7 Awesome Apple Festivals Happening This Fall
Forget pumpkin spice, early fall is all about the apple. We've rounded up seven festivals celebrating the fruit of the season, where you can find delicious food and fun for the family.
Brookfield Orchard's Harvest & Craft Fair
12 Lincoln Rd., North Brookfield
Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 7-8, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Enjoy live music and peruse dozens of crafters, artisans, and local farm-fresh produce at this two-day event in charming North Brookfield. Shop for handmade items, artwork and goodies. Hop on a wagon ride through the sprawling orchards, where you can pick your own apples. Nosh on brick oven pizza, hot apple dumplings and cider donuts, and sip on craft beer and local wine. The orchard has a playground for kids to enjoy, and a country store that sells everything from pies and pastries to unique gifts and collectibles. Admission is free. More info.
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Douglas Orchard & Farm's Apple Festival
36 Locust St., Douglas
Saturday, Sept. 14, 12-8 p.m.
Face painting, vendors, food trucks, and musical performances will be featured throughout the day. Kids can enjoy a library reading area. Pick-your-own apples offered in the orchard. Bring a baked item for the Awesome Apple Bake Contest for the chance at a cash prize. Families are welcome to bring a lawn chair and set up for a fun day on the farm. Novelty ice cream will be for sale, and the farm's country store will be open. Adults $5. More info.
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Boston Hill Farm Apple Festival
1370 Turnpike St., North Andover
Festivals are every weekend, beginning Sept. 15 and running through the end of October
Bring the whole family (even the dog!) for apple and pumpkin picking, homemade apple cider donuts, live music, BBQ, a petting zoo, ice cream and more. Admission is free. More info.
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Boxford Apple Festival
East Village, Boxford
Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (rain date Sept. 22)
A more than 50-year-old tradition, this annual festival transforms the town's entire East Village into a pedestrian mall. Streets are lined with artists, musicians, and food vendors. Festival-goers can enjoy BBQ and apple pie and have the opportunity to tour the historic Holyoke-French House. Admission is free. More info.
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Lenox Apple Squeeze
Downtown, Housatonic St., Lenox
Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Join local shops, restaurants, artisans, musicians, farm stands and performers to celebrate the apple harvest at this family-friendly street festival. Browse over 100 different vendors, take a wagon ride around town, and let the kids enjoy games, shows, children's Olympics and more. Arts and crafts abound, but the biggest draw may be the food -- dig into all-things-apple (pies, donuts, cakes, sauce, donuts, and even ice cream!), plus chowder, tacos and various food truck offerings. Admission is free. More info.
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Cook's Farm Orchard's AppleFest
106 Haynes Hill Rd., Brimfield
Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 21-22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Take a wagon ride or pony ride, pick your own apples, and stock up on apple pies, pastries and dumplings to take home. All the fun is set to a backdrop of live music at this quaint family farm in Brimfield. Dig into some yummy BBQ from BTs Smokehouse and enjoy a craft beer from Rapscallion Brewery. Admission is free. More info.
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Wachusett Mountain AppleFest
499 Mountain Rd., Princeton
Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 19-20, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
One of the area's most popular fall celebrations features over 100 craft exhibitors, a farmer's market, kids' entertainment and peak foliage views from the SkyRide. Enjoy live music, apple pie baking and eating contests, and all sorts of family entertainment. Adults $11, kids ages 6-12 $6. More info.
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Looking for more apple fun? Check out our 2019 Pick-Your-Own Orchard Guide.