A Route-7 ritual since 1973.
Bennington, Vermont
For more than 50 years, The Apple Barn has been a place people return to: for cider doughnuts, local goods, seasonal traditions, and the feeling of Vermont at its most familiar.
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FREE UPCOMING Event
PICKLE FESTIVAL 2026
Saturday, September 19 | 10 AM–5 PM
The Apple Barn & Bakeshop | Bennington, VT
FREE ADMISSION
THE BIG DILL HOMEMADE PICKLE COMPETITION
Think your pickles are kind of a big dill? Enter our homemade pickle competition!
Categories: Dill, Sweet & Specialty/Wild Card
Entries Due: 2 PM
Judging: 3 PM
Winners Announced: Around 4 PM
Cash Prizes: $100 / $50 / $25
THE PICKLE LAB
Presented by the Rooted Hands Project
Get hands-on with the art and science of pickling. Learn the difference between vinegar pickling and fermentation, then make your own refrigerator pickles to take home — choose dill or sweet.
The Pickle Lab connects farming, harvest, food preservation, and the journey from seed to jar.
MECHANICAL PICKLE
Yes, you read that correctly.
Climb aboard our mechanical-bull-style pickle and see how long you can hang on. Complete with an inflatable arena and operator, the Mechanical Pickle will be open for rides throughout the festival.
FESTIVAL COMPETITIONS & ACTIVITIES
• Pickle relay races
• Downhill pickle car race
• Cider donut eating contest
• Games and family activities
• Vendor costume contest with public voting
FOOD & DRINK
Come hungry for pickle-themed creations and Apple Barn fall favorites.
• Pickle pizza
• Pickle slush
• Pickle-inspired ice cream & creemees
• Pickles on a stick
• Fresh Apple Barn cider donuts
• Bakery treats
• Cider & coffee
• Seasonal fall favorites
AROUND THE FESTIVAL
Spend the day with local vendors, makers, growers, agricultural partners, and community organizations — plus live music, family-friendly activities, and fall at the Apple Barn.
The Big Dill is a celebration of harvest season, agriculture, local food, and the tradition of preserving what we grow — with an absurd amount of fun involving pickles.
It’s kind of a Big Dill.
This event has ended. Stay tuned for the next one!
“I cannot stop thinking about the apple cider donut filled with maple cream. One of the tastiest treats I’ve ever had.”
– JuliaGet In Touch
or email us contact@theapplebarn.com
About
The Barn
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We’re open 7 days a week from 8:00 AM–5:00 PM through Thanksgiving. Hours change seasonally.
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The Apple Barn is located at 604 US Route 7 South in Bennington, Vermont.
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Yes. We have ample parking, handicap-accessible spaces, and room for larger vehicles and RVs.
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Children are welcome. Pets are not allowed.
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We carry maple products, bakery items, apple cider donuts, honey, jams, jellies, gifts, souvenirs, cider, gardening supplies, ice cream, slushies, coffee, fudge, Vermont cheese, and more.
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Yes! We offer a variety of fresh baked goods, including apple cider donuts, crumb cakes, muffins, scones, fritters, cheesecakes, pies, gluten-free items, and more.
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Yes! Select items are available for online ordering, including maple products, jams, jellies, applesauce, maple cream cookies, popcorn, and gift baskets.
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For regular menu items, 24 hours is usually enough notice. For custom or large orders, please reach out at least one week before your event.
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Upcoming events can be found on our website, Facebook, and Instagram. Most events are family-friendly and open to the public.
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The Apple Barn has been a Southern Vermont tradition since 1973. What began as a simple roadside farm market has grown into a destination for fresh baked goods, local foods, gifts, seasonal events, and agricultural experiences. Today, we’re proud to honor that legacy while creating new traditions that bring our community together and celebrate Vermont’s farming heritage.
