Spring Fest, Apple Festival & A Live Taste Test! | Let’s Talk Bethlehem Ep. 6
- Ryan Conrad
- Feb 28
- 3 min read
Season 1 | Episode 6
Bethlehem is gearing up for two exciting events, and who better to discuss them than Gina Kay, Executive Director of the Taylorsville Apple Festival? In this episode of Let’s Talk Bethlehem, we dive into the rich history of the Apple Festival, the brand-new Spring Fest 2025, and even put our taste buds to the test with a live apple tasting! 🍏🍎
The Taylorsville Apple Festival: 35+ Years of Tradition
Founded in 1988, the Taylorsville Apple Festival has grown from a small community gathering into an event that draws over 35,000 attendees each year. Originally started by the Sugar Loaf Community Association, the festival was taken over by the Taylorsville Hometown Development Association in 1996, growing into one of North Carolina’s largest fall celebrations.
Gina shares what it takes to organize an event of this scale, the economic and cultural impact of the festival on the community, and what visitors can expect in 2025.
Spring Fest 2025: Bethlehem’s Grand Opening Celebration
For the first time ever, Bethlehem will host Spring Fest 2025 on May 17th, 2025, at the newly renovated Bethlehem Park! Organized by the Bethlehem Lions Club, with Gina Kay offering expert guidance, this event is set to be an unforgettable celebration of local talent, vendors, and community spirit.
Spring Fest will feature:
✅ Craft & food vendors
✅ Pickleball tournament & special sporting activities
✅ Live music & school performances
✅ Vintage car show
✅ Balloon artist & face painting
✅ Shuttle parking with RedSuit Railroad
✅ Bouncy Houses for the kids
All proceeds will go toward helping the visually impaired, making this not just a festival, but a cause worth supporting.
Live Apple Taste Test: Which One Reigns Supreme?
It wouldn’t be an apple-themed episode without an official taste test! Gina and I tried six apple varieties, ranking them based on texture and flavor:
🍏 Granny Smith – Tart & crisp 🍎 Gala – Sweet & mild 🍎 Red Delicious – Classic, but controversial 🍯 Honeycrisp – Explosively crisp & juicy 🌸 Pink Lady – Sweet-tart perfection 🍎 Fuji – Super sweet with a dense crunch
Along the way, we discussed wild apple facts, including:
Honeycrisp was once patented, earning the University of Minnesota millions in royalties.
Red Delicious is one of the most hated apples due to breeding for appearance over taste.
Fuji apples contain more natural sugar than a can of soda!
Pink Lady is a trademarked name, and only certain apples meet the quality standard to use it.
Who took the top spot? You’ll have to tune in to find out! 🎧🍏
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Final Thoughts
Whether you’re excited for Spring Fest 2025, a longtime fan of the Apple Festival, or just love a good apple taste test showdown, this episode has something for everyone. 🍏🎙️
What’s your favorite apple? Drop a comment below! 🍎👇
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