Apple picking in Nova Scotia is at its best in the Annapolis Valley, where two flagship U-pick orchards swing open their
orchard gates from mid-September through October 31. Noggins Corner Farm in Greenwich and Dempsey Corner Orchards in
Aylesford let you buy a bag and fill it yourself - Noggins bags run $5/$9/$15, while Dempsey's charges roughly $1.25 per
pound. This guide covers those orchards plus pumpkin patches and corn mazes, the free Kentville Pumpkin People Festival,
a week-by-week apple variety calendar, cider and farm-market stops, and two ready-to-drive family day-trip itineraries -
all set against Nova Scotia's fall foliage season.
Nova Scotia Fall Harvest at a Glance
🍎
U-Pick Apples Mid-Sept to Oct 31
The Annapolis Valley is Nova Scotia's apple belt. Apple varieties ripen in sequence from late August through October, with peak family U-pick demand the last two weeks of September and all of October.
🎃
Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes
Riverbreeze Farm near Truro runs a Fall Festival (Sept 19 - Oct 31) with a corn maze, pumpkin patch, jump pad, and slides - the closest full harvest farm to Halifax, about 1 hour's drive.
🎭
Kentville Pumpkin People
300+ quirky pumpkin-headed figures pop up across downtown Kentville each October - and it is completely free to view as a self-guided stroll. See the festival page →
🚜
Weekend Wagon Rides
At Noggins Corner Farm, tractor-pulled wagon rides to the orchard run weekends only, 10am-5pm, departing every 20-30 minutes. No admission fee for U-Pick - you buy a bag and fill it.
🍷
Cider & Wine Country
The Valley's orchards sit inside cider and wine country. Tie harvest visits to the Good Cheer Trail - wineries, cideries, and distilleries across the region.
🐕
Dog-Friendly Orchards
Leashed dogs are welcome in the Noggins orchard itself, but are not permitted on the weekend wagon rides. Plan to walk to the trees if you bring your dog - or leave them home on busy weekend afternoons.
Where to Go Apple Picking in Nova Scotia
The Annapolis Valley is Nova Scotia's fruit belt - a fertile corridor running along the Bay of Fundy shore where the
microclimate and rich soils produce the bulk of the province's apple crop. Two farms anchor the U-pick season: Noggins Corner
Farm in Greenwich (the flagship wagon-ride, apple, and pumpkin experience) and Dempsey Corner Orchards in Aylesford (57 varieties
and a farm-bakery-and-petting-zoo model). The annual fall foliage color peaks in this same
corridor in early-to-mid October, so a harvest day here doubles as a leaf-peeping drive.
🍎
Noggins Corner Farm
Greenwich, Annapolis Valley
The Annapolis Valley's flagship U-pick apple orchard and pumpkin patch, sitting along Highway 1 in Greenwich right outside Wolfville. Noggins runs the classic Nova Scotia fall farm day: buy a bag, ride the wagon out to the orchard, and pick your own apples against a backdrop of North Mountain hardwood color. The farm market stocks fresh cider, pies, and baked goods, and a separate corn maze (run under the Fun on the Farm brand) turns the property into a full-day family outing.
Apple U-Pick season: approximately mid-September to October 31
Apple bag prices: Mini $5 (2-3 lb) · Regular $9 (6-8 lb) · Large $15 (10-12 lb)
Pumpkins: Small Pie $3 · Large $10 · X-Large $15
Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00-16:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00
Wagon rides to the orchard: weekends only, 10:00-17:00, departing every 20-30 minutes (no dogs on wagons)
No admission fee for U-Pick - buy a bag and fill it. The corn maze is a separate ticket (see funonthefarm.ca)
Dogs allowed on leash in the orchard
Parking and address: 9969 HWY #1, Greenwich
Tour enquiries: tours@nogginsfarm.ca
🌳
Dempsey Corner Orchards
Aylesford, Annapolis Valley
A family-run farm in Aylesford, west of Wolfville, that grows an exceptional 57 apple varieties plus a dozen-plus fruits and vegetables you can pick or dig yourself. Dempsey's runs on a bring-your-own-bags model: pay roughly $1.25 per pound of apples you pick, which makes it one of the best-value U-pick options in the Valley. The farm rounds out the visit with a petting zoo, a cafe, and an on-site bakery - plan to stay for lunch and a farm-made treat.
