Fall fun on Seacoast farms: Your guide to apple picking, haunted fun, corn mazes, more

Aqeel Hisham, Portsmouth Herald
Updated ·11 min read

From picking apples or pumpkins to navigating corn mazes in the dark, Seacoast New Hampshire and southern York County, Maine, farms this fall are offering a full range of fun, festive events and activities.

One of the most popular farms in the area is Applecrest Farm Orchards in Hampton Falls, which has been operating since 1913. Here, you can pick your own apples from over 40 varieties, enjoy a hayride through the orchard, sample some of their award-winning pies and cider, and shop for local products at their farm market.

Applecrest Farm Orchards is the oldest and largest apple orchard in New Hampshire.
Applecrest Farm Orchards is the oldest and largest apple orchard in New Hampshire.

If you’re looking for a challenge, you can visit Emery Farm in Durham and try their homegrown corn maze, which has a different theme every year. You can also pick your own pumpkins, feed the farm animals, and take a classic tractor drawn wagon ride around the scenic property.

And if you want some Halloween fun, Haunted Overload at DeMeritt Hill Farm is the place to visit. The haunted trail is a one-of-a-kind experience where "twisted creatures wait around every turn in the most frightening patch of forest in New England."

Here is a look at what local farms in New Hampshire and southern Maine are offering this fall.

Seacoast New Hampshire

Applecrest – Hampton Falls

Address: 133 Exeter Road

Website: applecrest.com

Contact: (603) 926-3721

Hours: Farm Market open daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Corn maze hours daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until a killing frost. Harvest Festival every weekend, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, September through October.

This year marks the 49th year Applecrest, the largest and oldest apple orchard in New Hampshire, invites the public to celebrate its Harvest Festival. The farm offers 100 acres of fruit orchards with 20,000 apple trees that include 45 different varieties.

Applecrest invites the public to celebrate the harvest by visiting and enjoying its corn maze, barnyard animals, pick-your-own apples and pumpkins.
Applecrest invites the public to celebrate the harvest by visiting and enjoying its corn maze, barnyard animals, pick-your-own apples and pumpkins.

The Farm Market offers other fruits such as strawberries, tree-ripened peaches, nectarines and summer vegetables. Visitors could also find the farm’s hand-pressed apple ciders and local honey and jams at the market.

Applecrest Farm Orchards in Hampton Falls is where you can pick your own apples from more than 40 varieties.
Applecrest Farm Orchards in Hampton Falls is where you can pick your own apples from more than 40 varieties.

From corn mazes to pick-your-own apples and raspberries, live music to lawn games, Applecrest’s Harvest Festival has something for everyone. Weekend lists of activities, performers and menus are available on the farm’s website.Just make sure to grab some of the farm’s made-from-scratch cider donuts before you leave. The donuts are made fresh every day!

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Farm at Eastman’s Corner – Kensington

Address: 267 South Road

Website: eastmanscorner.com

Contact: (603) 347-1909

Hours: Open daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The fall season brings free live music performances at the farm, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Visitors can enjoy performances by jazzy trio The Brethren; funky, upbeat blends from Red Tail Hawk; and sax-forward quartet Four Piece Suit at the farm’s deck.

There are loads of activities for the whole family to enjoy every day. Aside from locally harvested honey and maple syrup, it’s Farm Market offers a wide range of delicious grab-and-go meals, soups and salads, all made from scratch using its own local produce.

Built by Seacoast School of Technology students, the farm’s animal barn offers friendly Nigerian dwarf goats and two Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, LuLu and Penny. The mural on the barn was painted in 2016 by students at Kensington Elementary School.

Cluckingham Palace at the Farm at Eastman's Corner is filled with New Hampshire Reds.
Cluckingham Palace at the Farm at Eastman's Corner is filled with New Hampshire Reds.

Don’t forget to peek inside Cluckingham Palace, filled with New Hampshire Reds, who also provide the eggs sold at the farm stand.

The Stay and Play Gazebo offers a place to enjoy a picnic lunch and a view of the farm’s artwork, including its impressive scrap-metal plow horse on the front lawn. The farm’s playground and playhouse are available for families to use whenever visiting.

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Vernon Family Farm – Newfields

Address: 301 Piscassic Road

Website: vernonfamilyfarm.com

Contact: (603) 340-4321

Hours: Open daily, year-round, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Located on 33 conserved acres in Newfields along the Piscassic River, the Vernon Family Farm store offers non-GMO, organic, local meats, chicken, seafood, prepared foods and produce from more than 30 local farmers and producers. Outdoor dining at the farm is available Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday brunch 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until October.

