Last year, the tent was packed with interested cider enthusiasts coming from as far away as Washington DC, Jamaica and Mexico!
— by Madie Murray —
Final preparations are being made for the fourth and best Cider and Mead Festival Orcas Island has ever hosted. Up to 20 of your favorite cider and mead producers from all over the Northwest will be offering tastes of 60-80 varieties of ciders and meads under the big white tent on Saturday, May 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Eastsound Village Green on Orcas Island.
Located alongside the Farmers Market on the Village Green, unique and award winning hard ciders and meads will be available to those age 21 and over for as little as $5 per person. Local bands including the Dustbunnies, the Crow Valley Family Band and Orcas grown Andonimus Sessions (Andon Hiltner) will be entertaining the crowd while visitors mingle among the many crafts and food booths at the Farmers Market all during the day.
Andon Hiltner returns to Orcas especially for the Festival
And, one of the special events occurring at the Festival is the Orcas Island Cider Home Brew Competition. Around 2 p.m., The Jim Litch and Rachel Bishop will learn if they are able to accumulate a second amazing #1 Crow Valley trophy plate, or will they be dethroned by another – maybe even Bob, who won the previous year and is planning a comeback. Competition will be tougher, however. Last year there were 16 entries. Each year, the number gets bigger and the brews get better.
Several Orcas restaurants are planning delicious foods prepared with ciders as well as pairing ciders with entrees during that weekend. And Island lodging facilities including SeaStar Lofts and Bayside Cottages are offering Cider Festival lodging specials.
Sponsored by Islanders Bank, the Northwest Cider Association, and Ray’s Pharmacy and General Store, the net proceeds from this event will benefit the Orcas Island Farm to Cafeteria Program.
Keep up with our event via our website: www.orcasislandciderfest.org
or “Like” us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/orcasislandciderfest
