Our Roots

Applefest was started in October of 1979 as a joint venture between the local office of the West Virginia University Cooperative Extension Service and the Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce. Applefest now functions as a committee of the chamber. Since its beginning, Applefest continues to be celebrated in downtown Wellsburg the first full weekend of October every year.

At one time Brooke County, West Virginia, had a large number of productive apple orchards, most notably Waugh's, Wells' and Grimes.

The Grimes farm is remembered for the discovery of the Grimes Golden apple in 1802. The Grimes Golden continues to be the choice of discriminating pie bakers. Many people belive the seeds for the Grimes Golden Apple may have been provided by Johnny Appleseed, who traveled this area. Some of his descendants still reside here.

Wellsburg Applefest