57 apple varieties plus 12+ fruits and vegetables for U-pick and U-dig
Apple U-pick: approximately $1.25 per pound (bring your own bags)
On-site petting zoo, cafe, and bakery
Located in Aylesford, about 30 minutes west of Wolfville along Highway 1
Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes Near Halifax
For Halifax-based families, the question is less "can I find a pumpkin patch?" and more "which farm fits a day trip?"
Riverbreeze Farm in Upper Onslow (near Truro) is the closest full-scale fall farm festival to the city, about an hour up Highway 102.
For an Annapolis Valley alternative, Noggins Corner Farm runs a pumpkin U-pick alongside its apple orchard. Many farms across the
province run their own corn mazes and pumpkin patches in October - the two below are the verified, flagship options.
🎃
Riverbreeze Farm
Upper Onslow (near Truro, ~1 hour from Halifax)
The closest full-scale fall farm festival to Halifax, about an hour's drive up Highway 102 in Upper Onslow near Truro. Riverbreeze's Fall Festival runs from mid-September through Halloween and packs the property with a corn maze, pumpkin patch, giant jump pad, slides, and a full set of farm attractions aimed squarely at families with kids. It is open weekends (Saturdays, Sundays, and Thanksgiving Monday) only, so plan around the calendar - tickets are sold via riverbreeze.info and it is the province's most popular harvest-day trip from the city.
Corn maze, pumpkin patch, jump pad, slides, and farm attractions
About 1 hour's drive from Halifax via Highway 102
Tickets and current pricing via riverbreeze.info
🥧
Noggins Corner Farm - Pumpkin U-Pick
Greenwich, Annapolis Valley
If you are already at Noggins for apple picking, the same property runs a pumpkin U-pick patch through October 31. Pick a pie pumpkin for $3, a large carving pumpkin for $10, or an X-Large showstopper for $15 - then add the corn maze (separate admission via funonthefarm.ca) for a full Annapolis Valley harvest afternoon.
Pumpkin prices: Small Pie $3 · Large $10 · X-Large $15
Same property as apple U-pick - combine both in one visit
Season through October 31
Sunflower Mazes & U-Pick Flower Farms
Before the apples and pumpkins take over, late summer in Nova Scotia belongs to the sunflowers.
Mid-August through early September is peak bloom, when farms open maze-like paths through
5-acre fields of towering blooms - photo-op gold that pulls strong social and search traffic
every year. The flagship is Dakeyne Farm's sunflower maze near Windsor, joined by the Flower
Festival at Riverbreeze Farm (the same property as the big fall corn maze) and two quieter
u-pick flower farms for bouquet-making. These pair beautifully with the fall foliage season
that follows a few weeks later in the same regions.
🌻
Dakeyne Farm - Sunflower Maze
Mount Denson (West Hants, ~45 min from Halifax)
Nova Scotia's only dedicated sunflower maze - a 5-acre hillside field of towering sunflowers overlooking the tidal Avon River, about 45 minutes from Halifax on the edge of the Annapolis Valley. Dakeyne has become the province's most Instagrammed late-summer farm stop: paths cut through the blooms for photos, plus picnic spots, kite flying, disc golf, soccer croquet, and a hike down to the river. The farm opens the maze each August 10 and runs through September until the last petal falls. Butterfly releases, a sunflower market, and group visits round out the season, and the farm welcomes photographers for portrait and family shoots.
2026 season: opens August 10, runs through late September
Hours: approximately 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM (until sunset some days)
Admission: Adults $12 · Children 3-12 $7 · Under 3 free
Kite rental $5 (or bring your own)
Closes in heavy rain (clay hill - muck, safety, and parking reasons); check Facebook before heading out
No dogs (cows and newborns graze the adjacent pasture)
Also on site: butterfly releases, sunflower market event, group tours and school visits
Located at 1137 Highway #1, Mount Denson
🌸
Riverbreeze Farm - Flower Festival
Upper Onslow (near Truro, ~1 hour from Halifax)
The same Riverbreeze Farm that runs the big fall corn-maze festival hosts a Flower Festival earlier in the season - acres of sunflowers, zinnias, dahlias, and cosmos that many visitors overlook on the way to the maze. You can wander the blooms or cut your own bouquet, and the festival runs from mid-August into early September, bridging the gap between summer flower season and the Fall Festival's pumpkin patch.
