Southington Grandmothers Sought To Be 2023 'Granny Apples'

SOUTHINGTON, CT — So Southington schoolchildren, do you think you have the greatest 'granny' in town?

Then write the Southington Apple Harvest Festival and tell them why.

Local schoolchildren in grades 4, 5 and 6 have until Wednesday, Sept. 20, to submit essays to festival officials behind the annual "Granny Apple Contest."

Basically, contest participants should write the judges and explain why their grandmother is special and why she should be the "Granny Apple" of the festival, which is the town's largest civic celebration.

The festival will take place on the weekends (Friday to Sunday) of Sept. 29-Oct.1 and Oct. 6-8 this year.

It celebrates autumn in New England, as well as the local apple harvest, and features food, entertainment, vendors and rides, among other events. It is a massive tourist event drawing 100,000 annually.

As for the "Granny Apple" essay contest, there are a few rules attached such as a 150-word limit; a requirement that essays be in the child's handwriting; and the fact all grandmothers should be Southington residents.

The winner will be announced during the festival's opening ceremony Sept. 29 and she will ride in the annual parade on Sunday, Oct. 1.

The deadline is Wednesday, Sept. 20 and they can either be mailed to "Apple Harvest Festival - Granny Apple Contest, 75 Main St., Southington, CT 06489" or dropped off at the Southington Recreation Department, which is located in the Southington Senior Center, 388 Pleasant St., during regular business hours Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For the complete rules and guidelines of the 2024 Granny Apple contest, click on this link.

For more information on the 2023 Southington Apple Harvest Festival, click on this link.