AppleJack Festival 2025
September 19th - 28th, 2025
SEPTEMBER 19, 20, & 21 — THE TRADITIONAL WEEKEND!
…AND SEPTEMBER 27 & 28 — ALL ABOUT APPLES!
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Apple pie, apple cider, apple cider donuts, candy apples, caramel apples, apple fritters, apple salad…pretty much anything you can imagine made from apples is available at the AppleJack Festival.
Nebraska City’s historic AppleJack Festival annually draws between 60,000 and 80,000 people to Nebraska City to celebrate the apple harvest. We are spreading the celebration out over two weekends during the harvest season, not just on one three-day stretch.
We invite you to come anytime this autumn for our 57th AppleJack Festival! It kicks off Friday, September 19, and lasts until the final apple is eaten.
See below for details on what’s happening in 2025!
(website is updated periodically throughout the year)
AppleJack Festival has been named as one of the Fall Harvest Festivals in America by the USA Today and a top Fall Destination by HGTV!
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Want to be a sponsor? Click HERE for details! (Deadline is Friday, August 8.)
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Want to be in the Schedule of Events booklet? Click HERE for the online form! (Deadline to be in the printed booklet is Friday, August 22. Events will be added to this online page until day of festival.)
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SEPTEMBER 19 – 21:
– AppleJack Fun Run — check back for online sign up link
– Extreme Bull Riding Tour — find details here
– Parade at 1 p.m. on Saturday — WATCH IT LIVE ON FACEBOOK! — Click HERE for online sign up link (bands included) (Deadline is Friday, September 5.)
– Water Barrel Fights — Click HERE for online sign up link (Deadline is Friday, September 12.)
– Food Trucks for Food Courts — Call NCTC at 402-873-6654 to register
– Downtown Flea Market — call Janice at Hidden Jems Antique Mall (402-874-9100)
– Craft & Vendor Fair at the Eagles — call Cari (402-209-1392)
– Nebraska City Jaycees Creation & Craft Fair at NC Middle School — call Cari (402-209-1392)
– Makin’ Memories Vendor Fair at Pumpkin Ridge — call Don at (402-873-9238)
– Red Gala Event Space Craft Fair at 5th & Central
– Sass & Frass Craft Fair -at 9th & Central — email or call Tambra at sassfrasscreation@outlook.com / 402-209-0778
– River City Classic Car Club Car Show — flyer coming soon!
Don’t forget to visit the orchards or any of our Nebraska City Museums!
Make a weekend out of it and book an overnight stay!
Hungry?
Need to do some shopping?
SEPTEMBER 27 & 28:
– This weekend is All About Apples! Visit our amazing orchards!
– Sweet Pickins’ Craft Fair at Lourdes Central Catholic — click HERE for information and to register
– Apple Jamboree! This kids event includes a petting zoo, rides, games, face painting, a public art project, and more!
– The Downtown Cider Stroll! Try varieties of hard cider, regular cider, cider slushies, and more… all while strolling in downtown Nebraska City — tickets available Summer of 2025.
– NEW: APPLE BITES ADVENTURES! Explore Nebraska City with our apple-themed food passport — tickets available Summer of 2025.
– Want to do both the Cider Stroll and Apple Bites Adventures? Tickets available Summer of 2025.
While the dates below are for 2025, most of the information is from 2024. Keep coming back for updated details as they become available!
Friday, September 19, 2025
U-Pick Apples at Arbor Day Farm
Location: Arbor Day Farm, 2611 Arbor Avenue
Description: Pick your own apples and pumpkins in the orchard at Arbor Day Farm. Visit the Tree Adventure while you are here!
Website: https://www.arbordayfarm.org/
Kimmel Orchard's AppleJack Celebration
Location: Kimmel Orchard, 5995 G Road
Description: Apple Cider Donuts, apples, wine tastings, pies, caramel apples, canned and jarred goods, Pollinator Playground -- we can't wait to see you!
Website: https://www.kimmelorchard.org/
Visit Union Orchard for AppleJack
Location: Union Orchard, 2405 S. Hwy 75 (just north of Nebraska City), or Central Apple Market, 701 Central Avenue
Description: The Applejack Festival is the most exciting time of year around the farm! Join us as we celebrate our harvest of pick-your-own and pre-picked apples! We have a ton of varieties and even more to do during the festival!
Website: https://www.facebook.com/UnionOrchard
AppleJack Flea Market
Location: Central Avenue from 3rd to 5th Streets
Description: Outdoor flea market -- with antiques, collectables, and crafts, plus new and repurposed items.
