Festival Schedule
Apple Festival Decorating Contest
Young artists will have the opportunity to showcase their creativity by decorating apples using various art mediums for a chance to win fantastic prizes during the Apple Decorating Contest. The contest is open to children ages 4-12, and entries will be judged based on creativity, originality, and overall presentation. Participants are encouraged to let their imaginations run
wild and use any art materials they wish, such as construction paper, stickers, paint, or any other decorative elements, to transform their apples into works of art.
To participate, children must be between the ages of 4 and 12 and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when submitting their entries. Each child may submit only one decorated apple. Apples must be decorated in advance and brought to the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30.
Participants may use any art medium of their choice, including construction paper, stickers, paint, markers, glitter, and fabric, but all decorations must be securely attached to the apple. Judging will be based on creativity, originality, and overall presentation. Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries in each age category (4-6 years, 7-9 years, and 10-12 years), with winners announced on Saturday, October 4 during the Unicoi County Apple Festival. Prizes include gift certificates and festival merchandise.
All decorated apples will be displayed for public viewing, and participants may take their decorated apples home after the festival.
Apple Festival 4-Mile Road Race & 3K Race Walk
Runners from across the region will converge on the streets of Erwin on Saturday, Oct. 4 for the running of the Unicoi County Apple Festival 4-Mile Road Race and 3K Race Walk. The event will again be coordinated by the Unicoi County Family YMCA.
Pre-registration for the running event is $30. All participants receive a souvenir T-shirt.
Professional race-timing will be managed by We Run Events. On-line registration is available at www.werunevents.com.
The event is held at the Unicoi County Family YMCA at the corner of Ohio Avenue and Love Street in Erwin. Contact the YMCA at (423) 743-3361 for more details.
Apple Festival Baking Contest
Apple, Spice, and Everything Nice-The 2025 Apple Festival Cooking Contest is here, so get ready to bring your A game!
On October 4, bring your favorite apple dish to the 2025 Unicoi County Apple Festival Cooking Contest, sponsored by the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce and UT Extension Unicoi County.
This year’s contest will be held at the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce Office in downtown Erwin. Entries will be accepted from 11 a.m.-12 p.m., with closed judging to begin at 12 p.m.
The three categories for the contest will be Apple Pie, Apple Cake, and Youth Candy Apple (ages 17 and under). Only one entry per category will be accepted. Entries for Apple Pie and Apple Cake categories must include at least one cup of apples, applesauce, or dried apples. A copy of the recipe must be included with the entry to qualify for judging. Youth candied apples must include all edible ingredients with a list of those ingredients. They will be judged on originality, display, and pairing with apples.
Prizes in each category will be $50 for first place, $30 for second place, $20 for third place. Winners will be announced on stage.
For more information about the contest, call the Chamber of Commerce (423) 743-3000, UT Extension (423) 735-1637, or email Tracy Chandler, Extension Agent, at tpate6@utk.edu.
Blue Ridge Pottery Show & Sale
The National Blue Ridge Pottery Show and Sale is a must-see for collectors and enthusiasts of Blue Ridge Pottery. Rare pieces are often found during the show. Individual pieces and complete sets are available for sale during the event. Dozens of vendors from across the country will be represented during this year’s Blue Ridge Pottery Show and Sale.