What to Snag at the National Apple Harvest Festival: A Local's Guide to the Best Jars at the Fair

Visitors enjoying the National Apple Harvest Festival in Biglerville, Pennsylvania

There is something special about spending a crisp October day at the National Apple Harvest Festival. The South Mountain Fairgrounds in Biglerville, Pennsylvania, fill with music, crafts, farm displays, family activities, tempting food, and the unmistakable scent of apples and warm spices.

If you are planning to attend this year, make room in your shopping bag. Uglie Acres will have a booth at the festival with small-batch jams, jellies, fruit butters, BBQ sauces, homemade candy, fudge, and seasonal favorites made for bringing home.

The festival takes place October 3–4 and October 10–11, 2026. Saturday hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can find official information, tickets, directions, and planning details at the National Apple Harvest Festival website.

Here is our local guide to the jars and treats worth looking for when you visit.

Start with the seasonal apple favorites

The apple products are the natural place to begin. They capture everything people love about fall: baked-apple flavor, cinnamon, caramel-like sweetness, and the cozy feeling of a dessert cooling on the kitchen counter.

Apple Pie Jam

If you enjoy the taste of a homemade apple pie, Apple Pie Jam belongs near the top of your list. It has the familiar flavor of tender apples and warm pie spices in a spreadable form.

Try it on:

  • Warm biscuits or English muffins
  • Toast with butter
  • Pancakes and waffles
  • A bowl of oatmeal
  • Vanilla ice cream

Apple Pie Jam is also a thoughtful hostess gift or holiday stocking stuffer. It is one of those jars that makes an ordinary breakfast feel like a weekend treat.

Cinnamon Apple Jam

Cinnamon Apple Jam offers another take on classic fall flavor. The apple flavor comes through brightly, while cinnamon adds warmth without making the jam feel too heavy.

Spread it on toast, layer it into a grilled cheese sandwich, or swirl a spoonful into oatmeal before serving. It is also delicious stirred into plain yogurt or spooned over a simple pound cake.

If you are shopping for someone who loves apple-picking season, homemade pies, and traditional Pennsylvania flavors, this is an easy jar to choose.

Homemade apple butter

A festival visit is not complete without looking for homemade apple butter. Apple butter is slow-cooked until the apples become smooth, concentrated, and richly spiced. It is wonderful on toast, biscuits, pancakes, pork, and so many other foods.

A jar of Uglie Acres homemade apple butter

At Uglie Acres, we make preserves in small batches using family-inspired recipes and carefully balanced ingredients. We grow and use our own fruit whenever possible, while also sourcing additional produce from local stands, farmers markets, friends, and neighbors.

If you have been searching for apple butter for sale, the festival is a great opportunity to pick up a jar directly from us and ask questions about serving ideas. Apple butter also travels well, making it a practical addition to a fall care package or holiday gift basket.

Bring home something savory, too

Not everything on your festival shopping list needs to be sweet. A good fruit-based BBQ sauce can turn a simple weeknight meal into something special.

Hickory Apple BBQ Sauce

Our Hickory Apple BBQ Sauce combines the cozy sweetness of apples with a smoky hickory character. It is especially useful when you want a sauce with both sweet and savory notes.

Use it on:

  • Pulled pork sandwiches
  • Grilled chicken
  • Pork loin
  • Ribs
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Burgers or meatloaf

For an easy fall dinner, brush Hickory Apple BBQ Sauce over pork loin during the last part of cooking so the sauce can cling to the meat without scorching. You can also serve it on the side as a dipping sauce.

A selection of Uglie Acres fruit-infused BBQ sauces

If you enjoy trying a new hickory apple BBQ sauce each autumn, pick up an extra bottle for entertaining. It is the kind of pantry item that comes in handy when guests arrive or when you need a quick way to add flavor to dinner.

Do not overlook the Apple Sonkers

Apple Sonkers are a homespun apple dessert with the comforting feel of an old-fashioned baked treat. They are made for enjoying warm, especially when served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Think of them as a hearty, saucy apple dessert that fits right in with the festival atmosphere. If you are bringing one home, warm it gently before serving and add vanilla ice cream on top. The contrast between the warm apples and cool ice cream makes this a memorable fall treat.

