It’s a season that’s far more than Packers football and pumpkin spice lattes.
The leaves are changing to yellows and reds, the cider is percolating and the temperatures will soon get crisp, though still comfortable in your favorite hoodie. It’s time to head out for some fun.
And there’s plenty of ways to celebrate autumn in and around the Fox Cities.
Start with some apple picking.
Apple Blossom Orchard and Market, located at N4366 County A in Black Creek, sells a wide variety of locally grown goodies and specialties such as hickory syrup, pickles, honey, jams and homemade peanut butter. They grow and sell 19 varieties of apples.
Bauer’s Apple Shed, located at W7763 Wisconsin Ave. in Hortonville, has an orchard of 300 trees and 15 varieties. The Apple Shed offers pick-your-own apples and other goods such as apple syrup and gift baskets. They’re open daily.
Hofacker’s Hillside Orchard, located at W3964 Wege Road, has pick-your-own and pre-picked apples as well as a store with honey, jams, cider and other goods. New this year, the orchard features a haymow zipline open during the weekends.
Sprangers Orchard, at W2100 County KK in Kaukauna, is open from 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. daily and features pre-picked as well as pick-your-own apples.
Star Orchard at 253 County CE in Kaukauna features 20 varieties of apples on its 55 acres. Visitors can pick their own or purchase a bag at their orchard store. The orchard also features a pumpkin patch in which visitors can choose their own pumpkins, squash and gourds. The orchard is open daily.
Head out to some farms to visit with the animals, pick your pumpkin or wander through a corn maze.
Cuff Farms, located at N2299 Ledge Hill Road in Hortonville, will open for pumpkin season on Sept. 28. Visitors will get a scenic wagon ride and kids will encounter a number of activities. In addition to pumpkins, visitors will find mums, apples and homemade goods.
Harvest Hill Family Farm, located at N9339 French Road in Seymour, features a corn maze, petting zoo, pumpkin launcher and other fun. Its open weekends starting Sept. 14.
Mulberry Lane Farm, located at W3190 County B in Hilbert, adds to its special brand of farmland fun come autumn with its Pumpkin Harvest Celebration. Visitors get a hands-on experience whether its heading out on a hayride, catching chickens or milking a cow. From mid September through Halloween, each visitor also gets to pick a pumpkin from its 10-acre patch.
Polly’s Pumpkin Patch, located at N4367 Highway 57 in Chilton, features 40 varieties of pumpkins and gourds. Their shop carries a variety of specialty items from barbecue sauce to salsas, jam and smoked fish. Make a day of it. Polly’s includes a 40-foot slide, farm animals, wagon rides and corn cannons. Find your way out of their corn maze.
Porter’s Patch, located at W4314 State 156 in Bonduel, will hold Farmtoberfest on 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends through October. They’ll feature a variety of activities including a corn maze, scarecrow making, hayrides and corn cob chucking. They’ll have pumpkins and autumn decor for sale and baby goats, calves and chickens will be around to visit.
Sunny Acres Farm, located at 4759 County CG in Oshkosh, offers a corn maze, mini golf, animals, bounce houses and more.
