Fall is not canceled in Northwest Indiana
A guide to corn mazes, pumpkin and apple picking
Fall 2020 is going to look different than other seasons.
Many pumpkin farms and apple orchards won’t be having their usual festivals but are still opening their gates for customers.
There will be masks and social distancing and lots of hand sanitizing. But there will also be getting lost in corn mazes and picking apples and hayrides out to pumpkin patches. COVID-19 has taken away a lot this year, but it can’t completely strip our fall fun from us.
Here’s a guide to some area corn mazes, apple orchards and pumpkin patches. Expect limited attendance, required online ticket purchasing in some cases, six feet of social distancing and other preventative measures at many farms this fall. Make sure you call or check the farm’s website or Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.
FYI, a peck of apples is 10-12 pounds.
Happy picking!
Goshen
Kercher’s Sunrise Orchards, 19498 County Road 38. 574-533-6311; kerchers orchard.com. Most you-pick apples are 1.29 per pound; Honeycrisp and Evercrisp are $2.50 per pound. Slightly imperfect apples are $16 per halfbushel, in-store prices $27 per half-bushel, $49 per bushel, excluding Honeycrisp and Evercrisp. Smaller quantities are available. Pumpkins will cost 40 to 55 cents per pound. Hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 12-6 p.m. Sundays Sept. 5-Oct. 31.
They have over 20 varieties of apples for sale in store as well, including Gala, McIntosh, Cortland, Jonathan, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Evercrisp, Northern Spy, Gold Rush and others. See the website for ripening
dates of apples. Red Delicious, Honeycrisp and Fuji varieties are available in limited quantities due to a spring freeze.
They offer free hayrides to the pumpkin patch weekends beginning Sept. 19. Saturdays the hayrides start at 10 a.m. with the last ride going out at 5:30 p.m. Sundays the hayrides start at noon with the last ride going out at 5:30 p.m. Guests must wear a mask while on the hayride and practice social distancing in the field picking pumpkins.
Hobart
County Line Orchard, 200 S. County Line Road. 219-947-4477; countyline orchard.com. General admission is $1; pay for apples you pick at $1.79 per pound. Half-peck $11.99; half-peck Honeycrisp $14.99. Halfbushel $44.99; half-bushel Honeycrisp $55.99. Youpick pumpkins are 40 cents a pound up to $12. Passes are $5-$10. Hours for youpick are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily Sept. 3-Nov. 1. Last tractor is at 5 p.m.
This orchard boasts more than 30 varieties of apples. See the ripening schedule on the website. In addition to apples and pumpkins, there is a bee yurt, a corn maze, soybean maze, Moo Choo ride, hayrides, farm animals and Big Barn gift shop.
LaPorte
Garwood Orchards, 5911 W 50 South. 219-3624385; appleupick.com or Facebook. Pay before you pick $30 for a half-bushel, $8 for a half-peck. $20 minimum for you-pick per family. Six pumpkins for $40; two for $15. Pie pumpkins are six for $1- and two for $5. Hours for you-pick are 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through October. Last tractor goes out at 5 p.m.
Varieties available for you-pick include Zestar, Ginger Gold, Honeycrisp and more. Call or check the website before you come to check availability.
Lowell
Harvest Tyme Pumpkin Patch, 17904 Grant St. 219-440-2386; harvestty mefun.com. General admission will be $7.95 online or $10.95 at the gate and will include the petting zoo, four-acre corn maze, hayrides and other farm attractions. The Amazement pass is $18.95 online or $21.95 at the gate and includes unlimited access to the amusement rides. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends Sept. 12-Oct. 25.
This year’s maze design is called “Corn Story” and celebrates the 25th anniversary of the movie “Toy Story.” The maze has a lookout bridge and texting clues to help mazegoers. For little ones, there’s a smaller Kiddie Corn Maze that only winds through a portion of the field.
Attractions include hayrides, corn sandbox, petting zoo, pig and duck races, a 65-foot fun slide, amusement rides, a Harvest Tyme Express Train, giant swing, jumping pillow, corn cannons, swings and concessions. The pumpkin patch is open for you-pick beginning Sept. 12.
Kregel’s Pumpkin Patch, 7705 W. 159th Ave. 219-690-1503; kregels pumpkinpatch.com. Barnyard
activities pass is $8 adults, $10 children Fridays-Sundays and $6 adults, $8 children Mondays-Thursdays. $1 discount for seniors 62 and older with ID. Hours are 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. MondaysFridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and 12-5 p.m. Sundays Sept. 26-Oct. 31.
Barnyard activities include unlimited hayrides to the pumpkin patch, corn maze, petting zoo, pony rides, pumpkin peak slide, pedal cars and barrel train ride. Some activities cost extra.
Michigan City
Radke Orchard, 8999 W 200 N. 219-872-3140; radkeorchards.com. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. beginning Sept. 5. No admission fee, no minimum picking. $1.20 per pound you-pick.
Bring your own containers to carry apples or purchase bags onsite. Tractor rides available on the weekends. Pets welcome.
Westville
Coulter’s Pumpkin Farm, 5433 S. U.S 421. 219-785-2406; coulters produce.com. Admission is free. Corn maze, $3. Cash and check only. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends for fall fest activities Sept. 26-Oct. 31. Business hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily to Oct. 31.
They have a four-acre corn maze that’s open daily. There are also hayrides to the pumpkin patch and pony rides on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.