Determining where to get your fill of fall festivities like pumpkin or apple picking, navigating corn mazes and hay rides is arguably the most important decision you'll make during fall. Pumpkin spice lattes and apple pies won’t last a week, but the memories of finding that perfect freshly-picked pumpkin or enjoying hot apple cider on a hay ride will last a lifetime.
Fortunately, we found some farms and orchards to hosting fall festivals make those memories and provide tips on how to pick the perfect pumpkin.
Rufener Hilltop Farms
Visitors have tons of pumpkinsof various shapes and sizes to pick from this year at Rufener Hilltop Farms, which opens for the season Sept. 21. Don't worry, those not into picking pumpkins can also bowl with one of the orange gourds or stroll in their sunflower field.
To participate in activities, there is a $12 general admission.
Some of the farm’s other attractions include corn maze, corn pool and a pumpkin cannon. For those looking for fall decorations, Rufener also sells cornstalks and straw bales.
Name: Rufener Hilltop Farms
Address: 1022 State Route 43, Mogadore
Phone number: 330-628-1082
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends and 2-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday (Sept. 21-Oct. 31)
Website: https://rufeners.com/
Ramseyer Farms
The fall activities area at Ramseyer Farms got started Sept. 4 and will go through Oct. 31. Guests will be able to visit on Sundays starting Sept. 5.
There will again be two 8-acre corn mazes. Each maze is themed: one celebrates Ramseyer's 25-year anniversary and the other leads guests through the shape of the state of Ohio. There's also a mini maze within the larger anniversary maze.
“There are about 275 signs in (the Ohio-shaped corn maze),” Ramseyer told the Beacon Journal last year. “You can follow the rivers and roads and Native American trails and then get to the different cities and learn fun facts from Ohio.”
Picking pumpkins at Ramseyer Farms is also a simple affair. There are no entrance fees for the pumpkin patch and each pumpkin is priced at $6 each or five for $25.
The key to picking the perfect pumpkin is to keep its skin intact, sanitize it as soon as possible and keep it out of intense sunlight, according to owner Karen Ramseyer. Ramseyer followed these steps and once had a pumpkin last a year and a half before she disposed of it.
Those looking to participate in the over 50 attractions available on the farm can purchase admission to its fall activities area. Prices are $14 Wednesday and Thursday and $20 Friday through Sunday for those between the ages of 3 and 64. Guests 65 years and older are charged $11. Season passes cost $79.95 for those between the ages of 3 and 64 and $39.95 for seniors. You can get 25% off the season pass price when you purchase online.
You must reserve tickets in advance online if planning to visit on a Saturday or a Sunday.
Name: Ramseyer Farms
Address: 4000 Ramseyer Lane, Wooster
Phone number: 330-264-0264
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday (Sept. 4-Oct. 31) and 1-7 p.m. Sundays (Sept. 15-Oct. 31)
Website: https://ramseyerfarms.com/
Kingsway Pumpkin Farm & Storage
Kingsway Pumpkin Farm offers a variety of fall activities to choose from, one of which is acresfull of pumpkins ripe for picking, starting Sept. 14. The season goes through Nov. 2.
Admission to the fall activities area, where the pumpkin patch resides, is $12 for ages 4 through 59 and $10 for those 60 and older. There's also a weekday special where general admission is $10 for those visiting Monday through Thursday. Once inside, visitors can hitch a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch. Picked pumpkins are not included with admission and are priced per pound.
Other activities on the farm include an 8-acre corn maze (the theme has not yet been revealed as of Sept. 10), pedal cart track and petting zoo.
Name: Kingsway Pumpkin Farm & Storage
Address: 1555 Andrews St. NE, Hartville
Phone number: 330-877-6241
PYO pumpkin hours: 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 14-Nov. 2)
Wagon rides: Rides are only available on weekends in September, but will be available daily starting Oct. 1. Weekday rides run at noon, 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday wagon rides run every half hour during regular open hours.
Website: https://kingswaypumpkinfarm.com/
Maize Valley Winery & Craft Brewery
If doing some fall festivities while drinking alcoholic beverages is more your speed, then Maize Valley Winery is the place for you. Their season runs from Sept. 21 to Nov. 2.
The winery’s pumpkin patch resides in its fall harvest activities area, which also has duck races and pumpkin cannon demonstrations. Not to mention there's an 8-acre corn maze, pumpkin jump pad, kids play area and more.
To get to the pumpkin patch, you must first pay a $15 admission fee (ages 2 to 65) to enter the activities area. Seniors get in for $10. Tickets can be purchased for a discounted $13 on Thursdays. There are also season passes available for $34.99.
Picked pumpkins are priced by weight and not included in admission costs. Fall-themed foods suchas hard cider, apple pie wine and pumpkin beerare also available in the winery’s shop. Maize Valley does not sell wine on Sundays, according to manager Scott Mann.
Tickets to the fall activities area are associated with specific time slots and should be purchased online prior to arriving at the winery.
Name: Maize Valley Winery
Address: 6193 Edison St. NE (state Route 619), Hartville
Phone number: 330-877-8344
Fall Festival dates: Sept. 21-22, Sept. 28-30, Oct. 3-7, Oct. 10-11 all from noon to 7 p.m.
Website: https://www.maizevalley.com/
Arrowhead Orchard
With more 100 acres of farmland, Arrowhead Orchard has many family-friendly activities including a zipline, obstacle course and pedal cart track. At the market on the property, guests can also shop for jams, honey, apple cider and similar fall products.
Plus, pumpkins aren’t the only plant ripe for picking at the orchard. Apples and sunflowers are also available for purchase.
The season runs from Friday to Monday through Oct. 28.
Admission to the fall activities area, which houses the pick-your-own plants and other attractions, is $16. Children 2 years and under get in free. Season passes are available for $30.
Picked pumpkins are not included in admission costs and are priced according to their size. There is a pumpkin price line in the patch that ranges from $1 to $20.
Name: Arrowhead Orchard
Address: 11724 Lisbon St. SE, Paris
Phone number: 330-862-2733
PYO pumpkin hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 6-Oct. 28)
Applehouse Market hours: Open during Fall Activities hours and Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Website: https://www.arrowheadorchardparisoh.com/
Rittman Orchards
This orchard allows guests to pick their own pumpkins and purchase them by the pound. As of Sept. 10, the pumpkins were not yet ripe for picking.
Rittman Orchards also allows customers to pick various other fruits and vegetables, like apples and corn. As an added bonus, the property has a farmers market stocked with produce grown at the orchard and Bent Ladder Cider and Wine , a hard cidery and winery that uses the orchard's produce to make its alcoholic beverages.
Local Flavor: Cranston's Pub and Bent Ladder Cider and Wine worth the trip to Doylestown
Name: Rittman Orchards
Phone number: 330-925-4152
Address: 13548 Mount Eaton Road, Doylestown
PYO pumpkin hours: Not yet set.
Website: https://rittmanorchards.com/
Contact Beacon Journal reporter Tawney Beans at tbeans@gannett.com and on Twitter @TawneyBeans. Follow her adventures on TikTok @akronbeaconjournal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Apple picking, pumpkin patches and everything in between: Guide to fall festivities in Akron
Local News
Comments / 0