pick your own

Fall festivals, farms, orchards and events in and around Washington, DC

September 10, 2022

It’s that time of year when the weather is beginning to cool, cute fall outfits await, PSL’s are back and kids are hoping to start jumping in leaves soon. It also means making memories at local apple orchards, fall festivals and picking pumpkins. Have a favorite place to add to our list? Let us know in the comments!

Larriland (2415 Woodbine Rd., Woodbine, MD 21797)
Open – November 6
Gaze across the fields dotted with thousands of orange pumpkins, each one waiting to become a jack-o-lantern for your porch. The farm is decorated for Halloween with ghosts and goblins to delight and scare you. The fields are laden with crisp, succulent vegetables. The orchards are bent down with apples. It’s the last harvest to reap before the cold winter sets in. And fall is the perfect time to enjoy a tall glass of freshly squeezed sweet apple cider. Reservations required for pumpkin and evening hayrides. The Straw Maze, built in a confusing pattern with large round bales of straw, is a delightful place to get lost. The Straw Maze is open every day the farm is open in late September and October. The Boo Barn is for children ages 4 – 6. It is a dark passage in the bottom of the Red Barn and is filled with animated, not too scary ghosts and goblins. The Boo Barn is open every day the farm is open in late September and October. Apple fritters and Food trucks on Saturdays and Sundays in October.

Great Country Farms (18780 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont, VA 20135)
September 1 – November 7
Open daily for apple picking and corn maze from Sept 1-30. They also have flashlight family nights through the corn maze September 10, 17, 24, 2022. On Saturdays & Sundays, they add in live music, marshmallow roasting, pig races & cider pressing demonstrations. Check out the Zurschmeide Family’s antique 1865 Cider press. Sample freshly pressed cider and see how it used to be produced! Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival is from October 1-31 & Pumpkin Chunkin taking place November 5-6. Purchase tickets online.

Gaver Farm (5501 Detrick Rd., Mount Airy, MD 21771)
September 2 – October 31
Enjoy fall on the farm by conquering the twists and turns of the corn maze, bouncing on the jumping pillows, petting and feeding the farm animals and cruising down the giant slides. There are over 60 attractions, appropriate for any age including 2 jumping pillows, Chicken Show, farm animals, mini mazes, playgrounds, duck races, ball games, photo centers and so much more! Purchase tickets online.

Clark’s Elioak Farm (10500 State Rte 108 Ellicott City, MD 21042)
Open – November 6
Petting farm animals, hayrides, cow train rides, pony rides, birthday parties, educational tours, enchanted pine tree forest, special weekend events, enchanted forest attractions (from an old theme park) and fall season pumpkin patch. You can purchase tickets when you arrive.

Homestead Farm (15604 Sugarland Rd., Poolesville, MD 20837)
Open 7 days a week
Pick your own apples and pumpkins, live animals to see and browse market goodies such as apple cider, mums and honey.

Summers Farm (5620 Butterfly Ln. Frederick, MD 21703)
September 17 – October 31
Admission includes 45+ fall fun activities. For a full schedule of special events, visit the Entertainment page. For a complete listing of activities available at Summers Farm, visit the Attractions page.

Leesburg Animal Park (19270 James Monroe Hwy., Leesburg, VA 20175)
September 17 – November 6
Enjoy the giant hill slides, hay wagon rides, pet and feed animals, free apple and cider snack with admission, free mini-pumpkin, kids maze and live entertainment, pedal carts, bounce pillow and live music. Specials on weekends include camel rides and Entertainment.

Cox Farms (15621 Braddock Rd., Centreville, VA 20120)
September 17 – 18 & then the Fall Festival will be open Thursday through Monday from Sept. 24 through Nov. 7, plus Tuesday, Nov. 8.
The Fall Festival is filled with family-friendly entertainment and TONS of attractions including slides, swings, animals, hayrides and more.

Butlers Orchard (22200 Davis Mill Rd., Germantown, MD 20876)
September 24 – October 30
Admission to pick your own pumpkins, hayrides, hilltop hop jump pads, tractor pull, jump in the hayloft, visit barnyard buddies, twisted corn maze, live music on weekends, playground, spiderweb, play in the corn box, straw maze, swoop down the giant slides, corn hole games & pedal tractors. Open Wednesday-Sundays, reservations are highly recommended.

Wayside Farm (5273 Harry Byrd Hwy., Berryville, VA 22611)
September 24 and then open Thursday – Sunday & Columbus Day (Oct 10)
September 24 – October 30, 2022
Watch the pig races, get lost in the maze or sit under the tree, head to the playground or animals and play pumpkin checkers. There is a hay mountain and hayrides too. Get lost in the 10-acre corn maze. This year the maze pays homage to our amazing medical professionals who work to keep us all healthy and safe.

Loudoun Fall Farm Tour
October 15 and 16
Over two dozen locations are part of this exciting tour through rural Virginia.

Readers also recommend:
Montpellier Farm
Weber’s Cider Mill
Pumpkin Playground at Burke Nursery

Fall festivals:
Maryland Renaissance Festival: August 27 – October 23
Oktoberfest at The Boro: September 17
H Street Festival: September 17
Oktoberfest at the Wharf: September 30 – October 2
PIKEtoberfest: October 2
Volta Park Fall Festival: October 15
Fall for Fairfax KidFest: TBD
Frederick Oktoberfest: TBD
Barracks Row OctROWberfest: TBD

Adults only:
Markoff’s Haunted Forest
Field of Screams
Ebe Haunts Trail of Terror
Fields of Fear
Six Flags Fright Fest
Shocktober

Food:
Order seasonal treats from Milk Bar. Taking the classic fall favorite, apple cider doughnuts, and remixing it with a uniquely Milk Bar spin, a brand new cake and truffle combo is meant to transport you to your favorite fall memory.

