Cider Festival

This November 8th, join the Frontier Culture Museum, Virginia Humanities, and the Virginia Cider Association for a one of a kind event in Staunton, Virginia. From 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, explore how apples and cider helped shape the culture of the Valley of Virginia through historical interpretation and modern day cider tastings. The event will include living history demonstrations, author talks, live museum, and cider tasting.

Joining us for this event is celebrated cider historian Mark Turdo. For over twenty years Mark A. Turdo, historian and museum professional, has been researching and recreating historic alcoholic cider. He is especially interested in early American cider and cider culture, including who was making it, who was drinking it, and why it was more common than beer. In 2013 he began the Pommel Cyder blog (https://pommelcyder.wordpress.com) where he shares his adventures in cider research and his experiments in cidermaking.

We will also be joined by apple grower and basket maker Clyde Jenkins, and foodways historians Leni Sorensen & Elizabeth Beamon.

This event is a general admission event, with an additional option to add on a tasting ticket option, which includes five 4oz. pours from Virginia cideries.  Purchase your tickets now at: https://frontierculturemuseum.shop.koronaevent.com/en/offers/t551.

There are a limited number of commemorative tasting glasses available for those who prepurchase tickets, the first 50 annual passholders to purchase tasting tickets that day will also receive a commemorative tasting glass. The remaining commemorative glasses will be given out first come, first serve to walk ups. 

*If you are having difficulties purchasing your tickets, please call 540-332-7850 and one of our staff members can help!

Cideries

We are excited to welcome the following cideries for this year’s Cider Festival.

• Ciders from Mars
• Albemarle CiderWorks
• Old Hill Cider
• Daring Wine & Cider
• Big Fish Cider Co.

Food Trucks

We are excited to be joined by three food trucks for this event! We will have Smokeshow BBQ, the American Corndog Company, and Blue Ridge Cider Donuts!

Book Sales

Stone Soup Books will be selling books from our authors from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM at our 1850s Barn.

Please note golf carts will not be available for rent during this event. Shuttles will be running.

If you are an annual passholder, you can purchase a tasting ticket for $13 at the door. Presales at this price are not available for annual passholders via our website. 

There will be no refunds granted for this event.

Schedule of Events

All Day Activities (11:00 AM – 5:00 PM):

• Book sales with Stone Soup Books
• Food trucks
• Cider tastings
• Living history demonstrations

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM

• Presentation with apple grower Clyde Jenkins at 1850s

12:45 – 1:00 PM

• Presentation of Folklife Apprenticeship Certificates in 1850s Barn

1:00 – 2:30 PM

• Lau Project performance in 1850s Barn

1:30 – 2:00 PM

• Presentation with apple grower Clyde Jenkins at 1850s

3:00 – 4:00 PM

• In conversation with Diane Flynt, Gregory Hansard, and Allistair Reece

4:00 – 4:45 PM

• Book signings with Diane Flynt, Gregory Hansard, and Allistair Reece