‘Tis the season of fresh, crisp, fall apples, of pressed cider, and apple butter. Just before everything from lattes to beer are flavored with pumpkin spice, there is the season of the apple. The Central Virginia area is a great place to pick your own apples at family-friendly orchards, to make a day of it with a hayride and taking a turn to churn the apple butter. We’ve sought out the local apple harvest festivals and pick-your-own orchards so you don’t have to. Here’s our list!
CENTRAL VIRGINIA APPLE FESTIVALS
Drumheller’s Orchard Festival | September 30; October 1; 21-22, 2017
Drumheller’s Orchard | 1130 Drumheller Orchard Lane | Lovingston, VA | Nelson County
434-263-5036
A fifth generation family farm celebrates the harvest with fresh apple butter, apple cider, and various food vendors. Inedible delights include live music, hayrides, corn maze, pumpkin patch, apple slingshot, and kid zone.
Apple Butter Makin’ Festival | October 7 & 21, 2017
Silver Creek & Seamans’ Orchards | 5529 Crabtree Falls Hwy | Tyro, VA | Nelson County
434-277-5824
Help make apple butter by taking a turn to stir the pot! Then explore the corn maze or pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.
Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival | October 7-8; 14-15; 21-22, 2017
Graves Mountain Lodge | Route 670 | Syria, VA | Madison County
540-923-4231
This celebration will feature apple butter-making, over 70 arts & craft vendors, hayrides, a maze, bluegrass music, and cloggers.
Amherst Apple Harvest Festival | October 21-22, 2017
Amherst County High School | 139 Lancer Lane | Amherst, VA | Amherst County
Gather together with your neighbors and enjoy fresh apples, cider, crafts, food vendors, musicians, and dancers.
Pink Lady Fun Day | October 28, 2017
Silver Creek & Seamans’ Orchards | 5529 Crabtree Falls Hwy | Tyro, VA | Nelson County
434-277-5824
Festivities include an apple tasting, cider pressing, cider tasting, scavenger hunt, and live music.
PICK YOUR OWN or BUY FRESHLY PICKED APPLES
Carter Mountain Orchard
1435 Carters Mountain Trail | Charlottesville, VA
434-977-1833
Open Daily during the season
Chiles Peach Orchard
1351 Greenwood Road | Crozet, VA | Nelson County
434-823-1583
Open Daily during the season
Saunders Brothers Farm Market
2717 Tye Brook Hwy | Piney River, VA | Nelson County
434-277-5455 ext. 37
Closed Sundays
Dickie Bros. Orchard
2685 Dickie Road | Roseland, VA | Nelson County
434-277-5516
Open Daily during season
Morris Orchard
226 Tobacco Row Lane | Monroe, VA | Amherst County
434-929-2401
Open Daily during season
Fresh pressed apple cider every week