Wade’s Orchard, a Woolwine-based family-owned farm, will celebrate 50 years of operation Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The orchard was opened in 1975 by Coy Wade and is now co-owned by him and his two sons, Doug and Dale Wade.
Doug Wade said the family typically holds a celebration every five years.
“We planned one a little bit bigger for the 50th,” he said.
The celebration will include live music by Travis Frye & Blue Mountain, Twin Creeks String Band, and Slate Mountain Ramblers.
The Woolwine Ruritan Club will sell hot dogs, chicken barbecue, nachos with cheese and chili, and other food. The club will keep all of its sale proceeds for future projects and donations.
Apple butter, donuts, apple cider, fried apple pies, and other treats will also be available. A bouncy house will be set up for children.
Wade said the celebrations usually attract large crowds, and over 1,000 people are expected to attend this one.
“We normally have a really good turnout. I had problems with getting parking and that stuff for folks” but “everybody’s tickled to death when we have one of these celebrations. I have people ask me almost every year, like next year at this time people will be saying, ‘Are you going to have another celebration this year?’” he said.
While he hopes for good weather, Wade said the celebration will be held rain or shine.
“If it rains, I’m going to move it inside to my pack house,” he said.
Wade said the orchard has grown over the years. When his father first started, only apples were sold, and later peaches were added.
“In 1975 when he started the orchard, he built this little store, then he started planting a few vegetables, and it’s grown since then. Now, I’m planting 25 acres of vegetables along with our apples and peaches,” he said, adding that 20 of those acres are dedicated to growing pumpkins for the fall season.
“It just seems like we just keep growing every year,” he said.
Despite the variety of produce available, apples and peaches remain the orchard’s most popular items.
“Our apples and peaches are kind of our draw. That’s what we’re known for, and that’s what people keep coming here forever and buying,” he said.
Wade said the seven varieties of tomatoes are also popular, as is his mountain cabbage.
“People probably come from three different states to buy my tomatoes,” he said. “I try to meet what the customer wants. I try a little something new every year, I try a different variety or something like that to see what the public’s reaction is.”
While the orchard is open from July to December, September and October are the busiest months because apples are being harvested.
“We try to grow probably 90 percent of what we sell in the store. There’s a few things in the store I don’t grow, but normally I sell what I grow,” he said.
Wade noted his father still works at the business 50 years after opening.
“He’s 87 now and he’s still here every day,” he said.
