The annual Fall Apple Day Festival at Fort Riley is fast approaching.

The Historical and Archaeological Society of Fort Riley began planning for the annual festival in April this year. This years goal is to make 1,500 apple pies according to Alison Kohtz, this years Co-Pie Queen.

“It is down from last year, about 500, due to the security measures on Fort Riley, and we’re unsure about the number of participants this year, but it is up from several years past,” said Kohtz.

According to Kohtz currently Fort Riley is at a level Bravo security level, which means all visitors without a DoD I.D. Card have to go to the visitors center located at the Henry Gate located off of I-70 to receive a day pass.

The Festival is held on the Artillery Parade Field, and there will be different military displays set up on the parade field including the MP’s with their dogs and the Commanding Generals Mounted Color Guard.

The pies are special to Fort Riley as they are made using Libby Custer’s personal recipe, and there for the recipe is kept a secret.

You can pre-order a pie up until September 17th. Forms can be found at the Historical and Archaeological Society of Fort Riley Facebook page or at the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce, Military Affairs Council office. Pies can also be purchased on the day of the festival whole (frozen and unbaked), by the slice and or with ice cream.