Same property: Fall Festival (corn maze, pumpkin patch) runs September 19 - October 31
Address: 660 Onslow Rd, Upper Onslow
💐
The Petal Farm
Welsford (near Lunenburg, ~1.5 hours from Halifax)
A u-pick flower farm in Welsford with more than 75 varieties of blooms, offered as a guided experience - the farm takes you through the fields, teaches you how to harvest properly, and helps you build a bouquet from your pick. It is a quieter, craft-focused alternative to the big sunflower mazes, ideal for anyone who wants a slow afternoon among the flowers with a take-home arrangement.
A reservation-only u-pick garden in the Musquodoboit Valley that opens weekend sessions from mid-July through mid-September, including Friday evenings and Saturday mornings - timed for golden-hour light. You pick enough blooms to build at least three substantial arrangements, and buckets are provided. A good pick for photographers and anyone who wants the fields nearly to themselves.
Season: mid-July to mid-September (select Friday nights and Saturday mornings/evenings)
Reservations required via justbloomflowers.com
Pricing: $30 mason jar/vase · $60 bucket
Address: 6683 Route 357, Middle Musquodoboit
Cranberry Harvest & U-Pick at Terra Beata Farms
While apples own the Annapolis Valley, the South Shore holds Nova Scotia's cranberry bogs -
and one farm runs the province's first and only cranberry u-pick. Terra Beata Farms at 161 Monk Point
Road on Heckman's Island (near Lunenburg) opens its October harvest to visitors every year, with u-pick
days typically running Tuesday through Saturday. Dates shift with the season, so call 902-634-4435 or watch
the farm's social channels before you drive out.
🍒
Terra Beata Farms - Cranberry U-Pick
Heckman's Island, near Lunenburg
On u-pick days you harvest cranberries straight off the vines in the bogs. Harvested sections are
flooded and the fruit corralled into floating crimson rafts - the classic cranberry-harvest scene and a
great photo you will not get anywhere else in the province. The farm's own products - homestyle cranberry
sauce, low-sugar dried cranberries, pure juice, and juice cocktails - are sold at Sobeys and Loblaws banner
stores across Canada, and farm-gate curbside pickup runs Monday to Friday 8am-3pm (call ext. 205, cash or
e-transfer).
Address: 161 Monk Point Road, Heckman's Island, near Lunenburg
The bogs sit about 15 minutes from Lunenburg's Old Town, so a cranberry u-pick pairs naturally with a
Lunenburg day trip or a loop along the South Shore.
Kentville Pumpkin People Festival
Every October, more than 300 whimsical pumpkin-headed figures appear across downtown Kentville, turning the town into a free,
self-guided harvest art walk. The Pumpkin People Festival is one of the Annapolis Valley's signature autumn events - and unlike
the orchards, there is no admission fee. Wander the displays on foot as part of a Valley harvest loop, or make it a standalone
family stop. We have a dedicated event page with dates, photos, and details.
Note for context: the other major Annapolis Valley apple event is the NS Apple Blossom Festival, which runs in late May / early June
and celebrates the spring bloom rather than the fall harvest. If you are planning a fall trip, the Pumpkin People Festival is the one
to build an itinerary around.
Apple Varieties by Week
Apple varieties in Nova Scotia ripen in sequence across roughly ten weeks, which is why U-pick orchards keep their
gates open from mid-September through October 31. Knowing what is ripe helps you pick the right week - Honeycrisp lovers should
target mid-September to early October, while bakers after Northern Spy should wait until October.
Nova Scotia apple variety season calendar. Source: Annapolis Valley orchard season reporting.
Season
Window
Typical Varieties
Best For
Early Season
Late August - Early September
Paula Red, McIntosh
The first apples of the year - tart, snappy, and best for snacking and early sauce.
Mid-Season
Mid-September - Early October
Honeycrisp, Cortland
Peak family U-pick window. Honeycrisp is the star - crisp, sweet, and the most-requested variety at Noggins and Dempsey's.
Late Season
October
Northern Spy, Fuji
The best storage and pie apples. Northern Spy is a Nova Scotia heritage favorite for baking; Fuji keeps for weeks.
Variety windows shift by a few days each year based on weather. Check with Noggins (nogginsfarm.ca) or Dempsey's (dempseycorner.com) for what is ripe the week you plan to visit.