Vernon Family Farm is open through the end of October, and a full listing of music and special events can be found on their website and social media.
Vernon Family Farm is open through the end of October, and a full listing of music and special events can be found on their website and social media.

From live music to yoga, the farm offers a variety of activities for all ages. This fall, the Vernon family Farm will be welcoming performances from rock band Superfrog on Sept. 15, acoustic folk band The Green Sisters during brunch on Sunday, Sept. 24, and many more.

Make sure to sign up for yoga with instructor Angela Desrosiers on Sept. 24 and Oct. 12 for a transformative and mindful experience at the farm. The one-hour event includes a 50-minute all-level Vinyasa Yoga movement and a 10-minute meditative walk through the farm’s wildflower meadow.

Emery Farm – Durham

Address: 147 Piscataqua Road

Website: emeryfarm.com

Contact: (603) 742-8495

Hours: Market and Garden Center currently open daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays through Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays through Fridays. Cafe currently open daily 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. serving apple cider donuts, sandwiches, smoothies and ice creams.

Having been run by the same family since 1660, Emery Farm is the oldest family farm in the country.

Whether you're looking for an adventure or to just sit back and relax, Emery Farm can cater to both. Its corn maze offers more than just twists and turns, but also educational stations hidden throughout. Reconnect to the land and refresh your eyes on a scenic wagon ride around the farm before enjoying a rustic adventure through the woods.

The corn maze is available starting Sept. 9. Wagon rides are available starting Sept. 30 throughout October on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Each ride takes about 20 minutes, with the last ride leaving at 4 p.m.

With over 95% New England products, the market offers farm fresh produce and fruit, along with cut flowers, herbs, pumpkins and wreaths at the garden center.

Coppal House Farm – Lee

Address: 118 North River Road

Website: nhcornmaze.com

Contact: (603) 659-3572

Hours: Farm stand open noon to 5 p.m. Mondays, Thursday and Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Coppal House Farm is known for its labyrinth. This year, the farm unveiled Brown Bat Corn Maze, a 5-acre professionally designed bat-shaped labyrinth. It will be available until Oct. 29.

If navigating through it during the day isn’t daunting enough, try finding your way out at nighttime. The Flashlight Night Maze will be available on Sept. 23, Oct. 7 and Oct. 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. with limited slots. Remember to bring your flashlight, as one will not be provided.

Coppal House Farm is known for its labyrinth. This year, the farm unveiled Brown Bat Corn Maze, a 5-acre professionally designed bat-shaped labyrinth.
Coppal House Farm is known for its labyrinth. This year, the farm unveiled Brown Bat Corn Maze, a 5-acre professionally designed bat-shaped labyrinth.

Other activities include old-fashioned wagon rides from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on selected weekends. Wagon rides are available on Saturdays and Sundays, starting Saturday, Sept. 16, and ending Sunday, Oct. 15.

All daytime admission is available to purchase at the farm stand. Only night mazes are pre-ticketed.

After you’ve escaped the Brown Bat or hopped off the wagon, treat yourself to treats at the farm stand, grab a pumpkin or fall decorations or some maple syrup.

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DeMeritt Hill Farm – Lee

Address: 20 Orchard Way

Website: demeritthillfarm.com

Contact: (603) 868-2111

Hours: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

DeMeritt Hill Farm’s Haunted Overload brings you a frightening feast of ghosts and goblins, monsters and creeps, and things that may or may not be under your bed at night. The annual haunt fest has been named one of the top 13 haunted attractions in the country.

Day Haunt at Coppal House Farm is known for its labyrinth. This year, the farm unveiled Brown Bat Corn Maze, a 5-acre professionally designed bat-shaped labyrinth. runs Fridays to Sundays, Oct. 6 to Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fright Night Haunted Overload runs Thursdays to Sundays, Oct. 5 to Oct. 30, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Scary creatures and intimidating characters wait along the hauted paths of the Haunted Overload at the DeMeritt Hill Farm in Lee during the Halloween season, in October 2020.
Scary creatures and intimidating characters wait along the hauted paths of the Haunted Overload at the DeMeritt Hill Farm in Lee during the Halloween season, in October 2020.

