It’s almost fall in the Finger Lakes which means colorful foliage, cool sunny days, and the Historic Naples Grape Festival.
Neighbor to Italy (yes, seriously), lies the quaint Upstate New York village of Naples, otherwise known as the ‘Grape Pie Capital of the World’ and home to the annual Historic Naples Grape Festival.
This year’s festival takes place from Sept. 24-25 along the town’s North Main Street from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. both days.
The Naples Grape Festival celebrates concord grape season in the Finger Lakes. Sept. 25, 2021 Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com
Dating back to the late 1800s, the festival has celebrated the local community and its bounty of Concord and Catawba grapes, whose season runs from late September to mid-October.
The fair features many food vendors, wine makers, artisan booths, a beverage garden, multiple music acts, and of course, all things grape. Previous events have featured grape lemonade, grape slushies, grape ice cream, grape bread, grape bars, and the area’s signature grape pies.
The Naples Grape Festival celebrates concord grape season in the Finger Lakes. Sept. 25, 2021 Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.comSunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyu
The grape fest also holds the “World’s Greatest Grape Pie” Contest. Aspiring and accomplished pie bakers will compete for the best jammy pastry in all the land. If you want to check out the contenders, head to the front lawn of the Memorial Town Hall at noon on Saturday the 24 and watch the winner be crowned.
A Concord grape pie from the Naples Valley Farmers Market at Hanggi's Tree Farm in the Finger Lakes. Sept. 25, 2021 Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com
After the winners are chosen, the remaining pies will be auctioned off to the lucky crowd.
New for the 2022 Grape Festival is the Kid’s Zone where children ages 5-12 can make grape themed crafts and the Grape Country Family Park where patrons can find a table to sit and eat their festival foods and take a break. Both are located next to each other in front of Naples Central School.
While in Naples, you can also take a hike to a waterfall at Grimes Glen Park, just a short ways away from the hustle and bustle from the festival.
Monica's Pies in Naples, NY serves up Concord grape pies in the Finger Lakes. Sept. 25, 2021 The owner has since retired, but will be open during the 2022 Grape Festival. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com
Can’t make the festival, but still want to try a great grape pie? Check out local Naples grape pie bakeries sell them throughout the season and some will even ship directly to you.
See the official Naples Grape Festival website for full event schedules, parking information, and more.
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