September 23, 3 pm - 5 pm Fall Farm Tour
$5.00 Out of stock Quantity: 1 Add to Bag Product Details 2 hour Fall Farm Tour includes: apple cider pressing demonstration, a short introduction to Apple Farming, parking, and picnic site! $5 per person age 4 - adult; kids 3 and under are free to accompany a paying adult. Apple picking is not included with your entry fee, but can be purchased on site with cash or credit card. $20 for a half peck bag. Important Info 1. All sales are final. No refunds or time/date transfers allowed. 2. Must be parked and checked-in 10 minutes prior to your reservation time. 3. Have proof of purchase ready upon arrival. 4. Pricing is based on admission for everyone in the group age 3 to adult. 5. Kids aged 3 and under are free to accompany a paying adult. Tickets No paper tickets will be sent. An order confirmation from Ecwid will be sent to the email address you provide. The order number in your email confirmation is all that is needed to check-in. Please double-check the accuracy of your email address before purchasing. Save this product for later Favorite My Account
What to Expect on Your Fall Farm Tour
Your two-hour visit is designed to be relaxed, informative, and full of the sights, sounds, and smells of the orchard in late September. The afternoon start time means you’ll experience the farm as the light begins to soften and the air cools — a perfect moment for walking the rows, asking questions, and settling into the pace of the season. The tour is structured but unhurried, and our team is always happy to pause for an extra question or a closer look at a particular tree or piece of equipment.
You’ll begin with a warm welcome at the check-in area near the parking field. From there, your group will be guided to the cider pressing station, where you’ll see how fresh apples are transformed into juice right before your eyes. The demonstration is hands-on in spirit: you’ll learn about the different apple varieties we grow, why some are better for cider than others, and how the pressing process has evolved from hand-cranked presses to the equipment we use today. You’ll also have a chance to taste the results — a crisp, unfiltered cider that captures the flavor of the orchard at its peak.
After the cider pressing, the tour moves into a short introduction to apple farming. This is not a lecture but a conversation. We’ll talk about how the orchard is managed through the year, from winter pruning to spring bloom to the careful work of thinning and pest management. You’ll learn what makes our farm different, how we care for the trees, and what challenges — and joys — come with growing apples in this region. Along the way, you’ll see the trees themselves, many of them heavy with fruit, and you’ll get a sense of the rhythm of the harvest season.
Throughout the tour, you’ll have plenty of time to take photos, ask questions, and simply enjoy being on the farm. The pace is easy, and the terrain is mostly flat and accessible. We recommend comfortable walking shoes and dressing for the weather, as the tour takes place entirely outdoors. At the end of the guided portion, you’re welcome to stay and use the picnic site, explore the farm stand, or purchase a bag for u-pick apples if you’d like to take some of the harvest home with you.
Planning Your Visit: Timing, Parking, and Check-In
To make the most of your afternoon, plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your reservation time. The farm is located on a working orchard, and while our parking area is well-marked, it can take a few minutes to get from your car to the check-in point. Your reservation is for a specific time slot, and we ask that all guests be parked and checked in 10 minutes prior to the start of the tour. This helps us keep the group together and ensures everyone gets the full experience.
Check-in is simple: bring your order confirmation email, either printed or on your phone. The order number is all we need to verify your reservation. There are no paper tickets, so there’s nothing to forget at home — just make sure the email address you used at checkout is one you can access on the day of your visit. If you’re bringing a group, the person who made the reservation can check in for everyone, but please have a count of your party ready so we can confirm the number of paying guests and any children under four.
Parking is free and located in a grassy field adjacent to the orchard. Our staff will direct you to the appropriate area. Please note that the parking field is unpaved, so low-clearance vehicles should take care when entering. The walk from the parking area to the check-in point is short but can be uneven in places, so sturdy shoes are recommended. If you or someone in your party has mobility concerns, please let us know at check-in, and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
Restrooms are available near the farm stand, and we encourage guests to use them before the tour begins, as the tour route does not loop back to the main area until the end. Water and light snacks are available for purchase at the farm stand, but you’re also welcome to bring your own water bottle. The picnic site is open for your use after the tour, so consider packing a snack or a late-afternoon picnic to enjoy under the trees.
Apple Picking: How It Works and What to Expect
One of the most common questions we get is whether apple picking is included in the tour. It is not, but it is available as an add-on when you arrive. For $20, you can purchase a half peck bag — that’s about 5-6 pounds of apples, or roughly 10-12 apples depending on size — and fill it yourself in our designated u-pick rows. The varieties available for picking will depend on what’s ripe that week, but late September is typically a wonderful time for Honeycrisp, Gala, and several of our later-season varieties.
