Chilhowie Apple Festival to celebrate USA's 250th
The festival’s parade is always a highlight of the three-day event.
The celebration of this country’s 250th anniversary will continue next weekend at one of Smyth County’s largest festivals.
The 72nd Chilhowie Community Apple Festival’s Saturday parade will feature a special opening event this year. With a theme of “Wheels, Wagons, Salute!”, festival organizers are encouraging children and families to patriotically decorate bikes, strollers, wagons, and other non-motorized wheels and take part in the event.
This patriotic display will officially open the parade.
Next up in the parade will be the grand marshals. This year, that honor has gone to the 2025 Chilhowie High School VHSL 4x100 meter Relay State Champions, including state champions Raegan Jones (Track & Field state champion in 2025 and 2026), Dalton Hester, Mady Heath, and Abby Bogle.
As always, the parade is expected to also feature marching bands, floats, and more.
Miss Apple Festival
While the heart of the festival is set for Sept. 24-27, Miss Apple Festival is being named today, Sept. 19. In addition to the pageants, hosts have invited local small businesses, crafters, civic organizations, and independent direct sales consultants to host a vendor market, so spectators and families can shop while enjoying the pageant events. The pageants will be held at Chilhowie High School beginning at noon.
Indoor Exhibits
Two new exhibit divisions have been added to the opportunities to share talents with the community.
Festival organizers said they were inspired by community creativity when they added the new exhibit divisions: LEGO & Model Building and Upcycled & Repurposed Arts.
With the exhibits, the country’s 250th anniversary will continue to be celebrated. Each of the seven exhibit divisions will also feature a dedicated category highlighting the USA 250 anniversary, with special rosette ribbons awarded to the winners.
Indoor Exhibits will be hosted in the Old High School beginning Friday, Sept. 25, with entry registration taking place on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 4-7 p.m.
Upgraded Storytime Train Rides
The popular Storytime Train has received a facelift.
Festivalgoers can hop aboard for a ride around the streets of Chilhowie while exploring the surrounding craft and vendor booths. Rides are $1 per person with the loading area located right in front of the Old High School.
Want to Know More
The official 2026 Apple Festival catalog is available at local businesses and spots around Chilhowie.
Information is also available on the festival’s Facebook page and the Town of Chilhowie’s website, chilhowie.org, which also includes a digital version of the catalog.
Traffic Notes
To alleviate traffic congestion during peak festival hours, Chestnut Avenue and Aker Avenue will operate as one-way streets. Traffic will flow on Aker Avenue from the Baptist Church toward Old Stage Road. Traffic on Chestnut Avenue will flow from Old Stage Road back toward the Baptist Church.
Yard Sale & Liability Notice
Private yard sales on personal property are permitted during festival week; however, festival organizers emphasized that hosts and property owners assume all associated risks and responsibilities.
Festival Food, Music, and More
Live music will be featured Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It kicks off with a Chilhowie High School Chorus performance on Friday at 1 p.m. at the Will Walker Farmers Market.
Children’s crafts, amusements, and train rides take place each day.
A Dark Apple Festival Cruise-In will get underway at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
A pet show is set for Sunday afternoon.