Cider Tastings & Farm Markets
A harvest trip to the Annapolis Valley is also a cider, wine, and farm-market trip. The orchards sit inside the province's
cider and wine belt, and the same apples you pick end up in the glass the same afternoon at cidery tasting rooms along the
Good Cheer Trail.
#1
The Annapolis Valley is cider and wine country - every orchard visit sits inside a broader farm-to-glass story. Tie your harvest trip to the Good Cheer Trail, which links dozens of wineries, cideries, breweries, and distilleries across the Valley and South Shore.
#2
Local cideries turn the same apples you are picking into flights and glasses you can taste the same afternoon. Tidal Bay, Nova Scotia's signature white wine appellation, is harvested right in this corridor in September and October, and many wineries pour it alongside late-harvest Icewine tastings that are unique to the autumn season.
#3
Farm markets across the Valley - the Wolfville Farmers' Market, the Berwick Farmers' Market, and farm-gate stands along Highway 1 - stock the same produce you would pick yourself, plus squash, root vegetables, preserves, and fresh-pressed cider. Stop on the way home from the orchard rather than buying produce at the supermarket.
Two ready-to-drive itineraries cover the most common questions: a one-day harvest trip from Halifax (Riverbreeze Farm), and
a Valley harvest loop pairing two orchards with the Kentville Pumpkin People Festival. Both work for families with kids and
fit in a single day from late September through October.
🚗
Halifax Day Trip: Riverbreeze Farm
📍 Base: Halifax⏱️ Full day (about 1 hour each way)
The easiest harvest day trip from the city. Head up Highway 102 to Upper Onslow near Truro, where Riverbreeze Farm's Fall Festival offers a corn maze, pumpkin patch, jump pad, and farm attractions for kids. It is the closest full-scale fall farm to Halifax, which makes it the province's most popular family harvest outing - go early on a Saturday or Sunday morning (open weekends and Thanksgiving Monday only, September 19 to October 31).
Suggested Day Flow
Depart Halifax via Highway 102 North (~1 hour to Upper Onslow)
Arrive at Riverbreeze Farm when it opens - beat the midday weekend crowds
Corn maze first while the kids have the most energy
Pumpkin patch and farm attractions (jump pad, slides) through midday
Lunch on-site or in Truro on the way back
Optional stop: Truro tidal bore viewing, then the drive home
🗺️
Annapolis Valley Harvest Loop
📍 Base: Wolfville / Kentville⏱️ Full day
A classic Valley harvest circuit pairing two orchards with the free Kentville Pumpkin People Festival. Start at Noggins Corner Farm in Greenwich for apple U-pick and a wagon ride (weekends), drive the short stretch west to Dempsey Corner Orchards in Aylesford for 57 apple varieties at roughly $1.25/lb and a petting zoo, then loop back through Kentville to stroll the 300+ pumpkin-headed figures downtown. The whole loop is under two hours of driving, with the harvest season at its peak from late September through October.
Suggested Day Flow
Start: Noggins Corner Farm, 9969 HWY #1, Greenwich - apple U-pick bag ($5/$9/$15), weekend wagon rides
Drive west ~30 minutes along Highway 1 to Dempsey Corner Orchards, Aylesford
Dempsey's: U-pick apples at ~$1.25/lb, petting zoo, cafe and bakery for lunch
Drive back east to downtown Kentville (October 3-25) for the free Pumpkin People Festival stroll
Optional: a cider or winery stop on the Good Cheer Trail to close the day
Practical Tips for a Fall Harvest Day
🗓️ Best Times to Go
Peak family U-pick demand: last two weeks of September and all of October.
Arrive early on weekends: Noggins and Riverbreeze fill up by midday on Saturdays in October. A 10am arrival beats the wagon-ride queue.
Weekdays are quieter: Noggins is open Monday-Friday 10:00-16:00, but weekend-only wagon rides will not be running.
Pumpkin People Festival: October 3-25, 2026 (confirmed by the Town of Kentville) - self-guided and free, any day of the week.
🎒 What to Bring
Sturdy closed-toe shoes - orchards and corn mazes are dirt, grass, and mud.
Layers and a waterproof jacket. October Valley days range 5-18°C and weather shifts fast.
Cash or card for bag fees and pumpkins. Noggins bags are $5/$9/$15; pumpkins $3-$15.
At Dempsey's, bring your own bags for U-pick - apples are ~$1.25/lb.
