Fall Fun: Where to Pick Apples, Pumpkins and More Near Philly

Nine local farms where you pick to your heart's content.


All hail the greatest season of the year! There’s so much to love about fall: crisp morning runs, cozy sweaters, falling leaves, warm fires, pumpkin everything. If you want to get into the spirit of the season, head to one of these local farms for some good, clean, pick-your-own fun. 

Active Acres Farm

The only produce you can hand-pick at this farm is pumpkin, but at $2 for a hayride to the patch and $5 for any size, it’s a seriously good deal. Shell out $10 for the hayride, pumpkin and a walk through the corn maze. Other activities: moon bounce, pony rides and duck races. At night, there’s also a haunted house and hayride.

What to pick: Pumpkins.
When: Every weekend from October 2  through 31, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Night activities start at 7.
Where: 881 Highland Road, Newtown.

Hellerick’s Family Farm
You can pick your own pumpkin, of course, but PYO flowers are also on the bill at this Doylestown farm. Zinnias are $3.50 a dozen; pumpkin prices are determined by weight. The farm also has hayrides, a corn maze, animal zoo, tube slide, pumpkin-rolling contests and more. Admission is $7.95 during the week and $10.95 on weekends.

What to pick: Pumpkins, flowers.
When: September 28 through November 4th, seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: 5500 North Easton Road, Doylestown.

Highland Orchards
A dozen or so apple varieties will be available to pick between mid-September and late October. You can pick during the week here (though there are no shuttles to the picking fields on weekdays), but weekends starting September 15th are reserved for the Fall Harvest Festival. It includes shuttle rides to the fields, hayrides, scarecrow building and a barbecue.

What to pick: Apples, pumpkins.
When: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday during the festival, noon to 5 p.m.
Where: 1000 Marshallton Road, West Chester.

Linvilla Orchards
Think of Linvilla as the Disney World of local farms (with crowds to match). But there’s good reason: there’s a lot for kids at this Delco Farm, like a Playland with a playground, ride-on train, pony rides and more. During the farm’s annual Pumpkinland festival (September 8th through November 4th), you’ll find live music and entertainment, face painting, hay-bale mazes, hayrides, a costume parade, jack-o-lantern exhibit and more. And, of course, pick-your-own apples. Pumpkins are available for purchase (but not PYO).

What to pick: Apples, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant.
When:  Produce-picking is Sunday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m, and Thursday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pumpkinland has varying times in September and October; see the schedule here.
Where: 137 West Knowlton Road, Media.

The Market at DelVal
Our favorite thing about the Fall Festival at this farm? Admission is free. In addition to the PYO pumpkins, expect mazes, moon bounces and more. Also on-site are a bakery, deli, creamery and garden center.

What to pick: Pumpkins.
When: Weekends from September 29 through October 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 2100 Lower State Road, Doylestown.

Milky Way Farm
This 103-acre family farm in Chester Springs includes a 10-acre pumpkin patch that can yield as many as 25,000 pumpkins in a good year. Hayrides to the patch are free, and pumpkins are priced by weight. Bonus: There’s also a creamery on site.

What to pick: Pumpkins.
When: Weekends in October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 521 E. Uwchlan Avenue, Chester Springs.

Shady Brook Farm
PumpkinFest is the word at this Bucks County farm. The $12 admission gets you a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch, entry to the corn maze, pig races, live entertainment, a farm-animal petting area and more. Pumpkins and apples cost extra, both priced by weight. Apple picking will only be available on September 15, 16, 22 and 23rd. Starting on the 29th, PumkinFest will be open seven days a week.

What to pick: Pumpkins, apples.
When: September 15 though October 31, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: 931 Stony Hill Road, Newtown.

Snipes Farm and Education Center
Pumpkins, apples and the Land of Scarecrows—oh, my! Other attractions at this farm’s Fall Harvest Weekends include hayrides to the apple and pumpkin orchards, a five-acre corn maze, Halloween playground, farm museum (?),  face painting and more. If you can hold off until October, you’ll enjoy live music, too. Admission starts at $7 and doesn’t include the cost of the produce.

What to pick: Pumpkins, apples.
When: Weekends from September 22 through November 4; 9 a.m to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 to 5 on Sundays.
Where: 890 West Bridge Street, Morrisville.

Solebury Orchards
This farm is great about updating its website with what’s ready for harvest, so be sure to check it before heading out. In all, the farm grows over 20 apple varieties throughout the year; a handful are available for picking in the fall. On Saturdays and Sundays, pickers can take wagon rides to the fields. Price is per pound.

What to pick: Apples, flowers.
When: Through November 4, Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: 3325 Creamery Road, New Hope.

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