FORTUNA ANNUAL APPLE HARVEST BEGINS SATURDAY

The people of Fortuna are busy tying all the loose ends together for the 28th Annual Apple Harvest Festival.
What use to be a one day event is now two days, with activities ranging from a Dutch oven cook-off to helicopter landings.
 
“There will be a black hawk and I believe also a cobra helicopter,” said Daniel Weber, Apple Harvest Chair. “So a couple helicopters and they'll be at the south school location.”
 
A hay wagon will take event goers to the different locations where the activities are happening. One of the stops is at Clendenen’s Cider Works, where the Apple Harvest Festival first began.
 
“We've been in business since 1909 when my great grandfather started it,” said Drew Clendenen. “We've been doing fresh cider and apples ever since.”
 
Drew is the fourth generation of Clendenen’s, and now manages the orchard. He says they have 29 varieties of apples and some of the trees date back to 1886.
 
On Saturday, Main Street will be blocked off from 9th to 12th street.
 
Starting at 10 a.m. attendees can catch the hay wagon to not only Clendenen’s Cider Works, but also Rohner Park, downtown Fortuna, Redwood Village Shopping Center, South Fortuna Elementary School, Strongs Creek Plaza, and Ray’s Food Place.
 
An array of entertainment will be offered at each location. On Sunday, the Harvest Market opens at 11 a.m.