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Where to pick your own apples and pumpkins this fall near Charlotte NC
Fall is finally arriving. We can soon enjoy the breezy weather, color-changing leaves, pumpkin spice lattes and warm sweaters. One of the best ways to escape the city and celebrate autumn is to visit nearby farms and orchards where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables. Apple picking season kicked off Labor Day, and there are plenty of places a joyride away from Charlotte that offer a wide-selection of pick your own produce, as well as events and activities for everyone. Here are a few we found:
Carrigan Farms
40 minutes from Charlotte
Carrigan Farms is a 130 acre family owned farm outside of Mooresville where you can pick your own red and golden delicious apples for $6.50 per half peck bag and $20 per half bushel bag. Carrigan Farms also grows tens of thousands of pumpkins a year. Starting in October, you can take a tractor-drawn pumpkin patch hayride where children and adults can pick their own pumpkin for just $10. On select October nights, the farm is transformed into “Scarrigan Farms†the scariest haunted trail in the region for everyone ages 12 and up. (Editor’s note – we’ve been, it’s fun!).
Patterson Farm
50 minutes from Charlotte
Patterson Farm in between Mooresville & Salisbury grows tomatoes, strawberries, pumpkins, poinsettias, muscadines, and peppers. Pick-your-own muscadine grapes and pumpkins are available now, as well as pre-picked tomatoes, watermelons, and apples. During the fall, the farm offers weekly tours and attractions (including a November Pumpkin Dash). And in October, you can take a $10 class on how to make apple butter and apple sauce out of the many delicious varieties of NC mountainside apples available. The farm also has its own market that sells jams and jellies, sweets, kitchen needs, fragrances, and batter mixes.
Hall Family Farm
25 minutes from Charlotte
Hall Family Farm is centrally located in the Ballantyne area. The farm is famous for its strawberries in the spring and pumpkins in the fall. Fall season on the farm features a 5 acre corn maze, pumpkin picking, musical hay ride, and free kids activities such as a mini maze, duck race, and bouncy ball race. You can also warm up by a bonfire or stop by the sales tent for a cold slushy, a hot cup of coffee or cocoa, and a selection of delicious breads, jams, salsa, and ciders.
Apple Hill Orchard
1 hour 30 minutes from Charlotte
Apple Hill Orchard is a thriving family business nestled in the picturesque foothills of the South Mountains of western NC, just south of Morgantown. Apple Hill Orchard is known for its wide variety of apples throughout the fall, its sweet apple cider, country store, and bakery. They use their own apples to make slushies, donuts, cakes, pies, and tarts. Check out the harvest calender to determine what type of apple varieties are available for picking when you visit. It is open Monday-Saturday from 9am-6pm.
Skytop Orchard
2 hours from Charlotte
Skytop Orchard in Flat Rock offers more than 22 varieties of apples to pick. The orchard sits atop Mt. McAlpine, giving visitors panoramic mountain views. They also have tractor-pulled hayrides, playgrounds for children, orchard ponds with ducks and geese, an animal park, a bamboo forest to explore, lots of picnic areas, and a fruit shop with fresh made apple cider and apple cider donuts. The 60 acre orchard also provides plenty of places you can roam, relax, and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Check out the picking schedule to see which variety is available for picking when you plan your trip.
