Nature's autumn palette is reflected in the reds, golds and greens of the fall apple harvest. As the humidity lifts throughout the Southeastern United States, sunny days of crisp mountain air beckon visitors from near and far to the region's apple orchards to enjoy an array of apple inspired celebrations. Apple festivals, apple butter festivals, pick your own apple days and more offer wonderful opportunities to enjoy the picturesque landscapes, great local music, home-baked apple pies and just being outdoors.

Consistently ranking as one of the top six commercial apple-producing states, Virginia is the apple growing leader of the Southeast, according to information provided by the U.S. Apple Association. Once known as the Apple capital of the World, Virginia's Winchester - Frederick County is home to the Apple Trail, a scenic driving tour that meanders through the Shenandoah Valley farmlands and highlights historic sites along the way. Other commercial apple producing states in the Southeast include West Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Beginning during Labor Day Weekend and continuing through October, visitors to the Southeast are able to enjoy wholesome and fun apple festivals, featuring everything from a giant 10 foot apple pie, touted as the World's Largest Apple Pie, at Kentucky's Casey County Apple Festival to the popular two-day rodeo, a featured event at the South Carolina Apple Festival, as well as arts and crafts galore, hayrides, picking fresh apples from the trees, making fresh apple butter and plenty of other old-fashioned, fun activities.

To find out about several highlighted apple festivals and events, visit:

• September - Apple Festivals and Events
  
• October - Apple Festivals and Events

Apple Recipes for After-the-Apple-Festivals

These apple recipes, courtesy of the U.S. Apple Association, include some fun choices for breakfast, lunch, snack time, dinner and dessert:

• Apple Pancakes with Maple Apple Sauce
  
• Smoked Turkey, Apple, and Fennel Salad
  
• Apple Cheddar Pizza with Toasted Pecans
  
• Apple Bacon Popovers
  
• Cider-Baked Chicken and Sausage
  
• Apple Walnut Crostada

About.com's Guide to Southern U.S. Cuisine offers bushels of apple recipes including everything from traditional apple pies and apple cakes to apple enchiladas and apple salsas:

• Apple Pie Recipes
  
• Apple Cake Recipes
  
• Apple Crisp Recipes
  
• More Apple Recipes