Reading time: about 6 minutesThe scent of apple cider donuts and the sounds of live music filled the Commons this weekend as thousands gathered for Ithaca’s 43rd Annual Apple Harvest Festival, even as an outbreak of fire briefly disrupted the festival. The employees of the food stand declined to comment on the circumstances behind the fire and the booth’s name. The offerings of the food stand include pumpkin funnel cakes, apple cider funnel cakes, fried Oreos and lemonade. Teeter said the late frost impacted apple harvest this year, following an exceptionally weak apple harvest in 2023. Stephan Menasche Signs directing attendees for the Apple Harvest Festival in downtown Ithaca.