TONS of apples will be pressed and gallons of apple juice sampled at three apple-themed celebrations.

An 1862 cider press and recently acquired vintage apple mill will be used at Porlock’s ninth Apple Press and Rural Crafts Festival tomorrow (Saturday).

Organised by the village’s Apple Press Group, the event, described as a “great family day”, will run from 10am to 4.30pm at the visitor centre. Chutney, cakes and other apple-based produce will be available.

Demonstrations of rural crafts will include corn dollies, basket-making, blacksmithing and wool-spinning. Vintage machinery will also be on display. Admission is free.

Also tomorrow, organisers of Carhampton’s community orchard will be celebrating “all things apple-y” at its 26th annual Apple Day. The orchard contains over 50 apple trees and over 35 varieties, many ancient and rare.

There will be juicing in the orchard itself and numerous apples for sale in the village hall, with each variety identified. The event with lunches, teas and stalls among its attractions, is from 10am to 3.30pm. Free admission.

Next Saturday (October 28) the annual apple day at Porlock Visitor Centre will run from 10am to 4pm. Visitors will be able to learn about the wide variety of apples grown in local orchards with experienced growers at hand to give advice.

People are invited to bring along their own surplus apples which can be juiced, bottled and pasteurised to ensure “a safe, long-lasting product” which can be stored and drunk throughout the winter. Admission is free.