As we find ourselves immersed in the heart of autumn, with September drawing to a close and October approaching, the spirit of fall, pumpkins, Halloween, and apple orchards fills the air! Here’s a roundup of local apple orchards perfect for your autumn adventures:
Sharky’s Orchard (Darboy):
Dive into a family tradition at Sharky Orchard, offering a variety of apples like Zestar, Paul Red, Honeycrisp, and more. They also provide local honey from their orchard’s bees and freshly made raspberry jam. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 5pm.
Hofacker’s Hillside Orchard (Appleton):
Nestled on Wege Road, Hofacker’s Hillside Orchard invites you to pick your own or purchase their pre-picked McIntosh, Cortlands, and Honeycrisp apples. Enjoy caramel dipping, a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, cider, bakery treats on weekends, and caramel apples! Open Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm; Saturday, 9am – 5pm; Sunday, 10am – 5pm.
Star Orchard (Kaukauna):
Star Orchard, a traditional pick-your-own apple spot, provides a vast selection from Blondee and Chestnut to Honeygold and McIntosh. Per their website, for the past 60+ years, their family-owned orchard has been using traditional growing and hand-picking techniques to provide quality, locally grown apples to many families over the years. They’re open weekdays, 9am – 5pm; Saturdays, 9am – 5pm; Sundays, 10am – 5pm.
Misty Ridge Orchard (DePere):
Head to Misty Ridge Orchard on Advent Road for a family-friendly fall outing. Bagged apples, cider donuts, caramel apples, and pies await. Enjoy a corn maze, petting zoo, games, gourmet popcorn, and more. Open Saturdays and Sundays, 9am – 4pm.
Apple Blossom Orchard & Market (5.5 miles north of Appleton on County Road A):
This family-owned orchard offers a winery-like experience with 19 apple varieties to taste. In addition to apples, they sell a variety of fruits and vegetables like asparagus, pumpkins, corn, and more. They are also a part of the Farm to School program, in which they grow, pick, pack, and distribute the region’s harvested apples through their retail store, approved outlets, and area schools. Open Thursday to Saturday, 9am – 6pm; Sunday, 1pm – 6pm.
Bauer’s Apple Shed (Hortonville):
Established in 1972, Bauer’s Apple Shed offers not only apple picking but also apple wine, honey, jams, maple syrup, and more. Visit to pick your own or grab pre-picked apples. Open daily, 9am – 6pm; Sunday, 10am – 5pm.
This is just a short list of the many great options for you to check out. Get ready to enjoy the crisp air and the joy of apple picking as fall takes over!
