Everything You Need to Know About the Fall Season at MCO
Welcome to our all about fall at MCO page! We hope that you will celebrate the fall season with us and enjoy our abundance of activities, including apple picking, sunflower picking, pumpkin picking, apple cider everything, live music and more!! Wondering which weekends you should visit? Check out our full fall line-up below.
September Themed Weekends
September 2-4th (Labor Day Weekend) ~ All About Apples
Apple Cider Adventures
An educational, interactive and engaging adventure where we'll share our cider secrets and fun facts via a cider pressing demonstration and tasting.
Fall Hayrides
Enjoy a hayride around the farm, breathing in the fall air and enjoying the orchard landscapes.
Labor Day Weekend Extras
Live Music Series
Bring a blanket and chair and enjoy live music by the water.
Saturday (10-2pm): Dylan Branson (Rock, Soul, Country)
Sunday (1-4pm): Mackenzie Welborn (Pop Country)
Monday (10-2pm): Don Herndon (Country Christian)
Food Vendor (Saturday & Monday: 10-3pm | Sunday: 1-4pm)
Ramseur Civitans (Hamburgers & Hotdog Combos)
All About Apple Tasting Extravaganza (FREE)
Saturday & Monday: 10-2pm | Sunday: 1-4pm
Send your tastebuds into an apple overload with a tasting of various apple varieties; apple canned goods and baked goods. No reservations needed - come hungry!
Barn Quilt Painting Class - Sunflower Themed
Saturday & Labor Day Monday: 11am
Create a beautiful hand-painted sunflower-themed barn quilt for your home with an instructed course taught by Barn Quilts by Lindsey. Register and learn more here.
Liberty Acres Animal Visits (FREE)
Sunday: 1:30-3:30pm
Liberty Acres Animal Haven & Equine Rescue is adding extra fun to the weekend by bringing a variety of animal friends to visit the Orchard! Stop by their area to visit with them, take photos and learn about their organization.
September 9th & 10th ~ Autumn Harvest Party
Apple Cider Adventures
An educational, interactive and engaging adventure where we'll share our cider secrets and fun facts via a cider pressing demonstration and tasting.
Fall Orchard Hayrides
Enjoy a hayride around the farm, breathing in the fall air and enjoying the orchard landscapes.
September 9th & 10th weekend extras
Autumn Harvest Party
We’re bringing back everyone’s favorite fall festival games - think pie eating contests, apple bobbing, piñatas - but with a little orchard twist. Check out below for the schedule of events:
Axe Throwing with Flying Hatchet (Pay to Play): Saturday: 10-4pm | Sunday: 1-5pm
Lawn Games (Free): Saturday: 10-4pm | Sunday: 1-5pm
Apple Cider Donut Eating Contest (Free - Register on-site 15 minutes prior): Saturday: 12:30 | Sunday: 2pm
Apple Bobbing (Free - located in Kiddie Korral): Saturday: 11am | Sunday: 3pm
Piñata (Free - located by tire swings): Saturday: 1:30pm | Sunday: 4pm)
Char Mar Alpacas (Free)
Saturday: 10-3pm | Sunday: 1-4pm
Our furry friends from Char Mar Alpacas return to the Orchard this fall to meet and greet with all our guests. Visit them in the pine area for your chance to feed them, pet them and take photos. They’ll also have handcrafted items available.
Live Music Series
Bring a blanket and chair and enjoy live music by the water.
Saturday (10-2pm): Finn Phoenix (Rock)
Sunday (1-4pm): Chris Bonelli (Rock)
Food Vendor (Saturday & Monday: 10-3pm | Sunday: 1-4pm)
Ramseur Civitans (Hamburgers & Hotdog Combos)
Sunflower Field Photo Rental
With a variety of beautiful sunflowers, photographers have a breathtaking backdrop for all their clients' special moments. Photographers may rent the fields by the hour.
September 16th & 17th ~ Sunflower Splendor
Sunflower Splendor U-Pick Event with Highland Cows
Escape to our largest sunflower field for a fun activity the whole family can enjoy, and not to mention, they’re the prettiest backdrop to snap some bright, happy photos!
And as added cuteness, we're welcoming Cellar Creek Farm and their adorable highland cows to our sunflower field! They'll be greeting our guests as they enter the fields and will be ready for lots of pets and photos.
September 16th & 17th Weekend Extras
Live Music Series
Bring a blanket and chair and enjoy live music by the water.
Saturday (10-2pm): John Mark (Country)
Sunday (1-4pm): Dylan Branson (Soul, Country & Rock)
Food Vendor (Saturday & Monday: 10-3pm | Sunday: 1-4pm)
Ramseur Civitans (Hamburgers & Hotdog Combos)
September 23rd & 24th
Apple Pickin’ Adventure
There’s nothing quite like apple picking to make your heart happy, and we are so excited to welcome our guests out this September to enjoy an Apple Pickin' Adventure. During your adventure, guests can enjoy u-pick apples, a hayride, apple tasting, apple cider pressing demonstration and fresh apple cider slushie.
We are facing a 70% crop loss this year due to the March freezes, so we will only be able to offer one day of apple picking on September 23rd. If we see after hosting our adventures on the 23rd that we have more apples for guests to enjoy, we will open September 24th.
