A FAll favorite: Soergel Orchards

​Apples, and pumpkins, and gourds, oh my! My annual trip to Soergel's might just be my favorite part of the whole fall season. With pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and sunflower fields all in one spot, it's pretty hard to beat. Here's the scoop:

Let's start with the main attraction: The picking! If you ask me, it's smart to hit the apple orchard first. Lugging a pumpkin around may be a great workout, but it's also going to be a huge pain. in. the. ass. Save the sweat for the gym. You can choose to pick a 1/4, 1/2, or full "peck" of apples. (Note: A peck is a weird unit of dry measurement. All you have to worry about is what size bag you want.) Pay for the bag in advance and fill 'er up in the orchard. This may be a time when tall friends come in handy. The best ones always seem to be at the top! 

If you really just came for the hard cider (we'll get to that in a minute) and you're not much of a DIYer, head down the hill to take your pick from the bins of pre-picked pumpkins. From teeny tiny to enormous, there's literally a pumpkin for everyone. We're talking thousands. And If you're not feeling a traditional pumpkin, you're in luck. Soergel's is stocked with pretty much every member of the gourd family in every shape, size, and color you can think of. I'm a personal fan of the white pumpkins! They're unique and look awesome with fall flowers.

Aside from just pumpkin patches and apple picking, there's a lot of little bonuses at Soergel's Fall Festival. Check out the hay rides, games, sunflower fields, and food. Lots and lots of food! We're talking fresh apple cider, hot cinnamon rolls, kettle corn, BBQ, baked goods, ice cream, and more. But the best part? Arsenal Cider has a tasting room at Soergels! Pick your pumpkin, chow down on a cinnamon roll, and then sip on a hard cider. Literally, I can't think of a better October Saturday. 

Ready for an adventure? Here's the need-to-know. Soergel's Fall Festival runs every Saturday and Sunday from 11am- 5pm from the end of September to the end of October at the Soergel farm in Wexford. Entry is totally free and there's tons of free parking down the road at Orchard Hill Church. The festival is also credit card-friendly, so if you forget to hit the ATM don't stress. You'll still walk away with your perfect pumpkin.