In Northern Michigan we’ve been keeping our eyes peeled for our changing colors because changing colors also mean APPLE SEASON!
This is the time of year that our favorite orchards start opening their barn doors to sell us cider, donuts, and of course, our favorite apples.
Highlighting a few orchards in the area, we’re starting with our nearest orchard; Uncle Frank’s Apple Town.
Uncle Frank’s Apple Town can be found at 4391 US-31 in Brutus, Michigan.
They offer fresh-pressed cider, donuts, famous peanut butter cookies, pies, hayrides, a 3 acre corn maze, pumpkins and apples.
Uncle Frank’s is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am – 4pm, Sept. through the end of October. Check out the big red barn! 🍏🍎
We may be biased but we happen to think they have THE BEST cider and donuts!!!
Knaebe’s Mmmunchy Krunchy Apple Farm & Twisted Roots Cider is located at 2621 S. Karsten Road, Rogers City, Michigan 49779.
They’re open Aug. – November 3rd, 2019 (Thursday – Sunday) from 9am – 5pm.
Knaebe’s offers YUMMY bakery treats (donuts, pies and cookies, apple crisp, muffins, cheese cake, and caramel apples), a Cider Bar (Hard Cider), Wood Fired Pizza and a gift shop.
The Cider Bar is open Thurs., Fri., & Sat., until 7pm and closing at 5pm on Sundays.
Knaebe’s offers 8 hard ciders on tap and 3 ways to buy fresh-pressed cider; cider slushies, cold apple cider and hot spiced cider.
Click here for Knaebe’s apple varieties and ripening schedule.
Click here to search for nearby orchards: apple orchards near me- google search
Pond Hill Farm is located at 5699 S Lake Shore Drive Harbor Springs, MI 49740.
This farm deserves special mention, though it may not be an apple orchard, it offers a winery, brewery, cafe and market, hayrides and a pumpkin patch, farm animals, a squash rocket, pumpkin smashing, cider and donuts. They’re definitely a must on your list of fall activities.
On Saturday, Oct. 5th Pond Hill Farm is offering a FREE CONCERT featuring Last Exit and the Up In Smoke BBQ food truck.
Pond Hill Farm is open May-Oct. daily from 11am- 6pm and their cafe serves food until 5pm.
Every Saturday and Sunday from Sept. 28th-Oct. 27th, Pond Hill Farm is having their Fall Festival Weekends. 11am-5pm they’re offering pumpkin bowling, hot cider & donuts, beer & wine tasting, face painting, lunch in the cafe, pumpkin patch, farm animals, giant pumpkins and more.
Follow them on Facebook, Instagram or checkout their website.
Friske’s Farm Market can’t be missed at 10743 US-31 Highway, Ellsworth, MI 49729.
They’ve been growing strong for four generations offering “Asparagus, Rhubarb, Strawberries, Raspberries, Sweet Cherries, Apricots, Plums, Peaches, Nectarines, Pears, and over 20 varieties of Apples”.
Friske’s has freshly pressed apple cider, “u-pick” apples, a fruit stand, bakery, gift shop, playground and soon, they’ll have their Fall Fest, Apple Fest, and Harvest Fest.
Harvest Fest is Sat., Sept. 28th from 8am – 5pm and features live music with the Cherry Blossom Ramblers and lots of events for the whole family including, Charlevoix Middle HS Performing arts will be present to face paint, wagon rides, kiddie corn maze, big apple balloon and u-pick apples.
Fall Fest at Friske’s includes live music with Scott Hankins. Fall Fest activities include; face painting, wagon rides, kiddie corn maze, apple slingshot, and more. Fall Fest is Sat., Oct. 5th, from 8am-5pm.
Apple Fest events include live music with Cherry Blossom Ramblers, face painting, wagon rides, kiddie corn maze, apple slingshot, and more. Apple Fest is Sat., Oct. 12th from 8am – 5pm.
Golden River Orchard is tucked away at 2250 White Cedar Road, Cheboygan, MI 49722.
Click here for driving directions.
They grow all of your favorite apples including: Zestar, Paula Red, Ginger Gold, McIntosh, Cortland, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Ida Red and Jonagold.
You can find them at the Cheboygan Farmer’s Market on Saturdays from 8am – 1pm downtown Cheboygan.
The orchard will be open on Saturdays from 10am – 5pm and Sundays from noon to 5 pm.
Visit the Michigan Agritourism website for other Michigan farm fun!
When are apples ready for harvest? According to http://www.pickyourown.org, Michigan apples are ready for harvesting mid-August through October. They put together a Michigan apple harvest calendar. Click here for more information on your favorite apples.