Planted in 1826 at Fort Vancouver, Vancouver’s venerable Old Apple Tree is the oldest apple tree in the Northwest and is considered the matriarch of Washington state’s apple industry

VANCOUVER – Vancouver’s popular Old Apple Tree Festival returns Sat., Oct. 1, at Old Apple Tree Park, 112 S.E. Columbia Way. Strongly rooted in our community, the legendary Old Apple Tree makes its comeback. Planted in 1826 at Fort Vancouver, Vancouver’s venerable Old Apple Tree is the oldest apple tree in the Northwest and is considered the matriarch of Washington state’s apple industry. Despite the tree trunk failing in June 2020, a new tree from the original root system has grown to take its place.

The festival will take place between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sat., Oct. 1, at Old Apple Tree Park, directly east of the Interstate 5 Bridge in the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. The family-friendly, free event offers live music, Vancouver Land Bridge tours, hands-on arts and crafts, and apples and food for purchase.

Urban Abundance, a nonprofit organization in Clark County, will host a free apple pressing station. Community members are encouraged to bring clean apples and containers to participate. Apple harvesting at the Historic Orchard will be coordinated by Urban Abundance; these apples can be pressed at the event or will be donated to the Clark County Food Bank. Volunteers are needed at the event to assist with cider pressing, outreach and apple orchard harvesting. Visit www.urbanabundance.org for volunteer opportunities.

Local musical groups The Juleps, Ottomatics and Bobbie, Joe, and the New Guy will be providing live music throughout the day. The city’s Urban Forestry Commission will give away a limited number of tree cuttings from the Old Apple Tree during the festival.

The Old Apple Tree Festival is presented by the Urban Forestry Commission in partnership with the city of Vancouver’s Urban Forestry, a division of the city’s Public Works department; Bartlett Tree Care; Urban Abundance; and the National Park Service.

For more information about the Old Apple Tree Festival and Vancouver’s efforts to enhance the community’s urban trees canopy, please call Urban Forestry at (360) 487-8308 or visit www.cityofvancouver.us/urbanforestry.

Information provided by city of Vancouver.