NEBRASKA CITY  — Nebraska City Tourism & Commerce, the agency that organizes Nebraska City’s annual AppleJack Festival, says only one thing stands in the way of the 2024 celebration setting records -- the weather.

 “With the Husker football game scheduled for Friday night, September 20, we are anticipating record crowds the next day,” said Amy Allgood, NCTC Executive Director. “In addition, there are so many activities planned by our local businesses and organizations that we had to add four pages to our Schedule of Events booklet. If Mother Nature gives us beautiful fall sunshine, it’s going to be amazing.”

 

 

The AppleJack Festival 2024 is September 20-22 and September 28-29. The first weekend is the TRADITIONAL APPLEJACK WEEKEND, and includes events like the flea market, craft and vendor fairs, 5K, parade, pancake feed, quilt show, water barrel fights, and car show. It is also the weekend of the Nebraska City Extreme Bull Riding Tour.

The following weekend is dubbed ALL ABOUT APPLES. Events include a kid-themed Apple Jamboree, a vendor fair, live music, a 21-and-over Cider Stroll, and a new food passport activity called Apple Bites Adventures.

Both weekends feature special deals at local boutiques and restaurants as well as unique activities at Nebraska City’s three orchards.

Arbor Day Farm, located on the historic property of J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day, will have fresh and u-pick apples, caramel apples, pie, wine, hard cider, the Treetop Village, and antique apple tastings. Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard will have fresh and u-pick apples, food trucks, apple cider donuts, and the Pollinator Playground. Union Orchard, just north of Nebraska City on Highway 75, will have fresh and u-pick apples, wine tastings, adult frozen drinks, and breakfast and lunch from the grill.

 

Dena Stevenson, Event and Engagement Manager at Kimmel Orchard, said they are pleased with their apple harvest this year.

“We have a very good crop,” Stevenson said. “We are even able to open our Apple U-Pick a week early.”

Details continue to be finalized for both AppleJack weekends. Updated information can be found at www.NebraskaCity.com/festivals.