With sprawling orchards ripe for apple picking, corn mazes carved into elaborate designs, and the smell of cider donuts drifting out of every farm stand, the Lower Hudson Valley feels like it was built for fall activities. This pocket of New York doesn’t do autumn halfway: The region’s farms and local businesses go all out with festivals, activities, and seasonal treats around every corner.
Whether you’re after a classic day of apple and pumpkin picking, a hayride through golden fields, or an afternoon browsing baked goods and fall decor at a quaint farm stand, this list has a spot for you. Keep reading to discover the best places to soak up fall in the Lower Hudson Valley and what kind of fun awaits at each one.
1. Barton Orchards
With 180 acres to explore, Barton Orchards is the perfect place to check off all the fun activities on your fall bucket list. The farm has been in the Barton family for more than 40 years and offers a large variety of attractions, including a taproom where you can sip beer and cider, a petting zoo, a dog park, and a fun park with entertainment for all ages.
Fall-themed highlights include pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, a five-acre corn maze with a theme that changes every year, a haunted house, and hay rides. In between activities, stop by the General Store and Creamery to indulge in treats like apple cider donuts, apple butter, and ice cream.
If all that’s not enough, Barton Orchards also has a packed events calendar with line dancing nights, tons of live music, music bingo, and festivals. A few upcoming fall festivals to note include the Apple Festival on Oct. 3-4, the Harvest Festival on Oct. 10-12, and Boos & Brews on Oct. 17-18. Each festival has its own entertainment and themed experiences.
Cost: The farm is free to enter on non-holiday weekdays or when there is live music at the Tap Room on Fridays and Saturday evenings. Entry fees apply during festival weekends and on holiday weekdays.
Address: 63 Apple Tree Ln., Poughquag
2. Dr. Davies Farm
Dr. Davies Farm is a fifth-generation family farm with an apple orchard that spans 65 acres and has more than 5,000 trees.
If you don’t feel like apple picking, you can take a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch or make your way through the corn maze decorated with fall items.
Cost: Admission to the orchard costs $20 per person and includes a half-peck bag’s worth of apples. A hayride costs $8, and a hayride, corn maze, and sugar pumpkin package costs $15.
Address: 306 Rte. 304, Congers
3. Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard
Family-owned and operated Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard is known for its two-month fall festival that takes place on weekends in September and October.
Each festival weekend has a different theme—ranging from Apple Everything and Pumpkin Palooza to BBQ, Beer, Bourbon and Oktoberfest—and features a lineup of family-friendly activities. Highlights include live music, a pumpkin patch, apple picking, hay rides, and a fun zone. You can enjoy hard and sweet cider, cider donuts, and food from other vendors, or visit the Country Store to shop for seasonal fare and other goods you can take home.
Each weekend also features special attractions or activities related to its theme, such as a pumpkin smash zone during Halloweekend.
On festival weekends, the Farm Store and Taproom are closed to the general public (they’re open only to festivalgoers), so keep that in mind when planning your visit.
Cost: Fall Festival tickets start at $20 when purchased online.
Address: 130 Hardscrabble Rd., North Salem
4. Hilltop Hanover Farm
Founded in the late 1780s as a family homestead, Hilltop Hanover Farm now spans 187 acres and is owned by Westchester County.
Visitors can shop for fresh-grown produce and native plants at the Farm Stand, spend time with the farm animals, explore the many fields and trails, or enjoy a scenic picnic overlooking the Hudson Valley.
The farm also hosts events and classes throughout the year.
Cost: Free
Address: 1271 Hanover St., Yorktown Heights
5. Outhouse Orchards
Outhouse Orchards’ Fall Festival runs through Nov. 1, with plenty of attractions to keep you busy during your visit. You can explore the five-acre corn maze, take a hay ride around the property, and pick your own apples and pumpkins.
Don’t forget to stop by the farm stand, where you’ll find fall decor, fresh produce, local honey and maple syrup, apple donuts and cider, and homemade pies. On weekends, food options include comforting fare like wood-fired pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled corn, and French fries.
Cost: Weekday Fall Festival admission starts at $15.98 online and weekend admission starts at $19.45.
Address: 139 Hardscrabble Rd., North Salem
6. Sleepy Hollow Haunted Hayride and Block Party
The Sleepy Hollow Haunted Hayride and Block Party is a spooky tradition that’s been frightening Hudson Valley thrill-seekers for more than 20 years. The ride brings Washington Irving’s classic story to life and takes riders along Ichabod Crane’s escape route down Albany Post Road. You’ll pass landmarks like Philipsburg Manor and the Old Dutch Church before heading into the dark woods.
The block party portion of the event will feature vendors, music, food, and more.
Cost: Admission to the block party is free. Haunted Hayride tickets start at $50 per person.
Address: Sleepy Hollow Village Hall, 28 Beekman Ave., Sleepy Hollow
7. Stuart’s Fruit Farm
Stuart’s Fruit Farm—family operated since 1828—offers plenty of fall fun including apple picking (with about 20 varieties to choose from), hay rides around the orchard, and a pumpkin patch.
You can also visit the farm stand to shop for fresh produce or the bakery if you’re craving something sweet, like apple cider donuts and homemade pies that are baked daily. You can even have a picnic surrounded by the area’s beautiful fall foliage.
Cost: Free
Address: 62 Granite Springs Rd., Granite Springs
8. Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm
Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm has been a family-owned Hudson Valley staple for more than a century.
At the farm, you can pick your own apples and pumpkins or buy a variety of goods at one of three on-site shops. There is a bakery with sweets like apple cider donuts and homemade pies; the Apple Farm Market, where you’ll find treats like apple cider, jams, and jellies, with an upstairs area dedicated to country-themed gifts and local crafts; and the Ice Cream Corner Shoppe with special desserts like apple cider donut sundaes and apple cider floats.
The farm also has its own winery and a corn maze with a special design this year celebrating the U.S.’s 250th birthday and the farm’s 110th anniversary.
Cost: There is no admission fee to enter the farm.
Address: 1335 White Hill Rd., Yorktown Heights
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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