Pumpkins and Apples and Gourds, Oh My! in Mystic Country

The fields at Lapsley Orchard date back to early Colonial days. In fact, Israel Putnam purchased the land in 1750 and specialized in stock raising and fruit growing, and this land still proudly feeds the community today. Noted as one of the best farms in New England, Lapsley offers a retail farm stand with a variety of fruits and vegetables all grown on sight. This fall, they have pick your own apples and pumpkins and plenty of items for the perfect fall tablescape or to deck out your front porch. On weekends they sell apple cider donuts and offer free wagon rides every Sunday in September and October.

Their annual Fall Harvest Festival will take place on October 7-9, 2023 which will include live music, cider-making demonstrations, candy apples, caramel apples, apple cider doughnuts, and apple cider slushies. You can also take a stroll through the orchard and choose from 32 varieties of apples or head to the fields to find your perfect pumpkin. The Pomfret Lions will be cooking lunch, or you can bring your own picnic lunch. There will also be free wagon rides and live music.

Buell’s Orchard also has a rich history in Connecticut, having been around since 1889 when it was founded by Henry Buell. It has been in the family ever since! They grow more than 15 varieties of apples and have several available at a time for picking. Don’t miss a stop at their bakery, where you will find cider donuts in the fall, as well as blueberry donuts during the mid-summer months. And of course, there are also fresh-baked pies and other goodies including cookies from their family recipe archives, breads, muffins, and more.

Their 41st Annual Harvest Festival will take place this year on October 7 and October 9, 2023 where you can expect apple picking, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, a barbecue, live music, and more.

Home to the oldest and only currently running steam-powered cider mill in the United States, B.F. Clyde’s is a national historic landmark right here in our own backyard. A visit to this family-run business will certainly satisfy your sweet tooth, as you sip on what some have called, “the best sweet cider on Earth.” They are also famous for their apple cider donuts, cider slushies, and other delicious baked goods. On the weekends there are free wine and cider-making demonstrations, as well as fresh kettle corn, and you can also sample their assortment of hard ciders and wines. Grownups can take home a souvenir in the form of a branded refillable growler, and of course, don’t forget to grab a gallon of the sweet stuff to take home for the kids too!

Edmondson’s Farm is a great one-stop shop for all your fall decorating needs. They sell more than 75 varieties of Chrysanthemums, their premiere crop, as well as pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, apples, cider, and more. Kids will love this family-friendly farm, as they offer tractor-drawn hayrides on the weekends and plenty of cute photo opportunities in the form of wooden props and signs – not to mention the scenic backdrops of all the mums, pumpkins, and other fall displays!

Whittles Willow Spring Farm has a family-run farm stand that has been around for more than 100 years.  Come fall, visitors can pick their own pumpkins and apples, and there are plenty of insta-worthy photo opportunities all around the farm. Be sure to snap a picture of their 1850-pound pumpkin or hop aboard one of their tractors for the quintessential farm backdrop. And don’t forget to bring your pups along because this farm is not only kid-friendly but dog friendly too!