Onalaska Apple Harvest: The Heart of Our Hometown

Every first weekend in October, the Onalaska Apple Harvest brings our little town to life. For one special weekend, locals and visitors alike come together to celebrate what makes Onalaska so unique: community, tradition, and a whole lot of heart. Whether you've grown up here or just passed through, there's something about Apple Harvest that feels like home.

Sixteen years ago, this tradition was born. Back in 2009, it was just a small gathering with close to 15 vendors and a big dream. Now, in 2025, we’ve grown to over 112 vendors last year. Each one offers something special, from handmade plushies and artisan crafts to delicious baked goods that fill the air with the sweetest smells. It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come, and the excitement just keeps growing year after year.

This year, Brooks Baked Goods store front will have a Customers Favorite line up which includes our Apple Pie A La Mode cookie (this one sold out within a few hours because its so dang good), our Shaggy and Scooby cookie (this is our PB&J cookie that people beg for all year long!) and our Babbette Ate Oatmeal cookie (oatmeal cream cookie, simple and a crowd favorite!)

Plus something a little magical at our booth — our Harry Potter inspired lineup! (Stay tuned for more info on those next week!) Also at our booth we will have a bunch of goodies like breads, Rice Krispies, and cake pops. I can’t wait for you to stop by and see what we’ve been baking. It’s truly one of my favorite parts of the weekend, getting to see familiar faces, new friends, and share some treats with all of you.

Over the years, Apple Harvest has continued to grow and evolve. We've added some wonderful new events like the Farm and Homestead Tour on Sunday and the Farm to Table Dinner. Both add something special to the weekend. But even with the changes, the heart of the festival remains the same. We still have our Royal Court, with a coronation on Friday night. (Not to brag, but I was the second-ever Apple Harvest Queen!) And we still kick off Saturday morning with the Apple Harvest Fun Run.

Me and my younger brothers the night I was crowned Apple Harvest Queen 2010

Of course, the traditions we all love are still going strong. There’s the apple pie contest and auction, cider pressing by our high school football team, and the pancake breakfast hosted by the Presbyterian church. And don’t forget the parade, which starts at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, followed by a full day of fun, food, and festivities. If you’re wondering what’s happening when, just check out the online festival map for all the details.

Apple Harvest is hands down one of my favorite times of year. It fills me with pride to see our community come together. Customers, friends, family, and plenty of new faces all gather in one place to celebrate this sweet little town we call home. My heart feels full every year, and I truly can’t wait to share it all with you.

Mark your calendars for October 4th, and be sure to swing by the bakery and our booth for The Sweetest Treats Around. I can’t wait to see you there!

Baked With Love: How One Girl’s Sweet Dream Came to Life

Some of my favorite memories are from being in the kitchen with my mom and nana, flour in the air, something always in the oven, and love in every bite. I remember making my own mini apple turnover while my nana baked pies for the holidays. And I’ll never forget sneaking frosting straight from the piping bag after my mom finished decorating my birthday cakes.

So when I got to high school and started thinking about what I wanted to do with my life, I kept coming back to those memories. After a lot of back and forth, I finally landed on a dream that felt just right: I would go to business school, then pastry school, and eventually open my own bakery in my hometown.

That’s exactly what I set out to do.

I graduated high school in 2013, took a gap year, and earned my business degree with an emphasis in accounting from Centralia College in 2018. After that, I enrolled in the Baking and Pastry Arts program at South Puget Sound Community College (one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.) I not only gained technical skills and tried desserts I had never even heard of, but I also made lifelong friends and had the support of a truly wonderful program.

After graduating, I jumped straight into bakery life. I was incredibly lucky that my grandparents already owned a sandwich and ice cream shop in town called Nana and Papa’s Place. They let me take over part of the space, and in October of 2019, my bakery was born. By February 2020, I had taken over the whole place...

…and then the world shut down.

We had to close, and I felt like I had failed before I even got the chance to really begin. It was discouraging, and for a while, I was ready to give up.

But I didn’t. While working full-time elsewhere, I baked at night and sold my treats at local farmers markets every Friday. Slowly but surely, word got out. I started gaining more clients, more orders, and more momentum. Somehow, cookies became my thing, probably because I’ve always loved baking them, especially loaded with toppings!

In 2022, I met and married my husband. I was still doing markets, but he kept encouraging me to go after my dream again. He’s truly my biggest cheerleader. So with his support, I quit my job and reopened the bakery in November 2023—this time for real.

The past few years have been a total whirlwind. My little hometown welcomed me back with open arms. People stop in regularly to see what the monthly cookie lineup is, or to grab ice cream (yes, even in the winter!). The love and support I’ve felt from this community has been overwhelming in the best way.

And I’m just getting started.

That’s why I launched this website to make it easier to share my cookies with more people, near and far. Soon, I will start to ship these little bundles of joy all across the country. Whether you’re down the road or across the map, I hope you can taste the love in every single bite.

Because around here, everything is baked with love.