You do not need to decide about apple picking in advance. After the tour, simply head to the farm stand or the u-pick check-in table, pay by cash or credit card, and receive your bag. Our staff will point you to the rows that are open for picking that day and give you a quick rundown of which varieties are at their best. The u-pick area is a short walk from the main gathering spot, and the trees are maintained at a height that makes picking easy for adults and older children. Kids are welcome in the u-pick rows, but please supervise them closely and remind them to pick gently — apples bruise easily, and we want everyone to enjoy the fruit at its best.
If you’d rather not pick your own, pre-picked apples are also available for purchase at the farm stand, along with cider, honey, and other farm products. The farm stand is open during tour hours, so you can browse before or after your tour. Many guests choose to do the tour first, then pick apples, then relax at the picnic site with a cold cider and a view of the orchard. It’s a lovely way to spend an afternoon.
Please note that apple availability can change quickly during harvest season. If a particular variety is not available for u-pick on the day of your visit, our staff will help you choose a comparable alternative. The $20 half peck bag is a fixed price regardless of variety, and you are welcome to mix varieties in your bag as long as you pick from the designated rows.
Who Should Take This Tour?
This fall farm tour is designed for anyone who wants to learn a little more about where their food comes from and enjoy a beautiful afternoon in the orchard. It’s especially well-suited to families with children, couples looking for a low-key outdoor date, and anyone curious about small-scale farming and cider making. The tour is conversational and interactive, and our guides are skilled at engaging both kids and adults. Children under four are free with a paying adult, and we find that even the youngest visitors enjoy watching the cider press in action and seeing the apples on the trees.
The tour involves about 45-60 minutes of walking at a leisurely pace, with frequent stops. The ground is mostly level but can be uneven in places, and the tour takes place entirely outdoors, rain or shine. If the weather is particularly unpleasant, we may shorten the walking portion and spend more time under cover at the cider pressing area and farm stand, but we do not cancel for light rain. Please dress accordingly and check the forecast before you leave home.
If you’re looking for a more hands-on apple picking experience, you might also be interested in our October 1st U-pick and Demo 1 PM -3PM or October 1st U-pick and Demo 3 PM -5PM events, which combine a shorter demonstration with more time in the orchard. For those who prefer a morning or earlier afternoon tour, we also offer September 21, 10 am - 12 pm Fall Farm Tour, September 16, 1 pm - 3 pm Fall Farm Tour, September 16, 10 am - 12 pm Fall Farm Tour, and September 16, 3 pm - 5 pm Fall Farm Tour. All of our tours follow the same format and pricing, so you can choose the date and time that works best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
We know that planning a farm visit can come with a lot of questions, especially if you’re bringing a group or visiting for the first time. Here are some of the most common things guests ask about before their tour. If you don’t see your question answered here, feel free to ask a staff member on the day of your visit — we’re always happy to help.
- What happens if it rains? The tour goes on! We are a working farm, and a little rain is part of the experience. The cider pressing demonstration and the apple farming talk can be moved under cover if needed, and we’ll adjust the walking route to keep everyone as comfortable as possible. Please bring rain gear if the forecast calls for it.
- Can I bring my dog? We love dogs, but for the safety and comfort of all guests, we ask that you leave pets at home. Service animals are always welcome.
- Is the tour wheelchair accessible? The main areas around the farm stand, cider pressing station, and picnic site are accessible, but the orchard rows are grassy and uneven, which can be challenging for wheelchairs and strollers. If you have specific accessibility needs, please contact us in advance and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
- Can I buy tickets at the door? Tickets must be purchased in advance through our online store. If a tour is listed as “out of stock,” that time slot is full. We do not keep a waiting list, but cancellations are rare due to our no-refund policy.
- What should I wear? Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes. The orchard can be dusty or muddy depending on recent weather, so leave the nice shoes at home. A hat and sunscreen are a good idea even in late September.
- Is there food available? We sell light snacks, cider, and other farm products at the farm stand. You’re also welcome to bring your own food and use the picnic site after the tour. Please pack out any trash.
Why We Do These Tours
Crosscut Farm & Orchard has been a part of this community for generations, and we believe that the best way to understand what we do is to see it up close. These fall farm tours are our way of opening the gates and inviting you into the daily life of the orchard. We want you to leave with a deeper appreciation for the work that goes into every apple, every bottle of cider, and every jar of honey. And we want you to have fun while you’re here.
Farming is a slow, seasonal craft, and autumn is the season when all the year’s work comes to fruition. The trees are heavy with fruit, the air smells like ripe apples and woodsmoke, and the light turns golden in the late afternoon. It’s our favorite time of year, and we’re glad to share it with you. Whether you’re a longtime customer or a first-time visitor, we hope you’ll leave with a bag of apples, a few new facts, and a smile on your face.
Thank you for supporting local agriculture. Every ticket you buy, every bag of apples you pick, and every cider you sip helps keep this farm growing. We look forward to seeing you in the orchard.