October is the time when Val di Non and Val di Sole celebrate the apple, the symbolic fruit of the region and the first in Europe to obtain PDO status. Events dedicated to apple harvesting and apple‑growing culture offer authentic experiences, perfect for families and nature lovers.
Every year, on the second weekend of October, a new edition of Pomaria comes to life: the great harvest festival that celebrates the apple in all its forms—history, cultivation, tastings, workshops, and activities for both adults and children.
Apple Harvest
lso known locally as coidura, the apple harvest is a ritual that involves thousands of people across Val di Non and Val di Sole. The different varieties are picked between September and October, when the orchards reach full maturity.
In recent years, many farms have opened their doors to visitors, turning a traditional activity into a participatory experience:
- learning how to pick apples correctly,
- placing them carefully into the giabioni,
- spending a day immersed in rural life.
For children, it is both educational and fun, often ending with a small crate of apples they picked themselves.
Adopt an Apple Tree and Pick Your First Apple
Among the most beloved initiatives is Adopt an Apple Tree, offered by the Strada della Mela and several farm stays in the valley. The experience includes:
- visiting the orchard in spring, choosing your tree, and giving it a name,
- the farmer taking care of it throughout the season,
- returning in autumn to pick apples directly from your own tree.
Two options are available:
- with an overnight stay (spring + autumn),
- remotely, with the harvest shipped to your home.
The typical reward is a crate of about 15 kg of apples per person; for children, a workshop to build a small wooden crate is often included.
Pomaria: The Great Harvest Festival
Pomaria is the most important event dedicated to apples, and in recent years it has become itinerant.
Key elements of the festival include:
- a pomological exhibition with hundreds of ancient and modern varieties,
- taste workshops, show‑cooking sessions, and guided tastings,
- the producers’ market of the Strada della Mela,
- the Temporary Apple Store, where visitors can discover rare and unusual varieties.
Pomaria is also an opportunity to explore local craftsmanship, the agricultural history of the valley, and traditional rural culture.
Apple Blossom
But the #AppleEvents don’t end there. Apples in the Dolomite valleys offer unexpected surprises even in spring. The apple blossom is a breathtaking spectacle, although its timing varies depending on weather and soil conditions. Thousands of delicate white petals transform the landscape into a scene worth capturing.
