Volume 1, Issue 2

It's Bayfield Apple Festival Time!

The "Best Little Town on Lake Superior" celebrates its 44th annual Apple Festival October 7 - 9th. Named one of Wisconsin's top ten festivals by Wisconsin Trails Magazine, this year's Apple Festival will attract over 50,000 apple lovers!

For three days, orchard owners, artists, musicians, street entertainers, crafters and festival food vendors will line Bayfield streets and parks to welcome thousands of visitors who come to enjoy the bounty of fall harvest and the beauty of Bayfield's gateway setting to the Apostle Islands.

The Bayfield Chamber of Commerce, producer of the Apple Festival, has been working hard to pull together a successful and fun festival for all.

Some of the featured activities include:

• Bayfield's Senior Social Thursday afternoon as the Chamber hosts senior citizens with apple pie and ice cream, cider and music.
• Bayfield's traditional apple pie and dessert contest, sponsored by Bremer Bank, Thursday evening, October 6 at the Lakeside Pavilion.
• Over 60 food and beverage booths featuring all types of festival foods plus Gumbo, Wild Rice Soup, Apple Bratwursts, Onion Blossoms, Apple Dumplings, Apple Crepes, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Corn on the Cob, Turkey Legs…and every type of apple dessert you can imagine!
• 150 Arts & Crafts exhibits in Memorial Park.
• A huge carnival with games and rides for kids of all ages plus face painting.
• The unveiling of the latest puppet character for Bayfield's Applefest by Chris Lutter, Puppet Farm Arts. Chris' latest creation will be an addition to the last year's puppet, "Maddy".
• 2002 North American Music Award winners Brule' entertaining on the Grandstand Stage Friday, Saturday & Sunday.
• Pipes and Drums on Saturday morning at Port Superior Marina.
• Bayfield's own Big Top Chautauqua on the Manypenny stage Saturday and Sunday.
• A Grand Parade, 2 PM on Sunday, featuring the Pipes & Drums of Thunder Bay sponsored by Port Superior Marina also featuring the 500 member "Wisconsin Mass Band".
• The Venetian Boat Parade sponsored by Pike's Bay Marina Saturday evening at 7:30 pm.
• Apple Peeling Contest Saturday at the Big Top Stage.
• Traditional fish boil and dance by the Bayfield Volunteer Firemen, Saturday afternoon & evening.
• Apple Dumpling Gang introductions, prize drawings and parade participation.
• Ongoing Orchard Tours where you can pick your own apples, take pony rides, or enjoy the children's maze.
• Grand tours of the Apostle Islands by the Apostle Islands Cruise Service
• Ferry trips to Madeline Island.
• Musical entertainment at Isle Vista Casino

For a complete schedule of events visit our website at www.bayfield.org.

"Jewels On The Water"

The Apostle Islands can be as pretty as a picture and they have stories to tell. In early October Friends of the Apostle Islands will release "Jewels on the Water: Lake Superior's Apostle Islands", the first-ever hardcover pictorial history of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Written by award-winning writer (and Bayfield resident) Jeff Rennicke, the book features essays on the history, wildlife, lighthouses, and recreation in the islands as well as over 100 stunning photographs by Layne Kennedy, a Minneapolis-based photographer whose work often appears in such publications as Smithsonian, National Geographic Traveler, and others.

At 140 pages and full-color, the hardcover book was funded through the generosity of Martin Hanson, a founding board member of Friends of the Apostle Islands. The book will retail for $35 and will sell as a fund-raiser for Friends of the Apostle Islands.

For more information contact: Friends of the Apostle Islands, P.O. Box 1574, Bayfield, WI 54814 (715)779-3397 ext. 444, or email them through their website at www.friendsoftheapostleislands.org.

Bayfield's Fall Orchard Tours & Scarecrow Festival Continues Through October 31

Bayfield is dressed up in scarecrow finery with over 70 scarecrows on display in town and at Bayfield's adjacent orchards.

Visitors are enjoying the blazing fall colors as Bayfield celebrates the beauty of the land and orchards. Bayfield's fall is warm with spectacular color this year and it's all just beginning.

There's something for all ages at Bayfield's Scarecrow Festival including visiting scarecrow locations, apple and berry picking, pumpkin patches, apple sampling, hayrides, winetasting, ghost walking tours, great shopping and dining, Apostle Islands cruises, sailboat rides, hiking, biking, golfing and enjoying Lake Superior's wonderful beaches. Plus when you visit most of the orchards, you will experience the very best in jams, jellies, apple pies, cider, caramel apples, and the largest variety of apples you can find anywhere!

For further information and specific schedules and maps of the Scarecrow locations, go to www.bayfield.org or call the Bayfield Chamber at 800-447-4094.

If you came for the summer…you will definitely want to return for the winter!

Start planning your trip to Bayfield this winter to experience a winter wonderland filled with recreation, relaxation and thrilling winter play-land events.

Vacation Packages You Can't Pass Up!

October 29 - Apostle Island Dog Sled Symposium, all day workshop and evening program open to the public. Call Eric Morris, 888-700-5681, ext. 1 or call the Bayfield Chamber 800-447-4094. You can also go to NWDMA@redpawfeed.com for info.

