Where Apples Meet Amplifiers - Blue Mountains Cider Festival is Back

The undeniable zest of summer is in the air and that means it’s time to mark your calendars and tell your boss you’ve got a very important apple-related appointment coming up, because on Saturday, June 21, Spy Cider House and Distillery is throwing open its orchard gates for what promises to be one of the most delicious days of the season. Back for its second year, we’re getting excited for Blue Mountains Cider Festival.

Set on 80 acres of prime apple-producing real estate, Spy is the very soul of the event. You’re not just drinking local craft cider; you’re standing in its birthplace. That “farm to glass” thing isn’t just a catchy phrase here; it’s the whole damn vibe. And with the Town of Blue Mountains and Drink ON Apples jumping on board as festival partners this year, you know this shindig is legit, cementing its status as a serious contender in Ontario’s rapidly expanding craft beverage scene.

“There’s a pretty cool synergy… It’s always fun to see what the others bring and share. It’s inspiring and gets our innovative and collaborative juices flowing.”

So, what can you expect this year? Spy’s Director of Operations, Sales & Marketing, Heather Smith, says it’s all about embracing community and nurturing new partnerships.

“We’re ramping up from the educational to the entertaining this year, and really rounding out our offerings,” says Heather. “Our goal is to celebrate the diverse varieties of cider and apples, and to showcase the incredible cider makers across our province. We also aim to educate atte ndees on terroir, growing practices, and production approaches.”

For 2025, Spy will play host to over a dozen of Ontario’s finest cider makers, ready to pour their apple-ly goodness into your glass. Forget your basic grocery store and LCBO stuff; we’re talking about the good stuff here that’s only available exclusively from their respective tanks. From the bone-dry, traditional pours that’ll make you feel like you’re in an old school British pub, to the wild, boundary-pushing blends infused with everything from local berries, spices, and even tea. Local cider authorities like Thornbury Craft Co., Ardiel Cider, Windswept Cider, Grey and Gold, and Muskoka Lakes are confirmed, so you know the quality control is dialed in.

It’s a deep dive into the fascinating world of apples, one of South Georgian Bay’s chief agricultural exports – exploring the nuances of our reputed local terroir and the unpredictability of spontaneous wild fermentation.

“There’s a pretty cool synergy,” says Heather, thinking about the innovation that is shared at Cider Fest. “It’s always fun to see what the others bring and share. It’s inspiring and gets our innovative and collaborative juices flowing… We’ve all got a real craftsman approach to making cider. Even people who don’t think they love cider – they try something special and experimental and it always seems to open their minds.”

The fest isn’t only about satisfying your cider fix. The air will be thick with spectacular vibes, courtesy of some seriously killer live tunes. We’re talking about the one and only Danny Michel, and bringing his storytelling genius to the stage, alongside the chill-inducing harmonies of Goldenhour, and the soulful indie vibes of Marshall Veroni (who’s also the Contributing Editor of Rrampt’s Music Mag). It’s the perfect soundtrack for an afternoon spent sipping at the orchard.

The culinary offerings are going to be strong, too. Expect local heavy hitters like Bello’s Pizza, the sophistication and freshness of Bivalve Oysters, and the always-delicious Misfits Bodega will be slinging upscale local grub all afternoon.

Early bird tickets are a cool $30 – a steal, really. If you sleep on it now, they’ll be $40 at the door. The price of admission earns you 5 tasting tokens and a commemorative take-home glass, too. Need another sip or two? Tokens will be available for just three bucks a pop.

So, clear your calendar and gather your crew for a quintessential Grey County summer experience: a celebration of local grit, creativity, and the simple, undeniable joy of a perfectly crafted cider. June 21st – be there.