Cider Days gets new owner

For its 37th year, Topeka's annual Cider Days is under new management.

"Our company just took it over earlier this year," said Zach Haney, owner of Zach Haney Events. "We didn't want to change too much. We're really just focusing on getting our feet wet with this first show."

The Cider Days festival is a celebration of all things fall. For two days, the Kansas Expocentre fills with vendors, showcases pioneer demonstrations, live entertainment, kids' rides, animal attractions and, of course, homemade apple cider.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Expocentre. Tickets cost $6 to $10, while kids' activities wristbands cost $11 for one day or $15 for the weekend.

Haney said the largest changes to the festival are more decorations, signage and kids' activities. Also new this year are workshops that will allow guests to take home a finished craft at the end of the class. 

Haney said an example of one craft would be fall decorations made of recycled wood pallets.

Cider Days was previously owned and operated by Keith Leisman, who ran the festival for 11 years. Haney said he approached Leisman about a year and a half ago, inquiring how to start a festival of his own. After learning of Leisman's interest in selling, Haney decided to make an offer.

"It's been a pretty big undertaking," Haney said. "You're not only trying to make this a great experience for thousands of people, but you want to make it great for the vendors as well."

In addition to watching his project of almost two years finally come together, Haney said he is most looking forward to trying some of the famous apple cider.

For more information, visit topekaciderdays.com.

CIDER STAGE EVENTS

Saturday

10-11 a.m.: Art Demo

11-noon: Restless Native

noon-1 p.m.: Baby Crawl Contest/Apple Pie Eating Contest

1-2 p.m.: Evolution Gymnastics

2-3 p.m.: Blazing Mojo

3-4 p.m.: Craft Workshop

4-5 p.m.: Restless Native

5-6 p.m.: Blazing Mojo

Sunday

10-11 a.m.: Baby Crawl Contest

11-noon: Apple Pie Eating Contest

noon-1 p.m.: DJ Bobby

1-2 p.m.: Rachel Louise Taylor

2-3 p.m.: DJ Bobby

3-4 p.m.: Craft Workshop

4-5 p.m.: The Moose