Johnny Appleseed Days returns to Paradise
California’s oldest harvest festival will be back in action starting today. Johnny Appleseed Days kicks off Saturday at 10 a.m. and continues a Ridge tradition that has been in place since 1888.
Organizers expect more than 5,000 people to show up to the event over the weekend to enjoy slices of apple pie and ice cream.
The sponsor of the event, Noble Orchards, will be offering apples by the bag of the bushel and once again Save Mart is baking the apple pies and will serve the slices in the Save Mart Pie pavilion.
Attendees will also be able to buy the Paradise Chamber of Commerce’s traditional Pie Baking Kits will be available for purchase. The kits are complete with “secret Paradise apple pie spice mix,” Noble Orchards’ Granny Smith apples and a limited- edition commemorative tea towel.
As always local businesses will be on hand to share their goods and services along with artisans from all over the north state who will offer their handicrafts.
The food court is back and offers an outdoor seating area and food and attendees can enjoy the entertainment on the Hometown Stage.
The Paradise Unified School District is once again sponsoring a children’s Games Plaza that features nostalgic games enjoyed by generations of attendees.
And once again Johnny Appleseed will be on the grounds to share stories and visit with guests.
On Friday night the event kicked off with a new event as paradise veterans hosted a hoedown at Paradise Veterans Memorial Hall, 6550 Skyway, on the corner of Elliott Road.
Soul Posse is scheduled to perform.
On Saturday, Paradise Pumpkin Patch will be associated with this celebration and it will be on the front lawn of Paradise Lutheran Church on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Residents are invited to bring their finest fruits, veggies, and flowers to display and can buy from the farmers market and bring seeds to swap or take home for free.
Organizers say that there will also be harvest-themed entertainment on the Pumpkin Patch stage. Visitors can take pictures with the cornstalks and hay bales and compete in the Great Pumpkin Races.
Attendees can also contribute natural items such as fruits, veggies, acorns, autumn leaves and pinecones to a giant interactive “Cornucopia Mandala” that will grow continuously over the weekend.
Another new event of this year’s firsts is Johnny’s Pub which will be at the Paradise Lutheran Church in its community hall also called “The Place” which sits next to the festival.
The pub will serve craft beer and wine and will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p. m. on Sunday. Proceeds support “Fridays for Lunch” free weekly community meals.
Also on Saturday at 10 a. m. the Paradise Chocolate Festival is going to announce its awards distribution of the $ 30,600 collected this year on the Johnny Appleseed festival main stage.
The 2022 Beneficiaries are Achieve Charter School, Boy Scouts 316, Children’s Community Charter School, Cub Scouts 316, Girl Scouts, Gold Nugget Museum, Mindful Littles, Northern California Ballet, Paradise Friends of the Library, Paradise High School Football, Paradise High School Woodshop, Paradise Host Lions Club, Paradise Piranhas Swim Team, Paradise Recreation and Park District, Paradise Rotary Interact, Paradise Stronger, Paradise Veterans Memorial Hall/American Legion, Rainbow Girls and Ridgeview Rangers.
The festival will run Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.