$5 Day Pass / $8 Weekend Pass
Heritage Needlework Guild Quilt & Needlework Show
Location: Bethel Church, 2400 Central Avenue
Description: This is one of the largest quilt and needlework shows in southeast Nebraska with well over 100 guild member-made items on display. There will be bed, baby and wall quilts on display along with table runners and toppers, needlework, wearable items and beadwork. There is a quilt raffle and raffle baskets as well as member-made potholders for sale.
Website: Click here for detailed information
$25 wristbands
Carnival
Location: 6th St. and Central Avenue
Description: Rides, midway games, and food!
Nebraska City Extreme Bull Riding Tour
Location: Hidden Falls Cabins & RV Park Arena, 6124 Steinhart Park Road
Description: The most awarded, largest & longest running Bull Riding Tour in the Midwest! FRIDAY Gates Open at 5 p.m. / Beer Garden 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. / Mutton Bustin' Sign-up 5 to 6 p.m. / Mutton Bustin' Draw 6:30 p.m. / Extreme Bull Riding 7 p.m. / Live Music by Switchbak 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Seating is limited, so get here early!
Website: Find details (and tickets!) here!
Saturday, September 20, 2025
APPLEJACK PANCAKE FEED
Location: Fire Station, 1409 Central
Description: IT'S THE PANCAKE MAN - an AppleJack tradition! Pancakes, sausage, and apple cider - Proceeds benefit community events.
AppleJack Fun Run/Walk
Location: Steinhart Park - in front of Aquatic Center
Description: The Annual AppleJack Fun Run/Walk through beautiful Nebraska City! Proceeds from this event go back into the community. There is also a one-mile kids run! Sign up today!
Website: https://runsignup.com/Race/NE/NebraskaCity/AppleJackFunRunWalk
AppleJack Flea Market
Location: Central Avenue from 3rd to 5th Streets
Description: Outdoor flea market -- with antiques, collectables, and crafts, plus new and repurposed items.
Kimmel Orchard's AppleJack Celebration
Location: Kimmel Orchard, 5995 G Road
Description: Join us for U-Pick in the orchard, a vendor fair, hayrack rides, Education Jamboree, food trucks, Apple Cider Donuts, apples, wine tastings, pies, caramel apples, canned and jarred goods, Pollinator Playground -- we can't wait to see you!
Website: https://www.kimmelorchard.org/
Visit Union Orchard for AppleJack
Location: Union Orchard, 2405 S. Hwy 75 (just north of Nebraska City), or Central Apple Market, 701 Central Avenue
Description: The Applejack Festival is the most exciting time of year around the farm! Join us as we celebrate our harvest of pick-your-own and pre-picked apples! We have a ton of varieties and even more to do during the festival!
Website: https://www.facebook.com/UnionOrchard
$5 Day Pass / $8 Weekend Pass
Heritage Needlework Guild Quilt & Needlework Show
Location: Bethel Church, 2400 Central Avenue
Description: This is one of the largest quilt and needlework shows in southeast Nebraska with well over 100 guild member-made items on display. There will be bed, baby and wall quilts on display along with table runners and toppers, needlework, wearable items and beadwork. There is a quilt raffle and raffle baskets as well as member-made potholders for sale.
Website: Click here for detailed information
Craft and Vendor Fair at the Eagles Club
Location: Eagles Club, 600 1st Corso
Description: Handmade crafts and vendors inside the air-conditioned Eagles Club on the main floor - lots of options!
Ramold's Pumpkin Ridge Farm
Location: 815 N. 60th Road
Description: Crafters, vendors, food trucks, face painting, petting zoo, pony rides, and more! We're just a mile and a half north of Kimmel Orchard.
Jaycee's Creation & Craft Fair
Location: NCMS, 909 1st Corso
Description: Come shop with more than 30 vendors at this indoor event.
AppleJack at Arbor Day Farm
Location: Arbor Day Farm & Tree Adventure, 2611 Arbor Avenue
Description: Spend AppleJack in the orchards at Arbor Day Farm! The Tree Adventure is open all day; come and explore the Treetop Village. Stop by the Apple House Market for wine and hard cider tastings and grab a bite to eat at Porter's BBQ -- and, of course, pick up a bushel or peck of your favorite apple!
Website: https://www.arbordayfarm.org/
Love, the Locals Makers Market
Location: Historic Barns at Arbor Day Farm, 2611 Arbor Avenue
Description: Shop local vendors at Love, the Locals Makers Market in the barns at Arbor Day Farm.
Website: https://www.arbordayfarm.org/activities/events.cfm
$25 wristbands
Carnival
Location: 6th Street & Central Avenue
Description: Rides, midway games, and food!
