The Old Apple Tree Festival in Vancouver, Washington has its roots seeped in romance. The star of a the festival is a 185 year Old Apple Tree. However, the story begins years before at a formal dinner in 1925.
At that dinner, a young British woman during a casual flirtation with a naval officer, put apple seeds left over from dessert in the pocket of his dinner jacket. She instructed him to plant the seeds once he reached the Northwest wilderness.
According to diary accounts, the Lieutenant forgot about the seeds until months later when he found them in the pocket of his jacket. Once discovered, he gave them to Dr. John McLoughlin, known for his contributions to the development of the Pacific Northwest.
In 1826, McLoughlin had a gardener plant the seeds at a site located at Fort Vancouver. 
The Old Apple Tree is the only one remaining of the five original trees. It has withstood floods, freezes, wind storms and ever encroaching infrastructure.
The Old Apple Tree Festival celebrates apples, heritage trees and community. The free event offers tree pruning workshops, children's activities and cider pressing. The annual Old Apple Festival is held on the first Saturday of October.
The celebration begins at 11AM at the Old Apple Tree Park located on Columbia Way. The Urban Forestry Commission is giving away free cuttings from the Old Apple Tree while supplies last. Arrive early for your piece of living history with its roots seeped in romance!
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