pm for judging. Free entry. Awards announced after 6 pm.
4 pm Big Joe’s Pizza by the Slice
5 pm The Eschelon’s (50’s/60’s) on Roger’s Park Stage
6 pm Apple Tasting Challenge
Do you really know your apples by sight and taste?
6 pm William Tell Archery Contest
Test your skills in the Bow & Arrow Contest. Registration forms online.
7 pm “Group Therapy” on Roger’s Park Stage
Playing Classic Favorites to Current Hits! Sponsored by ChoiceOne Bank.
7 pm Apple Pie Slice Eating Contest
Enter to win the Apple Pie Slice Eating Contest. Rules: eat the entire slice of pie including all filling the fastest without any use of hands. Prizes!
Map to Sparta, Michigan
View Harvest On The Ridge Festival – Sparta, Michigan in a larger map
Downtown activities take place in Rogers Park (75 N. Union St, Sparta).
“The Ridge”Experiences
Map of Ridge Locations
10 am Bradford Dairy Farm Tour – free!
1785 O’Connor St., Sparta -North of Sparta on the corner of Sparta Ave/State St & O’Conner
Visit a modern dairy farm! Take a tour through the working dairy farm to learn more about milking, feeding, and caring for hundreds of cows!. Be sure to wear your tennis shoes or boots!
10:30 am Riveridge Packing Shed Tour – free!
7777 Venture Ave Nw, Sparta – South of Sparta on M-37 & 9 Mile
See the new technology of Apple Packaging with a packing line that completely manages the quality of each apple as it cleans, sanitizes, weighs, checks the apple for color, defects, and even individual sweetness levels! The expanded facility ships all over the world. 1/2 hr tour through the packing shed.
11:30 am Klein’s Cider Mill Tour – free!
2151 10 Mile Rd, Sparta, MI—Just West of M-37 on 10 Mile Rd
Family owned and operated farm with a view to see for miles overlooking the Ridge! Come watch us make cider the old fashioned way and take a tour through a functioning Cider Mill. Farm Market will be open from 9 am to 7 pm with the tour starting at 11:30 am.
1 pm Mich. Apple Packers Packing Shed Tour – free!
10740 Peach Ridge Ave NW, Sparta – 2 Miles West of Sparta on the corner of 13 Mile & Peach Ridge Ave.
Experience the process of how apples are brought in from the orchards to the packing shed to be washed, weighed and processed into packages for shipment to local stores.
Check out the entire list of Farm Markets along The Ridge at www.fruitridgemarket.com!