FREE
APPLEJACK PARADE
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Central Avenue from 16th Street to 6th Street, 6th Street south to 1st Corso
Description: Enjoy the area's best All-American parade, complete with a marching band competition, floats, and more!
Website: Click here to sign up to be in the parade!
WATER BARREL FIGHTS
Location: Central Avenue between 14th and 15th Streets
Description: An AppleJack favorite! Get a team together: four people per team - $50 entry fee for adults / $40 team fee for youth ages 10-15. Proceeds benefit the NC Museum of Firefighting. Or, make plans to stick around after the parade and watch!
Website: Click here to register your team!
Nebraska City Extreme Bull Riding Tour
Location: Hidden Falls Cabins & RV Park Arena, 6124 Steinhart Park Road
Description: The most awarded, largest & longest running Bull Riding Tour in the Midwest! SATURDAY Gates Open at 5 p.m. / Beer Garden 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. / Mutton Bustin' Sign-up 5 to 6 p.m. / Mutton Bustin' Draw 6:30 p.m. / Extreme Bull Riding 7 p.m. / Live Music by Luke Mills & the Highway Drifters 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Seating is limited, so get here early!
Website: Find details (and tickets!) here!
Sunday, September 21, 2025
River City Classics Car Club AppleJack Car Show
Location: Central Avenue between 11th Street and 6th Street
Description: The traditional classic car show featuring dozens of unique cars from ages past! You don't want to miss it!
AppleJack Flea Market
Location: Central Avenue from 3rd to 5th Streets
Description: Outdoor flea market -- with antiques, collectables, and crafts, plus new and repurposed items.
Craft and Vendor Fair at the Eagles Club
Location: Eagles Club, 600 1st Corso
Description: Handmade crafts and vendors inside the air-conditioned Eagles Club on the main floor - lots of options!
Jaycee's Creation & Craft Fair
Location: NCMS, 909 1st Corso
Description: Come shop with more than 30 vendors at this indoor event.
Love, the Locals Makers Market
Location: Historic Barns at Arbor Day Farm, 2611 Arbor Avenue
Description: Shop local vendors at Love, the Locals Makers Market in the barns at Arbor Day Farm.
Website: https://www.arbordayfarm.org/activities/events.cfm
Ramold's Pumpkin Ridge Farm
Location: 815 N. 60th Road
Description: Crafters, vendors, food trucks, face painting, petting zoo, pony rides, and more! We're just a mile and a half north of Kimmel Orchard.
Visit Union Orchard for AppleJack
Location: Union Orchard, 2405 S. Hwy 75 (just north of Nebraska City), or Central Apple Market, 701 Central Avenue
Description: The Applejack Festival is the most exciting time of year around the farm! Join us as we celebrate our harvest of pick-your-own and pre-picked apples! We have a ton of varieties and even more to do during the festival!
Website: https://www.facebook.com/UnionOrchard
Kimmel Orchard's AppleJack Celebration
Location: Kimmel Orchard, 5995 G Road
Description: Join us for U-Pick in the orchard, a vendor fair, hayrack rides, Education Jamboree, food trucks, Apple Cider Donuts, apples, wine tastings, pies, caramel apples, canned and jarred goods, Pollinator Playground -- we can't wait to see you!
Website: https://www.kimmelorchard.org/
AppleJack at Arbor Day Farm
Location: Arbor Day Farm & Tree Adventure, 2611 Arbor Avenue
Description: Spend AppleJack in the orchards at Arbor Day Farm! The Tree Adventure is open all day; come and explore the Treetop Village. Stop by the Apple House Market for wine and hard cider tastings and grab a bite to eat at Porter's BBQ -- and, of course, pick up a bushel or peck of your favorite apple!
Website: https://www.arbordayfarm.org/
$5 Day Pass / $8 Weekend Pass
Heritage Needlework Guild Quilt & Needlework Show
Location: Bethel Church, 2400 Central Avenue
Description: This is one of the largest quilt and needlework shows in southeast Nebraska with well over 100 guild member-made items on display. There will be bed, baby and wall quilts on display along with table runners and toppers, needlework, wearable items and beadwork. There is a quilt raffle and raffle baskets as well as member-made potholders for sale.
Website: Click here for detailed information
$25 wristbands
Carnival
Location: 6th Street & Central Avenue
Description: Rides, midway games, and food!
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Craft and Vendor Fair at the Eagles Club
Location: Eagles Club, 600 1st Corso
Description: Handmade crafts and vendors inside the air-conditioned Eagles Club on the main floor - lots of options!
