Pennsylvania local hard cider producer, Frecon’s Cidery, is teaming up with event promoter, Starfish Junction Productions, to continue the English tradition of ‘wassailing’ in an American way.
The 2nd Annual Wassail at Frecon’s Cidery will be taking place on Saturday, May 2, at Frecon Farms in Boyertown, and will feature local bluegrass, jazz, blues and improvisational rock bands including the Manatawny Creek Ramblers, The Cider House Band, and Flux Capacitor.
Historically, Englishmen that celebrated a wassail would gather in orchards during the winter and sing chants/carols and dance together to awaken the cider trees, scare away evil spirits in the orchard, and toast the health of the trees to ensure a plentiful harvest in the fall. The Wassail at Frecon’s Cidery won’t have any chants or carols but it will have plenty of music and drinking, with dancing if you prefer!
The entire Frecon’s Cidery portfolio of hard ciders will be available for tasting, including The Crabby Granny, The Early Man and The Hogshead – all gluten-free and made from apples grown right in the Frecon Farms orchard. Persons of all ages are welcome to attend. Food trucks like WildeFire Wood-Fired Pizza will serve up foods to purchase that will pair with the cider(s).
“For our first Wassail at Frecon’s Cidery, we wanted to recreate a traditional English wassail. However, American cider has different characteristics than English cider so why not create an American version of a wassail,” explained Hank Frecon, President of Frecon’s Cidery. “This year, we’re focusing on diversified music with American roots and creating an event that celebrates cider and the growing season.”
There will be seminars about making hard cider, demonstrations about cooking with hard cider, and a cheese and hard cider pairing. A contest will also be held online via the event website and Facebook to crown a couple the king and queen of the wassail – visit the website FreconsWassail.com for details.
The event will take place rain or shine from 12 to 5 p.m. outdoors in Frecon Farms orchard. Tents will be provided for shade and shelter.
For additional information, please visit the website FreconsWassail.com or call 631-940-7290.