Chilhowie Apple Festival
Once the apple-growing capital of southwestern Virginia and the second largest apple producer in the state, Chilhowie takes pride in its agricultural and orchard heritage. Each September, the community still celebrates the apple with the Chilhowie Community Apple Festival. Activities include a parade, food vendors selling regional delicacies, arts & crafts, a marching band competition, a Chilhowie High School football game, a pet show, a beauty pageant and live musical entertainment.
Annually since the first festival on October 2-3, 1953, thousands have gathered for food, fun and old-fashioned fellowship. The seed for hosting the first event was planted by a small group of locals who were just forming a new Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) with the purpose of improving the town. Several members of the new group visited the Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia and once home, the budding group organized to put the idea into action.
Festival-goers have experienced as many varieties of entertainment over the years as there have been varieties of Virginia apples, including: local apple orchard, packing house, and caner tours; sky-diving exhibitions; professional square dance and clogging performances; musical entertainers; a Model-T car comedy;a motorcycle show; and pony & horse shows. Public participation events have included tractor-driving contests, talent shows, square dancing, baby shows, sock hops, street dances, Kid's Day activities, peanut football games, quartet singing, and barbecued chicken suppers.