Take a bite out of this year's apple picking season.
Fall in New England ushers in crisp air, brilliant foliage, and ripe, juicy apples. Among autumn’s most beloved traditions is apple picking. Across the Bay State, farms and orchards are opening their doors -- or fields. Check out these area pick-your-own orchards, grab a bushel, and take a bite out of this year’s apple season. Many of these spots offer more than fruit picking, too. From hopping on a hayride or navigating a corn maze to farm fresh snacks and homemade treats, a trip to an orchard can be full of all that’s quintessentially fall. Here’s your guide to this perennial family favorite.
Berlin Orchards
Route 62 and
Lower Sawyer Hill Road, Berlin
978-838-2400
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Bonus: Hay wagon rides to and from the orchard
Bolton Spring Farm
159 Main Street (Route 117), Bolton
978-779-2898
Opening Day: Labor Day Weekend
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Weekends 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Bonus: Country store and bakery on site
Breezelands Orchards
1791 Southbridge Road, Warren
413-436-7122
Opening Day: Labor Day Weekend
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 10 .a.m-6 p.m.
Brookfield Orchards
121 Lincoln Rd, North Brookfield
508-867-6858
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Weekends 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Bonus: Bakery, playground & wagon rides
Carlson Orchards
115 Oak Hill Road, Harvard
978-456-3916
Check Website for Opening Day
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Carver Hill Orchards
101 Brookside Ave, Stow
978-897-6117
Hours: Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Check Facebook for daily updated hours)
Charlton Orchards
44 Old Worcester Rd., Charlton
508-248-7820
Check website for Opening Day
Hours: Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday & Monday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Clearview Farm
4 Kendall Hill Rd., Sterling
978-422-6442
Opening Day: Sept. 8
Hours: Weekends 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Bonus: Face painting & kid’s play area
Cook’s Farm Orchard
106 Haynes Hill Rd., Brimfield
413-245-3241
Check Facebook page Opening Day and hours
Bonus: Wagon rides, hay maze, dog friendly
Davis Farmland and Mega Maze
145 Redstone Hill, Sterling
978-422-6666
Opening Day: Sept 8
Hours: Weekends, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Bonus: Sept. 15 & 16 Costume Character Day
Doe Orchards
327 Ayer Rd., Harvard
978-772-4139
Opening Day: Sept. 1
Hours: Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through October
Bonus: Dog-friendly
Fairmount Fruit Farm
887 Lincoln St., Franklin
508-533-8737
Opening Day: Sept. 15
Hours: Weekdays, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.; Weekends, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Bonus: Dog-friendly
Fay Mountain Farm
12 Cemetery Rd., Charlton
617-981-2051
Opening Day: Sept. 3
Hours: Monday through Friday, noon-7 p.m.; Weekends 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
George Hill Orchard
582 George Hill Rd., Lancaster
978-365-4331
Hours: Sunday, Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Bonus: Yummy home-baked goods
Hawk Hill Orchards
83 Carleton Rd., Millbury
508-865-4037
Hours: Wednesday through Friday noon- 5 p.m.; Weekends & Holidays 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Highland Farm
635 Highland St., Holliston
508-429-8370
Opening Day: Mid-September (check website)
Hours: Weekends, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Bonus: Homemade apple cider, ice cream, caramel apples, etc.
Hollis Hills Farm
340 Marshall Rd., Fitchburg
978-696-3130
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday
9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Bonus: Sugar House open on the weekends, group maple tours every Wednesday
Honey Pot Hill Orchards
138 Sudbury Rd., Stow
978-562-5666
Hours: Daily 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Bonus: Mazes, hayrides & farm animals
Hyland Orchard & Brewery
199 Arnold Rd., Sturbridge
508-347-7500
Opening Day: Sept. 22
Open Weekends 12-5 p.m.
Bonus: Live music, brewery, wagon rides, animal petting, farm tours, dog-friendly
Lanni Orchards
294 Chase Rd., Lunenburg
978-582-6246
Check website for Opening Day
Hours: Daily 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Bonus: Corn maze, hayrides
Meadowbrook Orchard
209 Chace Hill Rd., Sterling
978-365-7617
Opening Day: Sept. 8
Hours: Daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Bonus: Thursday night BBQ (through September)
Nashoba Valley Winery
100 Wattaquadoc Hill Rd., Bolton
978-779-5521
Check website for apple picking dates and times
Bonus: winery, brewery, picnic area
Nicewicz Family Farm
116 Sawyer Rd., Bolton
978-779-6423
Hours: Weekdays, 12-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Old Frog Pond
38 Eldridge Road., Harvard
978-456-9828
Check website for Opening Day
Hours: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Bonus: Organic family farm
Parker’s Orchard
11 Spring Rd., Westborough
508-615-7363
Opening Day: Sept. 1
Open Weekends, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Pease Orchard
11 Phillipston Rd, Templeton
978- 939-5324
Opening Day: Sept. 8
Hours: Weekends, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Bonus: Apple cider & freshly baked goods
Ragged Hill Orchard
94 John Gilbert Rd., West Brookfield
508-867-2187
Opening Day: Sept. 12
Hours: Daily 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Bonus: Locally made baked goods
Schartner Farm
211 West Berlin Rd., Bolton
978-779-0212
Opening Day: Sept. 8
Check Facebook page for and hours
Bonus: Free hayrides, corn maze
Shelburne Farm
106 West Acton Rd., Stow
978-897-9287
Hours: Daily 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Bonus: Hayrides, live music, farm animals, kid’s activities
Sholan Farms
1125 Pleasant St., Leominster
978-840-3276
Check website for Opening Day
Hours: Daily 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Bonus: Farmstand with fresh produce
Stowe Farm
15 Stowe Rd., Millbury
508-865-9860
Opening Day: Sept. 8
Hours: Weekends, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Bonus: Kid’s corral, petting zoo, gem mining, rock wall
Tougas Family Farm
234 Ball St., Northborough
508-393-6406
Check website for Opening Day
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (call ahead or check online for apple picking times)
Bonus: Ice cream, farm tours & wagon rides
Westward Orchard
178 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard
978-456-8363
Opening Day: Sept. 3
Hours: Daily 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Wojcik’s Farm
65 Milk St., Blackstone
508-883-9220
Opening Day: Sept. 1
Hours: Friday 5-9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Bonus: Bakery & corn maze