Photos

This page has photos and videos along with a few comments about every Ciderfest since we started in 2001. Scroll down for a trip down memory lane or, if you’re new, to get a sense of what it’s all about.

2024

In 2024 we switched from shaking apples into tarps to picking apples and made bringing a potluck dish optional.

2023
In 2023 Jeremy lead the first kids music jam at Ciderfest and the kids played for part of the dance and apple fritters returned.

2022

No cider or festing in 2022.

2021

Due to the pandemic we had a smaller, shorter, and contra dance free Ciderfest. We also moved it into September to make family camping easier and in deference to the apples which are ripening earlier in a hotter world. The timing was good for apples. The leaves were just starting to show some color and the weather was glorious – except for setup (heavy rain) and take down (intermittent light showers). There was great music; a little informal dancing; and plenty of cider, great food, and good conversation. The kids keep getting older which meant both more helpful and more independent.

Bob’s Cider Pressing Video

2020
The pandemic made us take a break in 2020.

2019
We took a break in 2019.

2018
In 2018 we expanded the kids programming at Ciderfest with a treasure hunt, fairy house construction, additional story times, and a spiderweb challenge. We upgraded the tents – replacing some wooden poles with steel and expanded the silk screening. Portland Oregon was well represented with a helpful crew of new attendees.
Kevin engineered and fabricated a major upgrade to the cider press with a little installation help from Dell and Will.
It wasn’t a great year for on site apples; we bought apples and then promised ourselves we wouldn’t do that again. We learned that force carbonating fresh cider is pretty great. New silk screen design was a child carrying an apple crate to the press.
In the wrap up meeting Baxter said, “I just liked… everything.”
97 adults and 33 kids attended.

Ethan’s Photos

2017
Hurricane Nate brought very warm and wet weather. We had intermittent rain for the first half of Friday setup and for all of Monday takedown with scattered showers in between. We hired two recent high school grads, Oliver and Marley, to help with dishes Sat. and Sun. evening and cleanup on Sat.
The Montreal, Boston, and Amherst tango communities were all represented by some great dancers many of whom were new to CF. More and older kids than ever. One gust of wind broke a few wooden tent poles in the midst of heavy rain and there was a collective scramble to get new poles cut and in place in time. Matthew and Anna taught a two step and swing workshop. “Hike” was to the top of the field across from the barn. The new silk screen design for the year was an apple containing a fist. We had 110 Adults; 27 kids under 12; and 3 between 12 and 18.

Photos by Allison, Anna, Matthew, Avia, Joanna, and Ethan.

2015
In 2015 we pressed and drank record quantities of Cider (somewhere around 250 gallons pressed) and filled 21 carboys. We added an apple with “Cider Fest” inside to the silk screen stencil collection.
Photos by Allison, Anna, Lisa, and Lucky.

2014
Sunny and cold! Kids, Kids, Kids. In 2014 we added the kid corral and a fancy water filling station; there were very few onsite apples; and we gathered apples from across town. We also bought some from Apex farm (Mac and Ginger gold) – the first purchased apples at CF! We didn’t do an afternoon workshop. We did silk screening with both “Ferment” and a stylized apple design. Photos by Allison, Ethan, and Kevin.

2013
In 2013 Ethan and Jennie taught a Tango Workshop; the kid invasion began in earnest; heather brought silk screening for the first time; and the shower setup was streamlined.
All photos’s were taken by Allison.

2011
In 2011 we had ciderfest in September. The cider was tart, the weekend was short, and the weather was spectacular.

2010
On demand heater added to kitchen
Matthew taught a swing and two step workshop. Toddlers on the move – the kid invasion picks up momentum.

2009
In 2009 the heated outdoor shower made its first Ciderfest appearance – it’s been back ever since. There are no photos of it in use. 2009 was also Eli’s first Ciderfest.

2008
Photos by Ben, Dov, Ethan, Hunter, James, Jenn, and Matthew.
French fries and a new outhouse worked together synergistically in 2008.

2007
Pork Tenderloin was added to the menu in 2007 and Nate brought a big tuna he had caught. 102 people attended.

2006
Photos by Amanda, Dylan, Hunter, Jennie, Matthew, Panya, and Sonya.
We made egg rolls in 2006 and it was the first of two appearances of the wood fired hot tub.

2005
Matthew’s photos. Wet! Rain! Rain! Rain! The Kitchen was setup in the carport next to house. Ethan went salamandering. And Allison officially joined the team.

2004 Photos by Don, Dylan, Will, Matthew, and Lauren. We think this was the first year we had apple friters. We stopped (at least for a while) doing the fritters in 2017. They had a good run.

2003
“So many great moments: dancing to reeling live music, morris dancing, shaking it to Shakira, Tango, apple fritters, wild shirtless men riding unicycles through the woods, Naomi and Seth swinging fire, that delightful little round that Erika taught everyone on Sunday night, good food throughout, and an abundance of cider are just a few of the things that come to mind.
On the cider note: We just tested out an early bottle of the hard cider and found it contained satisfying essences of Cider Fest. With luck it might taste even better, and be some left, come October 2004.”

– Wrap Up Email From Ethan and Matthew Nov. 14. 2003