As the days begin to get shorter and the air becomes a little crisper, it is a sure sign that fall cannot be far away and that it’s apple picking time in Georgia. And with it come lots of things to do around our area. One popular weekend excursion is to the Georgia mountains for apple picking in Gilmer County – Georgia’s Apple Capital, and there are two weekends this fall to choose from. With over ten apple orchards and more than 20 varieties of apples, visitors have lots of options. Named Apple Orchard Alley, there are 8 apple houses on Georgia Highway 52 East just outside of Ellijay, GA offering items such as fried apple pies, apple funnel cake, apple cider, apple milk shake and more. Some have petting farms, hayrides, and entertainment. A map of the orchards is available from the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce.
Annual Georgia Apple Festival
One of the highlights of apple season is the Annual Georgia Apple Festival, offering over 300 vendors with handmade items, as well as many on-site demonstrations of how selected types of crafts are made. See below for information on some the different varieties of apples you may find. Make sure you check the for details.
October 14th – 15th, October 21st – 22nd
http://www.georgiaapplefestival.org/
Apple Picking
The following is a list of area orchards offering u-pick apples.
Please check the individual websites for information about pricing, additional activities, exact dates and times, as well as any other information you might need.
Mercier Orchards
8660 Blue Ridge Drive, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Phone: 800-361-7731
http://www.mercier-orchards.com/
Red Apple Barn
3379 Tailscreek Road, Ellijay, GA 30540
Phone: 706-635-5898
Farm tours and U-Pick every weekend in September & October (or until there are no apples left)
https://www.redapplebarn.com/pick-your-own-apples/u-pick-apples
Hillcrest Orchards Apple Pickin’ Jubilee
9696 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30536
Phone: 706-273-3838
http://www.hillcrestorchards.net/festivals.htm
B.J. Reece Orchards
9131 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30536
Phone: 706-276-3048
http://www.reeceorchards.com/
R&A Orchards
5505 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30536
Phone: 706-273-3821
http://randaorchards.com/
Looking for more fall season activities? Check out our Fall Magazine.
Interested in a cabin in the mountains?
