Find more things to do this fall with our massive list of festivals and events.
🍏 Make core memories this fall by picking apples, sipping fresh cider, and tasting treats at these Pittsburgh-area farms and festivities.
Head to Monongahela for a day of pumpkins, mums, and more fun at Triple B Farms. Apple picking is on Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check their website ahead of time to see which of their 15 varieties are ready for picking. There’s something for everyone — crisp, sweet, tart, and apples perfect for baking. Be sure to pick up some homemade apple butter!
- Tip: Page’s Dairy Mart’s seasonal menu has a soft serve flavor made with Triple B’s apple butter.
Apple and flower picking is open daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Simmons Farm in McMurray. It’s peaceful and picturesque, nestled among rolling hills with patches of flowers and rows of orchard trees. Call ahead to see which varieties are available, or enjoy a sweet surprise.
- Tip: Drive past the market parking lot to weave down to the zinnia patch. You won’t want to miss a stroll through its bright pink, orange, and yellow hues.
This Wexford farm is home to a 15-acre orchard growing 25 different varieties. Browse their list to see which apples are ripe right now and even varieties that ripen well into November. Check Shenot Farm’s Instagram or Facebook for upcoming pick-your-own events.
- Tip: Stop by the coffee shop Station No. 5 just a few minutes down the way to try Apple Earl — half apple cider from Shenot Farm and half Earl Grey tea with a splash of cranberry.
Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 26, visit the farm for apple picking, or dig into some goodies like a warm apple cider donut or an apple walnut pie. Their handy apple chart tells you what’s in season and what certain varieties are good for, like snacking, baking, or salads.
- Tip: If you visit on a sunny day during the Fall Festival, cool down with a frozen apple cider slushie!
An heirloom apple tree at Norman’s Orchard. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Find apples you can’t buy in big stores at this Tarentum family orchard, dating back to 1958. Most are considered heirloom; check out the varieties. Norman’s offers apple picking 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and 12 to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
- Tip: It’s cash only! Bring enough to pick apples and buy some fresh cider.
This McDonald farm grows 17 varieties across its four acres, from Ginger Gold to Suncrisp. Pick your own 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and check out group offerings like the apple slingshot — for $8, visitors can hurl a half bushel of (blemished) apples at targets in the field.
- Tip: Don’t leave without some cider and honey!
Trax Farms in Finleyville doesn’t have apple picking, but they do have an Apple Cafe at the Fall Festival, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 26. Try apple cider slushies, hot cider, caramel apples, and a bunch of treats in the bakery. Keep the fun going, and take home Trax’s apple fritter mix.
This local cider company transforms foraged and forgotten fruit into delicious cider. Celebrate its 20th anniversary with an exclusive tasting Oct. 18 at Altered Genius Brewing Co. in Imperial. You’ll enjoy cider you can’t find anywhere else, plus live music and food from the Mr. Bulgogi truck.
