Fall Saturdays in the Shenandoah Valley are pretty incredible, and not just because it’s football season. No, it’s the Blue Ridge Mountains, the crisp air, and the smell of a cider donut somewhere nearby. The Valley has been known for apple production for a long time, and a handful of family-run orchards and farms open to the public every fall for pick-your-own apples, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and all the cider-and-donuts trimmings that come with it. Here’s where to go for your photo-perfect fall picking experiences.
Marker-Miller Orchards | Winchester
Marker-Miller has been farmed by the same family since 1908, and the stone farmhouse on the property, known as “Paxton,” dates all the way back to 1811. Today it’s the fourth and fifth generation at the helm of this popular pick-your-own destination.
- Picking: Typically, Marker-Miller has a dozen or more apple varieties available for pick-your-own, but the April 2026 freeze caused a loss of crops. That being said, there are apples in the market and bins of pre-picked apples in the orchard on the weekends through October.
- Family Fun: A large playground, weekend hayrides, and a sweets shop with homemade fudge and hand-dipped ice cream. Sit a spell on the front porch and enjoy the Apple Harvest Festival October 10 and 11.
- Admission: No fee; pay by the bag or by the pound for fruit; wagon rides are $2 per person for ages 5 and up.
- Location: 3035 Cedar Creek Grade, Winchester, VA
Endless View Farms | Crimora
Endless View is a great pumpkin patch and one of the most full-on family destinations in the middle Valley. It’s a working farm in Augusta County that turns into a proper fall festival every weekend in September and October.
- To Do: Pick-your-own pumpkins, try the corn maze (this year’s theme is around America’s 250th anniversary), take a hayride, visit the petting zoo, take advantage of photo ops, and discover more than 25 activities for kids scattered around the farm.
- Family Fun: Fresh-squeezed lemonade, milkshakes, farm-fresh food, and a lineup of festivals — from the Sunflower Festival to the Fall Festival.
- Admission: The Sunflower Festival (through Sept. 20) is $14 at the gate; the Fall/Pumpkin Festival (Sept. 21–Nov. 1) is $16 online or $18 at the gate. Kids 3 and under get in free, and there are discounts for seniors, teachers, and first responders with valid ID.
- Location: 2513 Rockfish Rd, Crimora, VA
Mulberry Hills Farm | Mount Crawford
Just up I-81 from Harrisonburg, Mulberry Hills Farm has been growing pumpkins for more than two decades. Their fall focus is squarely on the pumpkin-patch with tons of pumpkins, fun photo spots, and an easy-going atmosphere.
- To Do: Choose from pre-picked pumpkins or head into the field and pick your own; choose from additional decorative items like gourds, straw, and mums.
- Family Fun: Enjoy a weekend hayride, visit the farm animals, and snap cute pics for the ‘gram using their photo op stations.
- Admission: No fee; pay for pumpkins and add-ons individually; weekend hayrides are free.
- Location: 6442 Cross Keys Road, Mt. Crawford, VA
Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse | Timberville
West of New Market, Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse has been a family farm since 1965 and is now in its fifth decade of pressing cider. It’s also home to Old Hill Cider, the Shenandoah Valley’s first hard cidery. Enjoy a glass on the porch!
- Picking: Apples (over 30 varieties) and, earlier in the season, peaches.
- LOVE: Showalter’s is home to one of the Shenandoah Valley’s official Virginia LOVEwork, set up with sweeping views of the Valley and Blue Ridge — a great photo stop between picking apples and sipping cider.
- Family Fun: Taste the fresh apple cider donuts, enjoy the tasting room if you’re over 21, challenge the rest of the crew to a board game while you picnic, or plan an overnight on the farm at one of their cottages.
- Admission: No fee; cider tastings and PYO apples are priced separately.
- Location: 17768 Honeyville Road, Timberville, VA
Middle River Farms | Grottoes
South of Harrisonburg, Middle River Farms delivers on the pumpkin patch and corn maze craze. It’s a favorite destination for families with little ones.
- To Do: Pumpkin picking and a corn maze, typically mid-September through October 31.
- Family Fun: A snack and refreshment stand, picnic area, and restrooms make it an easy half-day outing.
- Admission: Varies by activity.
- Location: 1744 Weyers Cave Road, Grottoes, VA
A Few Tips Before You Go
- Orchard hours, pumpkin patch dates, and prices shift from week to week depending on weather and how the harvest is going, so it’s always worth checking ahead of your trip.
- Weekday mornings tend to be far less crowded than weekend afternoons, especially once October hits and everyone in the Valley has the same idea you do.
- If you’re chasing Virginia’s “LOVE” signs, Showalter’s Orchard isn’t the only one nearby — there are several more scattered around Winchester, Harrisonburg, Dayton, and Luray if you want to make a whole scavenger hunt out of it.
Whatever farm you choose, the formula is hard to beat: crisp mountain air, a bag full of apples or a pumpkin under your arm, and a cider donut for the ride home.