Pick your own fruit and vegetables near Washington, DC

June 3, 2021

Butlers Orchard (22200 Davis Mill Rd., Germantown, MD 20876)
A large variety of Pick Your Own crops are available at Butler’s Orchard on a seasonal basis. Please see the crop calendar. They grow over 23 different varieties of fruits and vegetables each year. Pick Your Own will be by RESERVATION ONLY! Passes grant access to our Pick Your Own Fields, the Farm Park Picnic Area, the Giant slides, the Nature Trail, and our Farm Park Animals. Visit Sheep, 2 miniature Donkeys, Goats, Chickens, and Charlie the Pig. (Some exclusions do apply.)

Homestead Farm (15604 Sugarland Rd., Poolesville, MD 20837)
Pick-your-own fruit including apples, cherries, pumpkins and more. Expected to reopen mid/late June.

Shlagel Farms (12850 Shlagel Rd., Waldorf, MD 20601)
Pick your own strawberry fields and greenhouses will be open 7 days a week from 10am-5pm during the berry picking season. Strawberries are priced by the pound for you to pick and they have containers or you can bring your own. During berry season the greenhouses are open and full of beautiful and unique hanging baskets and annual flats. They also have a milkshake trailer serving huge strawberry shortcakes, milkshakes and cones! No reservations needed. Daily updates can be found here.

Wegmeyer Farms (38299 Hughesville Rd., Hamilton, VA 20158)
Known for their delicious strawberries in the spring and unique and colorful pumpkins in the fall. They take great pride in what they grow – the taste, the quality, and the appearance – and strive for the best pure experience for all visitors. They also offer a drive-thru to pick up berries.

Larriland (2415 Woodbine Rd., Woodbine, MD 21797)
They harvest tons of fruits and veggies, check out the harvest calendar to plan a perfect outing. No need to make a reservation.

Great Country Farms (18780 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont, VA 20135)
Another farm with a lot of fruits and veggies to pick. They are also known for their annual festivals, check out the calendar of events.

Waters Orchard (22711 Wildcat Rd., Germantown, MD 20876)
Doc Waters Cidery is now open. Waters Orchard will reopen for apple picking in September.

Mackintosh Fruit Farm (1608 Russell Rd., Berryville, VA 22611)
Pick your own is by reservation only. Here’s what you can pick! Be sure to visit the market and kitchen before heading home.

Sandy Spring Strawberry Festival is cancelled again but they are doing the berry best with a drive-thru fresh, local strawberry sale!

Pick-your-own summer fruit

May 10, 2017

Butlers Orchard (22200 Davis Mill Rd, Germantown, MD 20876)
A large variety of Pick Your Own crops are available at Butler’s Orchard on a seasonal basis. Please see the Crop Calendar. They grow over 23 different varieties of fruits and vegetables each year. $3 per person visiting our Farm. Children under 24 months are free. Passes grant access to our Pick Your Own Fields, the Farm Park Picnic Area, the Giant slides, the Nature Trail, and our Farm Park Animals. (Some exclusions do apply.)

Homestead Farm (15604 Sugarland Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837)
Pick-Your-Own Fruit. Expected to reopen in late May or early June.

Shlagel Farms (12850 Shlagel Rd Waldorf MD 20601)
Pick your own strawberry fields and greenhouses will be open 7 days a week from 8am-6pm during the berry picking season which is typically all of May and into the first 2 weeks of June. Strawberries are priced by the pound for you to pick and we have containers or you can bring your own. They also allow you to pick berries by the quart or flat for you if you don’t want to pick. During berry season the greenhouses are open and full of beautiful and unique hanging baskets and annual flats. There is even a milkshake trailer serving huge strawberry shortcakes, milkshakes and cones!

Wegmeyer Farms (38299 Hughesville Rd, Hamilton, VA 20158)
Known for their delicious strawberries in the spring and unique and colorful pumpkins in the fall. They take great pride in what they grow – the taste, the quality, and the appearance – and strive for the best pure experience for all visitors. They invite you to visit and enjoy our top-rated products and the authentic farm experience! Be sure and check out their other locations; Gilbert’s Corner Market, Oatlands Plantation and Hamilton The Home Farm. Special for Beltway Bambinos readers — 25% off weekdays Monday-Friday at their 3 u-pick locations, just mention Beltway Bambinos at register.

Larriland (2415 Woodbine Rd, Woodbine, MD 21797)
The strawberry plants are blooming now and may ripen around May 25, 2017

Great Country Farms (18780 Foggy Bottom Rd, Bluemont, VA 20135)
Pick your own strawberries OPEN 9am-5pm or until we are picked out. Check here for updates on availability. Strawberry Festival May 6, 7, 13 & 14, 2017

Readers also recommend:

Mackintosh Fruit Farm

Sharps at Waterford Farm

Westmoreland Berry Farm

June 3, 2017: Sandy Spring Strawberry Festival
Sandy Spring Museum is gearing up for the 36^th Annual Strawberry Festival! This event has grown to over 6,000 attendees and is something you won’t want to miss! Taking place throughout the museum’s 7 acres along Route 108, the event features live music and entertainment, food trucks, a beer garden, and activities for children of all ages. Over the years the Strawberry Festival has featured a rock climbing wall, pony rides, a petting zoo, and much more!