Nothing says fall in the Stateline like visiting an apple orchard! One of our favorite parts of living in the Midwest is being surrounded by farms and orchards. Enjoy your fall traditions and pick up some delicious treats this season!
Admission to all of the orchards listed below is FREE! Food items at each orchard range from $3-10. Activities at each orchard range from $1-5 per person.
Here’s a list of local apple orchards and what you need to know before you visit them.
Edwards Apple Orchard
7061 Centerville Rd, Poplar Grove, IL
Edwards Apple Orchard is the most well-known orchard in the Rockford area. It’s the start of many family’s fall traditions!
Edward’s offers an on-site restaurant, small museum, petting zoo, outdoor playgrounds, and live music on the weekends. They also have a huge barn filled with food, products, clothing, and home decor. They also offer U-Pick apples.
Open August 23 through November 2024
Hours:
August 25 – October 31: 9 am – 6 pm daily
November 1 – November 29: 9 am – 5 pm daily
Apple picking begins in September. There will be three varieties available to start with more added throughout September and October.
Pumpkin picking begins in September. The pumpkin patch is open daily from 9 am – 5:30 pm.
What To Do There:
- U-Pick apples, raspberries and pumpkins. See the apple season schedule here.
Kids Attractions:
- Playground with wooden climb-ons
- School house and other buildings for pretend play
- Maze
- Small petting zoo
Must Do List:
- Check out the many flavors of homemade fudge. We recommend Cookies and Cream!
- Get a fresh, hot donut
- Take a family photo at the Edwards sign.
Food Options:
- 19+ varieties of apples
- Apple pie
- Apple donuts
- Apple cider (hot and cold)
- Caramel apples
- Caramel
- Fudge in 10+ flavors
- Jams, jellies, honey, salsas and other canned goods
Cost: Free admission, other items are between $5-10 each
Special note: Edwards takes credit and debit! Credit and debit were added in 2020.
Edwards Apple Orchard West
8218 Cemetery Rd, Winnebago, IL
Edwards Apple Orchard West is located in Winnebago and is often a less crowded option when it comes to Stateline orchards. Edwards West is a great place to visit with kids because they have slides, tractors to sit on, and lots of green space to run around.
Open August 23 through November 2024
Hours:
9 am – 6 pm daily
What To Do There:
- U-Pick apples, raspberries, and pumpkins. Apple picking starts September 6th. See the apple season schedule here.
- Shop in the 100-year-old dairy barn for gifts
Kids Attractions:
- Kids’ play area with school house, wooden train and wooden bus play structures
- Wagon slide
- Corn cribs
- Petting zoo with goats, turkeys, and more
- Weekend pony rides
- Weekend tractor rides into the orchard
Must Do List:
- Get a fresh, hot apple cider donut
- Check out the goat walk
- Take a photo on their bench
- Say hi to the farm dogs!
Food Offered:
- Apple cider donuts
- 18 varieties of apples
- Apple cider (hot and cold)
- Apple cider slushies
- Caramel apples
- Jams, jellies, honey, and salsas
Cost: Free admission, other items are between $5-10 each. Wagon rides are $1 each (cash only), animal feed is $.25 (quarters only)
Valley Orchard
811 E. State St. Cherry Valley, IL 61016
Valley Orchard is a 35-acre orchard with 5,000 apple trees located in Cherry Valley. If you want to beat the lines at other places, this is the place to go! Valley Orchard not only has the traditional sugar and cinnamon apple donuts, but they also offer a glazed apple donut that is delicious! Throughout the late summer and early fall you can pick a variety of berries, apples, and pumpkins at the orchard. People love the U-Pick options and donut varieties.
Open August 31st through November 2024
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm
What To Do There:
- U-Pick apples, blackberries, raspberries. Valley Orchard offers U-Pick options throughout the summer and fall. See the apple season schedule here.
- Shop the decor and food items in the store
- Get an apple cider slushie
- Try some homemade pie, fudge, and apple cinnamon bread
Kids Attractions:
- Hay bale climb
- Wagon tours
- Playhouse
- Tractors
Must Do List:
- Try a glazed apple donut
- Pick some berries or apples
Food Offered:
- Traditional sugar and cinnamon apple cider donuts
- Glazed apple cider donut
- Fresh vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, sweet corn
- Apple cider
- Apple pies
- Fudge
- Cinnamon bread
- Caramel apples
- Jams, jellies, salsas, honey, pumpkins
Cost: Free admission, other items are between $5-10 each.
Curran’s Orchard
6385 Kilburn Avenue, Rockford, IL
Curran’s Orchard is a popular orchard that’s been in business since 1981, located on the west side of Rockford. They are on the smaller side, but good things come in small packages! There are two things that make Curran’s special, they use ⅓ of the typical amount of chemicals on their apples and they have award-winning cider. Some say Curran’s cider is the best in the area! Give it a try and see what you think. They are offering a full food menu again this year.
Want to orchard hop? Curran’s and Edward’s West are located within minutes of each other.
Open August 17 through November 2024
Hours:
9 am – 6 pm
What To Do There:
- U-Pick cherries, raspberries, apples, and pumpkins (depending on when you visit). See the apple season schedule here.
- Shop for crafts items and food
- Check out the beehive display
Kids Attractions:
- Hay wagon rides
- Farm animal corral where you can feed goats, pigs, chickens, and turkeys
- Hay stack
- Straw bale mini maze
- Climbing bales
- Apple launcher
Must Do List:
- Try an apple cider slushie
- Take a picture on the vintage tractor
- Let the kids climb the haybales
- Say hi to Larry the dog, the official Curran’s Orchard greeter
Food Offered:
- Apple donuts
- Cider
- Apple cider slushies
- Apple pie
- Caramel apples
- Honey, maple syrup, jams, salad dressings
Cost: Free admission, other items are between $5-10 each. Animal feed is $.25 (quarters only)
The Apple Hut
1718 W. Walters Rd, Beloit, WI
The Apple Hut is a family run orchard in Beloit, Wisconsin. It opened in 1979 and currently has an orchard with 1,600 trees on 13 acres of land. This orchard is small, but it has a welcoming feel and excellent baked goods. People rave about the donuts!
Open August 23 through November 2024
Hours:
Tuesdays – Sundays from 8 am – 5 pm
What To Do There:
- U-Pick apples starting in September
- Shop in the barn for gifts
Kids Attractions:
- U-Pick apple section is a small size so it’s perfect for kids
Must Do List:
- Try a homemade apple turnover
- Get a fresh, hot cider donut
Food Offered:
- 17 apple varieties
- Apple cider donuts
- Apple turnovers
- Apple pies
- Caramel apples
- Jams, jellies, and honey
Cost: Free admission
Special note: The Apple Hut only takes cash.
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