November 26 - Town Holiday Tree Lighting, after the lighting, enjoy the Rittenhouse Singers at the Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion along with refreshments.

November 26 - December 17 - Lunch & Dinner Wassail Concerts with the Rittenhouse Singers, reservations through the Old Rittenhouse Inn, 888-644-4667. Get your tickets early because these concerts sell out!

December 3 - Santa Arrives on Madeline Island Ferry, for families, with refreshments and treats at the Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion. 800-447-4094.

December 10 - Christmas Spirit Art Sale, a gathering of the area's artists and crafters selling their wares at the Bayfield Inn. Also included is a Christmas Holiday Tea to benefit Big Top Chautauqua. 800-447-4094.

December 10-11 - Bayfield Holiday Gallery Tour, 800 447-4094.

February 3, 4 & 5 - Apostle Islands Dog Sled Races a memorable event with over 90 dog sled teams.

February 11 - Blue Moon Ball, a grown up prom with a 15 piece orchestra!

February 25 - "Run on Water", a family fun run between Bayfield and Madeline Island

Plus, winter sports of every variety including

• Cross country skiing
• Snowshoeing
• Dog sledding
• Ice cave treks on Lake Superior
• Sledding
• Snowmobiling
• Ice skating
• Winter hikes
• Ice fishing

Bayfield also provides great shopping, theatre, art studio classes, restful firesides, and time for napping.

Bayfield's Great "Inspirational get-aways"

"Cooking and Wine Classes at the Wild Rice Restaurant" on October 11-13 is best bet for those of you who like great food and wine. Tantalize your taste buds and tempt your palate. Here's your opportunity to cook with award winning chefs from Wild Rice. Tuesday enjoy cocktails and "Meet the Chefs" Reception, Wednesday cooking and prep demonstrations, and Wednesday afternoon class and evening dinner including wine. Package rates run $320 to $468.

"Scrapbooking on the Lake" takes place November 11 - 13th with a vacation package that includes two nights lodging, breakfast, snacks, new product ideas and plenty of prizes. Rates range from $248 - $428.

"Quilting with a View" is set for November 18-20 as a three day retreat to finish that UFO or start a new project under the guidance of the Bayfield Quilt Company. Package includes two nights lodging, classes, breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner. Rates vary from $273 - $453.

Lodging is included in the packages. For further information go to www.bayfield.org under lodging or contact the Bayfield Chamber 800-447-4094.

Consider Bayfield For Your Next Small Meeting…

Did you know that Bayfield is a great place to hold small events and meetings? The Bayfield Chamber is prepared to provide meeting planners with customized services. Whether you have a group of two or 200, we can meet your organizational needs. In addition, we offer experienced facilitators.

Bayfield provides meeting rooms, catering, dining, lodging, and plenty of fun activities for team building such as kayaking, fishing, sailing, hiking, massage and spa treatments, horseback riding, golfing, Apostle Islands cruising, ferry trips to Madeline Island, sled dog adventures and art classes. Bayfield also has its own Recreation Center that offers open swimming, racquetball courts and an exercise room.

Call the Bayfield Chamber to book your meeting or event: 800-447-4094.

Bayfield Has Numerous Trails For Great Hiking

If you enjoy hiking, the Bayfield area offers a wide range of hiking trails. These trails are promoted by the Bayfield Regional Conservancy with a mission of "protection and preservation of natural areas, lakes and wetlands, forests and farms of the Bayfield Region." They can be contacted at brc@brcland.org or 715-779-5263.

Here is a sample of the trails:

The Brownstone Trail: (5 miles round trip) Easy walking and biking on an old railroad bed which skirts the lakeshore just south of Bayfield. Trailhead access is at the kiosk on Third Street, kitty-corner from Maggie's Restaurant. You'll enjoy splendid views of Madeline Island, boats crossing the channel and maybe even a black bear in the spring and fall!

Big Ravine Trail: (2 miles round trip) Hike uphill along the steep, hemlock-studded rim of the big ravine. Take young children by the hand! Trailhead access is on 4th Street uphill to the Bayfield School. Turn left on Sweeny and park at the baseball field. The trail is behind the fence to the right.

The Iron Bridge Nature Trail (1/2 mile round trip): This magical winding trail is for sure footed hikers and follows the ravine creek under the old Iron Bridge and uphill to a rocky grotto with small waterfall. Pick up the trail at the Iron Bridge.

Mt. Ashwabay Ski Area: Cross country ski trail hiking of various distances. The trails are easy to challenging depending on your route. Mt. Ashwabay is located several miles south of Bayfield.

Sioux River Flats Beach Trail (3.8 miles round trip): Walk along Lake Superior shoreline from Bayview Park Road to the Sioux River. Beach access is five miles south from Bayfield on Highway 13.

Myers Beach Trails:A great hiking challenge is Myers Beach Road 13 miles north of Bayfield. This challenging rugged hike requires good hiking boots and takes hikers up along the ridge over Lake Superior. Hikers can also get a bird's eye view of the famous Lake Superior sea caves below. A large federal sign identifies Myers Road off of Highway 13.

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