Capping the fright month off will be Haunted Overload’s Black Out Night on Oct. 31. The ticketed time block event runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

DeMeritt Hill Farm also offers PYO apple excursions and a store full of produce, treats, crafts, bakery goods and pumpkins. There are also weekend festivities such as Family Weekends on Sept. 16 and 17; Harvest Weekend Sept. 23 and 24; and Pumpkinfest Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

Haunted Overload at the DeMeritt Hill Farm in Lee features amazing monsters in the woods with lights, sounds, and scares.
Haunted Overload at the DeMeritt Hill Farm in Lee features amazing monsters in the woods with lights, sounds, and scares.

Butternut Farm Cider House – Farmington

Address: 195 Meaderboro Road

Website: butternutfarm.net

Contact: (603) 335-4705, PYO info online

Hours: Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.

At this family-run farm, its selection of pick-your-own fruits is updated daily, with apples and blueberries being the stars in early September.

Though past their peak, blueberries are still good for picking, offering four different varieties: Blue Crop, Chandler, Jersey, and Blue Ray. For apples, it’s the perfect time for Ginger Gold, Zestar, Premier Honey Crisp and Sansa, with Macintosh and Cortland ripe for picking in mid-September.

However, Butternut Farm is more than just a place selling fruit, apple cider donuts and homemade apple pies. As the name suggests, the cider house makes fresh pressed apple cider and brews several varieties of small-batch hard ciders.

After you’re done picking out your fruits, sit down for a glass (or more) of hard cider tasting.

Southern Maine

Sandy Hill Farm – Eliot

Address: 34 Sandy Hill Lane

Website: sandyhillmaine.com

Contact: sandyhillmaine@gmail.com

Hours: Farmstand is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. until late fall. Light show available Sept. 15 to Oct. 29 and runs from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Winter Wonders available Nov. 17 to Dec. 31 and runs from 4:15 to 7:30 p.m.

From beets to blueberries, visitors can purchase fresh produce at the Farmstand until late fall.

Sandy Hill Farm in Eliot is offering "Can’t Stop This Feeling," a family friendly stroll through forest filled with creative lighting displays.
Sandy Hill Farm in Eliot is offering "Can’t Stop This Feeling," a family friendly stroll through forest filled with creative lighting displays.

However, Sandy Hill really known for its events – specifically its light shows. Are you prepared to be enchanted by the magical world of music and light this fall? Starting Sept. 15 until Oct. 29, tickets to Can’t Stop This Feeling, a one-of-a-kind 1-mile immersive light show, will be available.

Along the trail, interactive elements invite visitors to engage with the show. Bursts of light and whimsical effects will respond to your movements and add a layer of playful interactivity to the experience. You will become an integral part of the symphony, co-creating the intense display as your journey continues.

This winter, Sandy Hill will be bringing back its Winter Wonders, the largest and most creative holiday light show in New England. Using over 2 million lights this year, the event features one-of-a-kind and creative displays designed and built by artisans at the farm.

Winter Wonders runs Nov. 11 through Dec. 31.

Spiller Farm – Wells

Address: 85 Spiller Farm Lane

Website: spillerfarm.com

Contact: (207) 985-3383

Hours: Open daily. Weekdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Oct. 9

With a history that dates back to 1894, the Spiller family has over 110 acres of land which includes 30 acres in row crops, four acres in strawberries, four acres in apples, an acre of raspberries, hay fields and pastures.

Take a pick at the types of fruits you’d like to pick, ranging from apples, raspberries, pumpkin and more. The farm also sells vegetables such as zucchini, summer squash, tomatoes and peppers. On-site, there’s a store where you can buy pizza, sandwiches, beverages and more. The farm also has a picnic and play area to enjoy.

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Chase Farms – Wells

Address: 1488 North Berwick Road

Website: chasefarmswells.com

Contact: (207) 646-7888

Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Family-owned and operated since the 1600s, Chase Farms specializes in homegrown meats and produce.

From beef, and pork to freshly baked goods, the farm offers a variety of locally sourced items and a greenhouse with abundant offerings that change with the season.

Chase Farms in Wells, Maine, specializes in homegrown meats and produce.
Chase Farms in Wells, Maine, specializes in homegrown meats and produce.

This season’s produce selection is as follows: corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peas, lettuce, beets, carrots, radishes, potatoes, strawberries, melon, eggplant, cabbage, peppers, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard, asparagus, summer squash and zucchini.

The Farm Stand offers items such as Stonewall Kitchen jams and Oakhurst milk, while the greenhouse offers multiple varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds, corn stalks, hay bales and mums.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Family fall fun on Seacoast farms in NH and southern Maine