Mark your calendars and grab your favorite flannel shirt – the 58th annual AppleJack Festival is back and bigger than ever, serving up two weekends of orchard adventures, small-town charm, and caramel-apple-coated nostalgia.
Whether you’re here for the apples, the carnival rides, the parades, or just the pie, Nebraska City’s most beloved tradition promises two weekends of making memories sweeter than caramel apples.
Weekend One: September 19-21, 2025
The first weekend is a throwback to all your favorite festival traditions:
• Kick things off with the AppleJack Fun Run/Walk
• Enjoy rides and games at the AppleJack Carnival
• Shop local at the flea market and craft shows
• Fill your plate at the AppleJack pancake feed
• Line the streets for the ever-popular AppleJack parade and marching band competition
• Cheer at the water barrel fights or get your adrenaline pumping at extreme bull riding
• Show off your wheels (or admire someone else’s) at the River City Classic Car Club Show
“These are the events that make people smile and say, ‘This is what fall in Nebraska is all about,’” said Amy Allgood, Executive Director of Nebraska City Tourism & Commerce.
Weekend Two: September 27–28, 2025
If you’re here for the apples, the second weekend is all about flavor and fun:
• The family-favorite apple jamboree with petting zoo, rides, and kid-friendly activities
• The downtown cider stroll presented by Crown Royal Apple (a 21+ adventure featuring creative apple-inspired drinks at local stops)
• The action-packed AppleJack wrestling smackdown is bringing high-energy entertainment to the festival lineup
And don’t forget the orchards! From Arbor Day Farm’s Treetop Village and apple picking to Kimmel Orchard’s cider doughnuts and hayrack rides to Union Orchards’ rolling hills and vineyard vibes, Nebraska City offers endless ways to crunch, sip, and savor your way through autumn.
Krystl Knabe, NCTC Tourism & Promotions Events Director, added, “AppleJack truly has something for everyone – from parades to pie, and cider to shopping. No matter your age or interest, there’s always something that will keep you coming back for more in beautiful Nebraska City.”
Event details and updates can be found at www.NebraskaCity.com/Events/AppleJack.
