When a committee of community-spirited volunteers gathered in Niles, Michigan in 1972, it was with one purpose: promote, unite, and cherish the apple harvest through an annual festival. Since that time the number of volunteers has grown many times over, and the community feeling of unity, at least for one week, is evident.

Each year new programs are added and some are tossed by the wayside. Through a series of trial and error the hard working and dedicated officials have weeded out what works, and what doesn’t, to make a successful festival year after year.