Visit Union Orchard for AppleJack
Location: Union Orchard, 2405 S. Hwy 75 (just north of Nebraska City), or Central Apple Market, 701 Central Avenue
Description: The Applejack Festival is the most exciting time of year around the farm! Join us as we celebrate our harvest of pick-your-own and pre-picked apples! We have a ton of varieties and even more to do during the festival!
Website: https://www.facebook.com/UnionOrchard
Sweet Pickins Craft & Vendor Market
Location: Lourdes Central Catholic School, 412 2nd Avenue
Description: Now accepting vendors, makers, and crafters!
Website: https://www.lourdescentralcatholic.org/sweet-pickins-vendor-fair.html
Apple Jamboree
Location: Memorial Building Parking Lot, 8th Street and 1st Corso
Description: Calling all kids! Join us for our NEW Apple Jamboree -- we'll have a petting zoo, face-painting, a chance for you to help create some public art, and more!
Downtown Cider Stroll
Location: Central Avenue
Description: Consider this your passport to All Things Cider in Nebraska City! We are putting together a Cider Stroll - featuring hard ciders, regular cider, cider slushies, cider donuts... the list goes on! Purchase a Cider Stroll Passport (limited quantity available) and make your way from stop to stop. Visiting each location gets you a special prize!
Kimmel Orchard's AppleJack Celebration!
Location: Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard, 5995 G Road
Description: Visit Kimmel Orchard for fall goodies including Apples, Pies, Caramel Apples, Apple Cider, Apple Cider Donuts, Apple Cider Slushies, a variety of canned goods and much more. Stop in for a wine tasting. Enjoy play time on the Pollinator Playground. Take a stroll and enjoy the pollinator plantings in our Certified Pollinator Habitat. Take in the beautiful 90-acre orchard view from the Kimmel Pavilion.
Website: https://www.kimmelorchard.org/
AppleJack at Arbor Day Farm
Location: Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure & Apple House
Description: Spend AppleJack in the orchards at Arbor Day Farm! The Tree Adventure is open all day; come and explore the Treetop Village and, until 5 p.m., play with Bailey's Bubbles. After 10 a.m., make your way to the Apple House for wine and hard cider tastings while you watch wood spinning demonstrations. Grab a bite to eat at Porter's BBQ or at one of the many food trucks onsite (open from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.). And, of course, pick up a bushel or peck of your favorite apple!
Website: https://www.arbordayfarm.org/
Sunday, September 28, 2025
Craft and Vendor Fair at the Eagles Club
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Eagles Club, 600 1st Corso
Description: Handmade crafts and vendors inside the air-conditioned Eagles Club on the main floor - lots of options!
Sweet Pickins Craft & Vendor Market
Location: Lourdes Central Catholic School, 412 2nd Avenue
Description: Now accepting vendors, makers, and crafters!
Website: https://www.lourdescentralcatholic.org/sweet-pickins-vendor-fair.html
Visit Union Orchard for AppleJack
Location: Union Orchard, 2405 S. Hwy 75 (just north of Nebraska City), or Central Apple Market, 701 Central Avenue
Description: The Applejack Festival is the most exciting time of year around the farm! Join us as we celebrate our harvest of pick-your-own and pre-picked apples! We have a ton of varieties and even more to do during the festival!
Website: https://www.facebook.com/UnionOrchard
Kimmel Orchard's AppleJack Celebration!
Location: Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard, 5995 G Road
Description: Visit Kimmel Orchard for fall goodies including Apples, Pies, Caramel Apples, Apple Cider, Apple Cider Donuts, Apple Cider Slushies, a variety of canned goods and much more. Stop in for a wine tasting. Enjoy play time on the Pollinator Playground. Take a stroll and enjoy the pollinator plantings in our Certified Pollinator Habitat. Take in the beautiful 90-acre orchard view from the Kimmel Pavilion.
Website: https://www.kimmelorchard.org/
AppleJack at Arbor Day Farm
Location: Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure & Apple House
Description: Spend AppleJack in the orchards at Arbor Day Farm! The Tree Adventure is open all day; come and explore the Treetop Village and, until 5 p.m., play with Bailey's Bubbles. After 10 a.m., make your way to the Apple House for wine and hard cider tastings while you watch wood spinning demonstrations. Grab a bite to eat at Porter's BBQ or at one of the many food trucks onsite (open from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.). And, of course, pick up a bushel or peck of your favorite apple!
Website: https://www.arbordayfarm.org/
Festival Sponsors
Historic Morton Orchard
AppleJack Fun Run
Apples ready to go!
River City Classic Car Club Car Show
Water Barrel Fights
Yum!