Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival

View on map
Food & DrinkSyria
DatesDates TBA · Usually OctoberCheck locally before booking
DurationAutumnEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forRegional food & drinkThe festival began in 1970 as an informal
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryFood & DrinkFestival type
The story

Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival in Syria

The Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival runs the first three weekends of October at Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges in Syria, Virginia, a working 1,800-acre farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Visitors pick their own apples, watch apple butter cook in open kettles, ride hay wagons and horses, and browse dozens of craft vendors.

Graves Mountain Farm has operated as a working farm and mountain resort in Madison County, Virginia, for generations, its roughly 1,800 acres stretching across orchard land and pasture at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains near the tiny community of Syria.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival began in 1970 as an informal gesture, the Graves family inviting neighbors to pick apples and share homemade apple butter, and it has kept that working-farm feel even as it grew to include roughly seventy craft and food vendors

02

The mystery stays covered

Apple butter is still cooked the traditional way, in kettles over open fire, stirred continuously as it thickens, a slow process visitors can watch start to finish rather than see only a finished jar

03

The city starts moving

The farm's Blue Ridge setting means activities unfold against genuine orchard and pasture land, with pick-your-own apples available as long as fruit remains on the trees, alongside a petting zoo, hay maze, trail rides, and mule cart rides that keep the event feeling like an extension of farm life

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Cooking apple butter in open kettles over wood fire remains the festival's signature tradition

Water and renewal

Living ritual

continuing the practice the Graves family began informally in 1970 when they first invited neighbors to share their harvest

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually October

Getting around

For Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival, plan transport around the exact Syria venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Sturdy farm-appropriate shoes or boots for orchard and pasture terrain, and layered clothing since October mountain weather shifts between warm afternoons and cool mornings.

Safety

Use normal food-market caution, hydrate, and leave time between crowded stalls.

Where to stay

For Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival, stay near the part of Syria you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Entry may be free while tastings, meals, or special tables are paid locally.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map38.92 N, 77.05 WOpen in Google Maps

Syria, VA

Nearest airportDCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National
TransportFor Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival, plan transport around the exact Syria venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival, stay near the part of Syria you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Syria via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Syria, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for October.Compare faresFestival gearSturdy farm-appropriate shoes or boots for orchard and pasture terrain, and layered clothing since October mountain weather shifts between warm afternoons and cool mornings.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival?

Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival is listed for October · Autumn. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Syria, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Autumn is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Syria, VA

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLgravesmountain.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually October
Source statusOfficial source linked
Related festivals

Continue the route.

Photo pending

Qingdao International Beer Festival

17 July–16 August 2026

Qingdao, China
Photo pending

National Cherry Festival

July · Summer

Traverse City, United States
Photo pending

National Cherry Festival

4–6 December 2026

Young, Australia
Photo pending

Oktoberfest

19 September–4 October 2026

Munich, Germany

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →