The Best Fall Farm Experiences
There’s something about fall that makes a trip to the farm irresistible. Pick an apple straight from the tree, search the pumpkin patch for just the right one, get turned around in a corn maze or settle in for a hayride through the crisp autumn air. Add farm animals, brilliant fall colors and fresh cider and donuts and it’s easy to fill a day with favorite fall traditions at Southwest Michigan farms.
Jollay Orchards | Coloma
For generations, Jollay Orchards has given families plenty of reasons to make a fall visit an annual tradition. During the orchard’s Harvest Festival season, the decorated orchards and farm market come alive with classic autumn experiences and plenty of spots for fall photos.
Start by picking apples and grapes or selecting the perfect pumpkin, then take a hayride for a scenic trip around the farm. Wander through the family-friendly corn maze or brave the Haunted House, where goblins and ghosts hide inside an old brick schoolhouse. Kids can explore dinosaur statues, climb and slide on the playground, pretend to be a firefighter on the firetruck or step into the farm’s Western Town.
Save room for the flavors of the harvest, too. Jollay serves its signature cider donuts with fresh apple cider, available hot or cold, along with apple cider slushies. Before leaving, browse the market for seasonal vegetables, jams, fall decorations and more. If you have not already had your fill of donuts, stop by another Jolly Orchards location, J. Pink Donuts, located just down the street.
Amazing Acres | Edwardsburg
Amazing Acres transforms more than 90 acres into a fall adventure with over 100 attractions, making it easy to spend a few hours or an entire day exploring the farm.
Corn mazes cover approximately 15 acres on the property, with new design themes creating a fresh challenge each year. Beyond the mazes, search for the perfect pumpkin, take a hayride and meet a barnyard full of animals, including goats, sheep, bunnies, ducks, chickens, Texas Longhorns and horses. You can even send treats up to the farm’s climbing goats using a special pulley system.
There are plenty of ways to add some friendly competition to your day. Race a friend down the 20- to 30-foot Mighty Mountain Slides, pedal oversized trikes around the Trike Track, send rubber ducks racing with old-fashioned water pumps or test your aim at the Apple Cannon. Kids can also tackle the obstacle course and rock wall, while zip lines give both younger and older visitors a chance to glide across the farm.
And that’s only a sampling of the attractions on the farm. Between adventures, enjoy cider, donuts, caramel apples and other fall treats and keep your camera ready for lots of photo opportunities along the way.
Twin Maple Orchard | Galien
Twin Maple Orchard combines favorite U-pick traditions with plenty of ways to enjoy a fall day on the farm. Apple picking begins in mid-August and continues as different varieties ripen throughout the season, with more than 20 varieties grown at the orchard. By around mid-September, U-pick pumpkins add another reason to visit, whether you’re searching for the perfect jack-o’-lantern, fall decorations or pumpkins for baking.
There’s plenty to keep families busy after the picking is done. Take a hayride, find your way through the corn maze and visit the farm animals, including goats, a donkey, cow and pony. Kids can explore the play area and other attractions, from slides and pedal cars to a corn pit and more. Before heading home, stop at the bakery and farm market for seasonal produce and other tastes of the harvest.
Dinges Fall Harvest | Three Oaks
Every autumn, Dinges Fall Harvest brings together pumpkins, a corn maze and family activities for a fun fall experience. Start in the U-pick pumpkin patch and farmyard, where you’ll find pumpkins and gourds in a variety of shapes and sizes, including large and unusual varieties. Visit earlier in the season for the best selection.
After choosing your pumpkins, find your way through the Jurassic corn maze, take a hayride or enjoy the games and other activities around the farm. Seasonal attractions include face painting, a haunted trailer and not-too-scary monsters and ghouls. Farm animals add to the experience.
More Ways to Enjoy Fall on the Farm
These destinations are only the beginning. Throughout Southwest Michigan, orchards, farm markets and seasonal attractions offer even more ways to enjoy the harvest.
Stover’s Farm Market & U-Pic in Berrien Springs is a longtime favorite for apple picking, pumpkins, cider and donuts, plus a stop at its Big Red Barn market. Piggott’s Farm Market & Bakery in Benton Harbor offers apples, pumpkins, squash, mums and other seasonal finds, along with fresh cider, donuts and homemade pies.
Keep an eye out for farm stands and markets along the way, too, where you can stock up on locally grown produce, jams, apple butter, honey and baked goods.
For another taste of Southwest Michigan’s harvest, follow the Makers Trail to local wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries. Sip drinks crafted from locally grown grapes, hops, apples, grains and more while experiencing another side of the region’s agricultural heritage.
Plan Your Southwest Michigan Fall Farm Getaway
From weather to the availability of specific crops, harvest season can be unpredictable. Before heading out, check directly with each farm for current hours, admission, U-pick availability and event schedules.
Dress for the weather and remember that you’re visiting working farms. Closed-toe shoes are a good choice, especially when rain makes fields and corn-maze paths muddy. If a corn maze is part of your plans, allow plenty of time to find your way out and bring a flashlight if you’ll be exploring after dark.
Make a full day of it, or turn your farm adventures into a Southwest Michigan fall getaway. Book a place to stay, enjoy the autumn colors along the way and wake up ready to do it all over again tomorrow.
