Apple festivals are a great celebration of the change of seasons. Take the whole family for a drive out to the country to an apple orchard, soak in the breathtaking scenery, and find fresh farm products like homemade apple butter, fried apple pies and old-fashioned cider pressed from apples. Following is a guide to the annual festivals in the capital region.

Want to pick your own apples? See also, a guide to Apple Picking Near Washington DC.

Great Country Farms Apple Gala & Cider Festival
Weekends September 5-20, 2015, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. 18780 Foggy Bottom Road Bluemont, VA. The farm celebrates everything apple with cider tastings and pressing demonstrations, wagon rides, kids crafts,  the 2014 Boulder Crest Retreat Wounded Warrior Corn Maze, giant slide, rope swings, and more.

Winchester Apple-Harvest Arts & Crafts Festival
September 19-20, 2015. Jim Barnett Park, Winchester, VA. The annual event features the works of nearly 100 crafters with items for sale ranging from hand spun Alpaca wool to hand-made jewelry.  There is an Apple Theme Booth, where dozens of varieties of locally grown apples are on display, as well as, samples to taste and an Apple Pie eating contest.  The event is sponsored by the Winchester Rotary to raise funds for local charities.

Shenandoah Apple Butter Celebration
September 19, 2015, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Skyland Resort, Shenandoah National Park (mile 47.1 and 42.5 on Skyline Drive). Celebrate all things Apple Butter with demonstrations, pony rides, children’s crafts, and live entertainment.

  Featured food includes Apple Smoked Pork BBQ, Grilled Chicken with Apple Salsa, Granny Apple Cole Slaw, Apple Cobbler, and Hot & Cold Apple Cider. Virginia wine and cider tastings will also be available.

National Apple Harvest Festival
October 3-4 and 10-11, 2015, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. South Mountain Fairgrounds, 615 Narrows Rd. (PA Route 234), Biglerville, PA. One of the biggest fall festivals in the region, the National Apple Harvest Festival features more than 300 arts & crafts vendors, an artisan demonstration area, strolling characters, antique farm equipment displays and apples of all shapes and sizes. The event has something for everyone with antique cars, steam engine displays, demonstrations, contests, petting zoo, and live entertainment. The festival is located in the heart of Pennsylvania Apple country, near historic Gettysburg, and is within a two hour drive of Washington DC, Baltimore MD, and Harrisburg PA. For more information about the area, see a Visitors Guide to Gettysburg, PA.

Darlington Apple Festival
October 3, 2015, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Shuresville Road, Darlington, MD. The festival includes an outdoor stage with all day entertainment, hundreds of country crafters exhibiting and selling their work, a fall harvest of mums, pumpkins, and of course, apples! There is also a children's area with games, pony rides, hayrides and scarecrow making activities.

Maryland Emancipation Day Celebrations: Fall Apple Festival
2015 Date to Be Announced, Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave. Wheaton, MD. Bring the whole family for apple games, folklore, crafts, hand pressed cider, and of course, made-from-scratch caramel apples!  Learn about this versatile, All American fruit (from Kazakhstan) and the cider making process on a delicious fall afternoon.  Reservations appreciated but not required.

Pumpkin season is here as well and the capital region has a wonderful selection of fall festivals. See a guide to Pumpkin Patches in Maryland and Northern Virginia.