Apple Sonkers are also a fun choice for sharing. Bring one to a family dinner, serve it after a Sunday meal, or save it for a quiet evening when you want something more special than an everyday dessert.

What else can you find at the Uglie Acres booth?

The apple favorites are only part of the selection. Uglie Acres makes 57 flavors of jam and jelly, along with fruit butters, BBQ sauces, homemade candy, and peanut butter fudge.

Depending on what you are in the mood for, look for:

  • Pear butter
  • Pumpkin butter
  • Mulberry jam
  • Watermelon BBQ Sauce
  • Garlic & Onion Pepper Jam
  • Grandpa’s Sweet Pepper Jam
  • Sweet Red Pepper Jam
  • Grandpa’s Hot Pepper Jam
  • Jalapeno Pepper Jam
  • Fire Pepper Jam
  • Ghost Pepper Jam
  • Reaper Pepper Jam
  • Homemade fudge
  • Small-batch candies

Uglie Acres mulberry jam in two glass jars

Mulberry jam is a particularly good choice for anyone looking for a hard-to-find preserve. It has a deep fruit flavor and makes a beautiful pairing with toast, biscuits, cream cheese, or a simple cheese board.

Pepper jams are another favorite for entertaining. Look for Garlic & Onion Pepper Jam, Grandpa’s Sweet Pepper Jam, Sweet Red Pepper Jam, Grandpa’s Hot Pepper Jam, Jalapeno Pepper Jam, Fire Pepper Jam, Ghost Pepper Jam, and Reaper Pepper Jam. Serve them over cream cheese with crackers, use them as a glaze, or add a spoonful to a sandwich for a sweet-and-spicy bite. If Fire Pepper, Ghost Pepper, or Reaper Pepper Jam is on your list, pick them up early at the festival, since those three are available in limited supply.

Uglie Acres pepper jam displayed in glass jars

Which items should you buy first?

We cannot promise which products will sell out at the festival, but seasonal apple items are the ones we recommend shopping for early. Apple Pie Jam, Cinnamon Apple Jam, Hickory Apple BBQ Sauce, and Apple Sonkers are all especially well suited to the fall event, and popular flavors can go quickly during a busy festival weekend.

If you have a specific item in mind, make it one of your first stops. Then take time to browse the rest of the booth. You may arrive looking for apple jam and leave with a jar of mulberry, a bottle of fruit-infused BBQ sauce, and a box of fudge for later.

Shopping early also makes it easier to carry your purchases while you continue exploring the fairgrounds. A sturdy bag or small cooler can be useful if you plan to spend the whole day visiting vendors and enjoying the food.

A farmers market jam stand with a family-farm story

Uglie Acres is a family farm in Windsor, Pennsylvania. Our preserves and sweets are inspired by cherished family recipes, childhood memories, and a love of traditional homemade food.

We prioritize fresh ingredients, use fruit from our farm whenever possible, and make our products in small batches. Our recipes are made with all-natural ingredients and without artificial sweeteners or artificial colors. We have also been selling on Etsy for more than 13 years, giving us plenty of experience carefully preparing and packaging our products for customers.

That is what makes a farmers market jam or festival purchase different from picking up a mass-produced spread at the grocery store. Each jar has a personal story behind it, from the fruit and recipe to the people who made it.

What if you cannot make it to the festival?

If you cannot attend the National Apple Harvest Festival, you can still visit Uglie Acres online to see what is available. Some seasonal products may be limited, and availability can change after the festival weekends, so it is a good idea to check early if you are looking for a particular flavor.

Whether you visit us in Biglerville or order from home, we hope you find something that brings a little taste of autumn to your kitchen. Pick up Apple Pie Jam for breakfast, Hickory Apple BBQ Sauce for dinner, an Apple Sonker for dessert, and maybe one more jar simply because it reminds you of fall.

We will see you at the National Apple Harvest Festival on October 3–4 and October 10–11!