The Big Apple Welcomes New York City Apple Day Festival – September 18, 2011
New York, New York – August, 2011 – The Lower East Side Business Improvement District (LES BID) is proud to announce the 2011 NYC Apple Day festival. Now in its fourth year, the free festival celebrates the history of a neighborhood where an apple orchard once grew. The orchard became Orchard Street on NYC’s thriving Lower East Side, and the festival brings to life everything apple. It’s a special place where New Yorkers, and visitors alike, can become “urban farmers” for an entire day on Sunday, September 18, 2010.
Specifically, the New York City Apple Day festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 18, 2011 and will take place on Orchard Street between Broome and Grand Streets. Dozens of local businesses, as well as upstate apple growers, will be participating. The festival is free and open to the public.
Founded in 2008 by LES BID President, Mark Miller, the Apples on Orchard festival was created to pay tribute to the neighborhood’s rich historical connection to apples. In the 1700s, the Lower East Side was home to an apple orchard owned by a farmer named James De Lancey, Sr. Today, both the farmer and the orchard are remembered in the street names on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
“There is something for everyone from the Big Apple at NYC Apple Day, from food, to competitions to family activities and music,” says Bob Zuckerman, Executive Director of the Lower East Side Business Improvement District. “We expect this year to be the biggest apple celebration on record in New York City where local restaurants, businesses, and upstate farmers will be participating and offering apple themed sensations.”
This year for the first time, NYC Apple Day will host the Apple Day National Apple Pie Eating Championship. The competition is open to both professional and amateur competitive eaters. Prizes of $500 for 1st place, $300 for 2nd place and $100 for 3rd place will be awarded. In addition, there will be an award of $100 to the LES resident who places the highest in the eating competition. Aspiring competitors may view complete rules and sign up to participate in the competition at www.CompetitiveEaters.com. The competition will take place at 2 p.m. on Orchard Street (at Grand Street).
There will be activities and culinary delights for all ages, including upstate New York apple producers Red Jacket Orchards proudly presenting countless varieties of apples. Further, a wide-array of local restaurants will be offering apple-related dishes including
Georgia’s Eastside BBQ presenting Applewood Smoked BBQ Sandwiches, German inspired creations by Café Katja, among many other delicious participants. To be sure that no member of the family is left out, The Mark Miller Gallery will have an interactive (free) art table for kids. For an updated list of activities and participants, visit: www.LowerEastSideNY.com/events/nyc-apple-day/.
On the entertainment front, NYC Apple Day will feature free performances by some of New York City’s up and coming artists, performing live on Orchard Street.
How to get to NYC Apple Day:
Getting to the festival is easy, as many of NYC’s subways drop you off just a few blocks from Orchard Street. You can take the J/M or F to Delancey/Essex, the F to Houston/2nd Avenue and walk a few blocks south on Orchard, the D/B to Grand Street, or the F to Canal Street.
ABOUT THE LOWER EAST SIDE BID (LES BID)
Established in 1992, the Lower East Side Business Improvement District (LES BID) is a non-profit economic development organization created to revitalize the Orchard Street Shopping District while preserving its unique and diverse character. Today, the LES BID is a community of over 500 merchants and property owners managed by a Board of Directors and consisting of local merchants, property owners, residents and elected officials. The LES BID promotes the local businesses, develops events, and provides community beautification services. For more information about the Lower East Side, visit www.LowerEastSideNY.com.
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