Fall in the corridor is my favorite season! The variety of nearby apple orchards and pumpkin patches provide a welcome opportunity to get outside and enjoy autumn time with my family. In addition to local produce, many offer baked goods, fall decor, and activities too!
Being 2020, this fall is unlike any other, but our farmers have worked hard to still provide families with socially-distanced fun despite a global pandemic and land hurricane.
Allen’s Orchard
5801 N 10th Street, Marion, Iowa 52302
- COVID: Face coverings required at indoor facilities
- Derecho: U-pick not available
- Cost: Free admission
- Hours: Mon- Thurs Noon- 4pm, Fri- Sun 10am- 4pm
Having lost 800 trees in August’s Derecho, Allen’s Orchard is not offering u-pick this year. Their orchard store is still open though with a variety of apples, cider donuts, and other tasty treats! Visit their Facebook page or website for more information.
Bart’s Farm and Pumpkin Patch
7307 Alburnett Rd, Marion, Iowa 52302
- COVID: Staff wearing face coverings (all-outdoor facility), distancing between parties encouraged
- Derecho: Barn animals unavailable; corn maze is free due to storm damage
- Cost: Free admission, $7 pony rides (Sat noon- 4 pm), $2 hayrack rides (Sat-Sun)
- Hours: Mon- Fri 3pm- 8pm, Sat-Sun 9am- 8pm
Bart’s Farm is a family-owned pumpkin patch offering a variety of pre-picked pumpkins and gourds, or the opportunity to venture through the fields to pick your own. This farm was the perfect size for my one-year-old last year– he loved looking at the farm animals and exploring the pumpkin patch. We also enjoyed taking pictures by their “how tall this fall?” sign for a new family tradition!
**Please note that County Home Road is currently under construction– you will need to reach the farm from the south side via Alburnett Rd and continue around the “Closed to Thru Traffic” sign. Check their Facebook page or website for details.
The Big Apple Orchard
1115 Hwy 30 W, Mt. Vernon, Iowa 52314
- COVID: No school or parent groups
- Derecho: Shortened season due to loss of crop- Closed starting October 5
- Cost: Free admission
- Hours: Sat-Sun 10am- 5pm
The Big Apple’s season this year will be short and sweet, offering apples, cider, slushies, ice cream, and donuts! Check their Facebook page for details.
Bass Family Farms
840 Bass Lane, Mt Vernon, Iowa 52314
- COVID: Face coverings required at indoor facilities, hayrack rides and bouncy houses not available, multiple hand washing stations added
- Derecho: Greenhouse roof was lost, so some of the areas have been modified
- Cost: $5, free for kids 2 and under
- Hours: Tues- Sun 10 am- 9 pm, Fall Festival on weekends
Bass Farm’s Fall Festival is in full swing! Activities include a magic show, papa balloon, face painter, and spin art. They also offer a variety of pumpkins and gourds, beautiful mums, and waffle cones of “snap-o-lantern” ice cream to satisfy your sweet tooth! Visit their Facebook page or website to learn more.
Bloomsbury Farm
3260 69th St, Atkins, Iowa 52206
- COVID: Masks welcomed but not required, increased sanitizing measures; Visit their website for more details about COVID precautions.
- Cost: $14 online, $17 at the gate, free for kids 2 and under
- Hours: Thurs- Sun 10am- 6pm; Scream Acres 6:30pm- 10:30pm
With an 18-acre pumpkin patch, two 10-acre corn mazes, and over 20 activities, Bloomsbury Farm offers fun for the whole family. Looking for something spooky? “Scream Acres” is open at night for the last three weekends in October! Visit their website for a full list of activities and their Facebook page for updates.
Colony Pumpkin Patch
2780 Front St NE, North Liberty, Iowa 52317
- COVID: Cashless; Some activities unavailable, increased distancing and cleaning procedures, hand sanitizing stations; Visit their website for more details about COVID precautions.
- Derecho: Sunflower season closed early
- Cost: Mon- Fri $6, Sat-Sun $8, free for kids 2 and under
- Hours: Mon- Fri 4pm- 6pm, Sat-Sun 10am- 6pm through Oct 31; Flashlight Maze Fri- Sat 7pm- 10pm
While their annual fall festival has been canceled this year, Colony Pumpkin Patch will be hosting a variety of the vendors throughout the season. In addition to pumpkins, activities include a “Stronger Together” corn maze, grain cart free throw game, barrel train ride, and more! Their old corn box building is full of mums, gourds, and other fall decor for you to take home. Visit their website and Facebook page for hours and event information.
Genoa Bluffs Farms
2168 Hh Avenue, Marengo, Iowa 52301
***Farm activities and corn maze closed; pumpkin picking by appointment only***
Kacena Pumpkin & Christmas Tree Farm
2510 55th St, Vinton, Iowa 52349
- Cost: Free admission
- Hours: Weekdays 1 pm- dusk, Weekends 10 am- dusk
Kacena Farms grows and harvests all of its pumpkins and squashes. They also have a kid-friendly “spook trail”, goats to feed, and stone-fired pizza. Check their Facebook page or website for updates on weather closures and food offerings.
Kroul Farms
- COVID: Masks requested for indoor shop, sanitizing stations available, wagons frequently sanitized (or bring your own!)
- Derecho: Damage to some buildings, but mazes and crops still intact
- Cost: Free admission
- Hours: Mon- Fri 10am- 6pm, Sat-Sun 9am- 4pm
If you’re looking for farm-fresh foods, Kroul Farms is the place to go! Their main shop stocks vegetables, eggs, pie pumpkins, and more. They also carry seasonal products from other local vendors. The grounds include a three-acre corn maze, a round hay bale maze for smaller children, and plenty of pre-picked pumpkins to choose from. My son loved getting a close-up look at the farm animals too! See their Facebook page for current offerings or their website to learn about their CSA.
Sass Family Farm
3060 160th St, Riverside, Iowa 52327
- COVID: Masks and social distancing recommended
- Cost: Adults $2, children $1
- Hours: 11am- 6pm everyday
Farm animals, antiques, fresh produce, a haunted barn, Sass Family Farm has it all! The farm is open year-round with PumpkinFest the second weekend in October. Visit their Facebook page to see what they’re up to!
Wilson’s Orchard
4823 Dingleberry Road NE, Iowa City, Iowa 52240
- COVID: Face coverings required at indoor facilities, Rapid Creek Cidery open for dine-in by reservation only
- Derecho: The surviving apple crop is smaller than usual. Check their Facebook page to see what is available for u-pick!
- Cost: Free admission
- Hours: Wed-Sun 10 am- 8 pm
Wilson’s Orchard is known for its delicious apples and pumpkin patch, but they have so much more to offer! Their market is stocked with pre-picked apples, take-and-bake treats, wares and provisions, and fresh donuts. This year Wilson’s Orchard has added a smokehouse to their lineup, offering bbq, sides, and vegan food too! Check their website to see which apples are ready to pick and their Facebook page for updates on events.
Be sure to click on each business’ name to visit their website for more info on their fun family events! Always call ahead or check each business’ website to confirm when they are open.
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