September 23rd & 24th Weekend Extras
Char Mar Alpacas (Free)
Saturday: 10-3pm | Sunday: 1-4pm
Our furry friends from Char Mar Alpacas return to the Orchard this fall to meet and greet with all our guests. Visit them in the pine area for your chance to feed them, pet them and take photos. They’ll also have handcrafted items available
Live Music Series
Bring a blanket and chair and enjoy live music by the water.
Saturday (10-2pm): Miller & Williams Band (Acoustic Americana & More)
Sunday (1-4pm): Mackenzie Welborn (Pop Country)
Food Vendor (Saturday & Monday: 10-3pm | Sunday: 1-4pm)
Ramseur Civitans (Hamburgers & Hotdog Combos)
More Details about September 30th & October Activities Coming Very Soon
An Apple Cider State of Mind
There’s nothing better than the sweet taste of apple cider in the fall, and we press over 300 gallons of fresh apple cider fresh each week. Whether you’re looking for ice-cold apple cider slushies, hot apple cider donuts, our sweet apple cider floats or fresh cider to take home with you, we’ve got you covered. Check out the details below for hours and availability of each:
Apple Cider Slushies: Available daily in the Apple Barn as well as at Granny’s Goodies on weekends
Apple Cider Donuts: Served hot and fresh Saturdays from 10-4pm and Sundays from 1-4:30pm at Granny’s Goodies. We recommend coming early to beat the crowd.
Apple Cider Floats: Handmade fresh every Saturdays from 10-4pm and Sundays from 1-4:30pm at Granny’s Goodies.
Apple Cider by the Half Gallon: Available daily in the Apple Barn. For large quantities, please call us to reserve.
Retail (Pre-Picked) Apple Sales
$2.95/lb | $30/peck (11 lbs) | $45/half bushel (22 lbs) | $70/bushel (44 pounds)
For all your bulk apple needs, visit us this fall for our large volume sales! Whether you’re canning, baking or snacking, mix and match varieties for the perfect blend. Please note that apple varieties do change each week depending on what’s in season. Call ahead if you’re looking for specific types.
We’re All About Pumpkin Picking in October
With over 10,000 seeds planted across numerous patches, it’s going to be a stellar pumpkin year at the Orchard! In addition to exploring and picking pumpkins from our pumpkin patch, our Pumpkin Pickin’ Adventure offers a complete experience with pumpkin seed tasting, apple cider pressing demonstration, and orchard hayride. Pumpkin picking is via reservation only. Register here for all available dates and times.
October Weekend Extras - Live Music & Special Events
Plan to spend the day and experience a fun-filled fall day at the farm with live music and extra activities. Musicians will play live from 10-2pm on Saturdays and 1-4pm on Sundays. Check out our music event line-up coming to the Orchard every Saturday and Sunday this fall:
Extra fun Weekend Events
Saturday, October 14th (10-4pm): Axe Throwing
Sunday, October 15th (1-5pm): Axe Throwing
Waterfront live music
Sunday, October 1st: Mackenzie Welborn (Pop Country)
Saturday, October 7th: Dylan Branson (Soul, Rock, Country)
Sunday, October 8th: Don Herndon (Christian Country)
Saturday, October 14th: Rachel Pinson (Country)
Sunday, October 15th: Chris Bonelli (Rock)
Saturday, October 21st: Chris Bonelli (Rock)
Sunday, October 22nd: Mackenzie Welborn (Pop Country)
Saturday, October 28th: DJ Michael Billings (Halloween Party)
Sunday, October 29th: Dylan Branson (Soul, Rock, Country)
Meet the Makers Market
On select days, visit with our Meet the Maker vendors to learn about their craft as they showcase their talent and educate you on their products. Check out our schedule below to see which vendors will be here when and what you can learn.
Saturday, October 7th (10-4pm):
Muddy Creek Lavender (Sampling of Lavender Products )
Saturday, October 14th (10-4pm):
Muddy Creek Lavender (Sampling of Lavender Products )
The Wandering Texan (Candle Scent Mixing)
Liberty Kettle Corn (Sampling of Fresh Kettle Corn)
Saturday, October 21st (10-4pm)
Muddy Creek Lavender (Sampling of Lavender Products )
York Family Cattle (Beef & Pork)
Saturday, October 28th (10-4pm):
Muddy Creek Lavender (Sampling of Lavender Products )
BulletProof Sauces (Sampling of Handmade Sauces)
November Weekend Adventures - Apple Orchard Adventures
Our Apple Orchard Adventure is the perfect outdoor fall excursion for a November weekend - it's interactive, educational and fun for all ages. It packs all our favorite fall activities into one 75-minute excursion with an orchard hayride, fresh pre-picked apples, and apple cider hand-pressed by you! Bring your muscles and get ready to chop some apples because during your adventure, we'll teach you how we press apple cider the old-fashioned way! And the best part - you get to drink the fresh-pressed apple cider, too! Explore dates and register with the button below.
*Please note that this adventure does not include u-pick apples.
Next U-Pick Offering: Pecan Picking Coming in November
Our pecan trees are so loaded that their branches are hanging low and in early to mid-November, we’ll be picking pecans! Watch our homepage for updates when they’re ready for picking and bring your family out for a new fall u-pick experience.