Bayfield’s beloved Apple Festival celebrated its 63rd year with three days of family fun, delicious treats, friendly competition, and small-town charm. Visitors from across the Midwest gathered to enjoy parades, contests, live music, and plenty of apples.
From record-breaking peels to award-winning pies, here are some of the standout moments and winners from the 2025 Bayfield Apple Festival.
Join us next year on October 2-4, 2026!
🍎 New Record Set in the Apple Peeling Contest
This year’s Apple Peeling Contest brought out impressive skill and steady hands. Participants had 60 minutes to remove the longest unbroken peel possible — and one competitor made history! Thank you to our generous sponsors Gichi Gami House and Queen's View Bed and Breakfast, and a special thanks to our dedicated volunteers who made this event possible.
Adult Division
🥇 Patricia Hochstetler, Goshen, IN — 442 inches (NEW RECORD!)
Patricia traveled all the way to Bayfield just to compete in the Apple Peeling Contest. After impressing the crowd in 2024 with a 317-inch peel, she returned this year determined to outdo herself — and she did! Not only did she break her personal best, but she also shattered the festival’s long-standing record, setting a new benchmark that will be hard to beat.
🥈 Brett Lakie, St. Paul, MN — 212 inches
🥉 Ariah Fine, Minneapolis, MN — 147 inches
Youth Division
🥇 Connor Hendrick, Eau Claire, WI — 107 inches
Connor is no stranger to the Apple Peeling Contest — he took home the title in 2024 and came back this year ready to defend his crown. After peeling an impressive 82 inches last year, he absolutely crushed that mark this time around, setting a new personal best and proving he’s still the champ to beat!
🥈 Sierra Letourneal, Hermantown, MN — 62 inches
🥉 Audrey Hendrick, Eau Claire, WI — 58 inches
The previous record of 387 inches, set back in 2009, was officially broken — congratulations, Patricia!
🎉 Parade Winners: Apple Festival Grand Parade
The Apple Festival Grand Parade brought color, creativity, and community spirit to downtown Bayfield. Thousands lined the streets to cheer on the floats and marching groups.
Judges’ Choice:
🏆 Iron River Lions Club
Orchard Division:
🥇 Erickson’s Orchard – A Journey Through the Decades
🥈 Hauser’s Superior View Farm
Visiting Royalty Division:
🥇 Milltown Royalty
🥈 Balsam Lake Royalty
🥉 River Road Ambassadors
Business/Nonprofit Division:
🥇 Sierra Club
🥈 Bayfield Lumber Company
🥉 Pete Sokolich and His Classic Cars
You can relive the Grand Parade by watching on the Bayfield Apple Festival Facebook Page.
🥧 Apple Pie and Dessert Contest Winners
(Photo Credit: JD Bass Photography)
The aroma of freshly baked pies filled the air as 33 entries competed in this year’s Apple Pie and Dessert Contest, held Wednesday, September 24.
Thank you to our generous sponsors Broad Street Brokers and Nordic Ware, and a special thanks to our dedicated volunteers and judges who made this event possible.
Commercial Apple Pie
🥇 Beta Bodin, Sweet Sailing
🥈 Nestia from Moldova, Sweet Sailing
Home-Baked All-American Apple Pie
🥇 Beth Erickson
🥈 Nora Cadotte
Youth Pie and Dessert
🥇 Elana Bethany Koch
Home-Baked Creative Apple Pie
🥇 Marnie Krueger (Cran-Apple Cheddar Holiday Pie)
🥈 Serenity Walker
Commercial Apple Dessert
🥇 Sharon Johnson (Caramel Apple Custard Cake), Pier Plaza
🥈 Janine Johnson (Apple Crumble Cake), Pier Plaza
Home-Baked Apple Dessert
🥇 Shelli McMullen
🥈 Michael Burg
Photo credit: JD Bass Photography
You can watch the Award Winners on our Apple Festival Facebook Page.
💸 50/50 Raffle Winner
Congratulations to Jason S. with the winning ticket (#065136), the lucky winner of this year’s 50/50 raffle, taking home $1,705! Proceeds help support Chamber events throughout the year. You can watch the drawing on our Apple Festival Facebook Page.
🍏 Thank You, Bayfield!
The Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau extends heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, volunteers, participants, and visitors who made the 63rd Annual Bayfield Apple Festival a success. Join us next year on October 2-4, 2026!