A cooler for the drive home if you are also stopping at farm markets or a cidery.
🚜 Wagon Ride Timing
Noggins wagon rides to the orchard run weekends only, 10:00-17:00, departing every 20-30 minutes.
No dogs on wagons. If you bring a leashed dog (allowed in the orchard), you will need to walk to the trees.
Queue early in the day - wagon lines build from 11am onward on peak October weekends.
The corn maze at Noggins is run under Fun on the Farm (funonthefarm.ca) and is a separate admission.
🌧️ Weather & Planning
Harvest farms are open-air - check the forecast and dress for open fields with limited shelter.
Rain does not always close the farms, but it will close the jump pad and some attractions at Riverbreeze.
Combine the orchard visit with the fall foliage drive - peak Valley color lands in early-to-mid October alongside the apple harvest.
Book ahead for any cidery or winery tasting room on the Good Cheer Trail - weekends in October are busy.
Keep Planning Your Fall Harvest Trip
Harvest season overlaps perfectly with fall foliage, the Good Cheer Trail, and Annapolis Valley road trips - here is where to go next.
When is apple picking season in Nova Scotia? Apple picking in Nova Scotia runs from approximately mid-September through October 31, with varieties ripening in sequence. Early apples like Paula Red and McIntosh start in late August and early September, mid-season favorites like Honeycrisp and Cortland hit peak from mid-September to early October, and late varieties like Northern Spy and Fuji run through October. Peak family U-pick demand is the last two weeks of September and all of October.
Where can I pick apples near Halifax? The Annapolis Valley - about 90 minutes to two hours from Halifax - is Nova Scotia's apple belt and the main U-pick region. Noggins Corner Farm in Greenwich (near Wolfville) and Dempsey Corner Orchards in Aylesford are the two flagship orchards. For a closer-to-Halifax harvest outing, Riverbreeze Farm in Upper Onslow near Truro is about one hour's drive from the city and runs a full Fall Festival with a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and farm attractions from September 19 to October 31 (weekends and Thanksgiving Monday only).
Are corn mazes suitable for toddlers? Yes. The corn mazes at Riverbreeze Farm and the Fun on the Farm maze at Noggins Corner Farm are designed for families with young children. Riverbreeze also has a jump pad, slides, and other farm attractions that are toddler-friendly. Allow more time than you think you need - families routinely spend three to four hours at these farm festivals. Bring a stroller for the walk between attractions and check weather, as the grounds are open fields with limited shelter.
How much does a day of apple picking cost? At Noggins Corner Farm you buy a bag and fill it - a Mini bag is $5 (2-3 lb), a Regular is $9 (6-8 lb), and a Large is $15 (10-12 lb), with no admission fee for the U-Pick orchard. Weekend wagon rides to the orchard are included. At Dempsey Corner Orchards, apples are approximately $1.25 per pound (you bring your own bags). Pumpkins are a separate purchase at either farm: at Noggins, Small Pie pumpkins are $3, Large are $10, and X-Large are $15.
Where is the best apple picking in Nova Scotia near Halifax? The best apple picking near Halifax is in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia's apple belt about 90 minutes to two hours from the city. The two flagship orchards there are Noggins Corner Farm in Greenwich (near Wolfville) and Dempsey Corner Orchards in Aylesford, both open for U-pick from approximately mid-September to October 31. For a closer-to-Halifax harvest outing, Riverbreeze Farm in Upper Onslow near Truro is about one hour's drive from the city and runs a full Fall Festival from September 19 to October 31 with a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and farm attractions.
What does apple picking cost in Nova Scotia? Apple picking pricing varies by orchard. At Noggins Corner Farm you buy a bag and fill it: a Mini bag is $5 (2-3 lb), a Regular is $9 (6-8 lb), and a Large is $15 (10-12 lb), with no admission fee for the U-Pick orchard. At Dempsey Corner Orchards, you bring your own bags and pay roughly $1.25 per pound of apples you pick, which makes it one of the best-value U-pick options in the Valley. Weekend wagon rides to the orchard at Noggins are included.
Where can I pick cranberries in Nova Scotia? Terra Beata Farms on Heckman's Island near Lunenburg runs the province's first and only cranberry u-pick every October, typically Tuesday through Saturday. Call 902-634-4435 or check the farm's social channels for the season's dates before you go.
