There are many delights about Ely’s annual apple festival but probably the most challenging is for the longest peel.

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

The festival is nearly 20 years old but the record for the longest peel was set – at 601 cm- as long ago as 2005.

“The first person up for our longest peel competition was Barry, a real pro, who returns each year to try and win that coveted prize of being the longest peeler,” said tourism manager Tracey Harding.

She was not alone in celebrating a brilliant day with many enjoying the delights of the city’s annual celebration of apples.

There was an award for George’s Bakery who won the best dressed apple stall and Ely Rock Eels dotted painted rocks around the Palace Green festival with the offer off of a free apple for those finding one.

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

For those fascinated by the variety and choice of apples the festival had plenty of experts on hand to offer guidance and advice.

Watergull Orchards, who supplied all the apples and bottles of juice for the various competitions, were on to talk visitors through over 25 varieties of apples as well as over 10 varieties of juice and cider.

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Crowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSECrowds turned out in the autumn sunshine to celebrate apple day in Ely. The city has hosted its own festival since 2000 with quirky events such as the longest peel to challenging experts on apple varieties. Pictures: MIKE ROUSE (Image: Archant)