News Release

NAPPANEE — The Nappanee Apple Festival returns Thursday, Sept. 16, for a four-day run.

The festival will feature three stages of entertainment, more than 150 exhibitors, carnival rides and a parade with a signature military aircraft flyover,

Other traditional events will include the Miss Apple Blossom scholarship pageant, a cornhole tournament, 5K road run, “Napple” baking contest, garden tractor pull and kids and adult pedal pull contests. There will be a “Wings and Wheels” show at Nappanee airport, apple peeling and pie-eating contests.

Headlining the entertainment will be The Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team. Their performances begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday and run through 2:30 p.m Sunday on the free entertainment stages. Featured on season 8 of the NBC reality competition series “America’s Got Talent,” the team’s performances include amazing acrobatic stunts and tricks inside twirling jump ropes, catapulting off mini trampolines and thundering tumbling routines with impeccable timing.

The other two stages will offer music ranging from classic rock, folk, bluegrass, country, gospel and kids’ favorites, including comedy juggler and ventriloquist Mike Hemmelgarn, Silly Safaris and the Granpa Crachet Kids Show and Puppets. ­­

A complete list of entertainment, events and map can be downloaded from the 2021 Apple Festival Events brochure at nappaneeapplefestival.org.