Are you looking for enjoyable fall activities to help you stay occupied this season? Despite the pandemic circumstances, there are still many entertainment options to choose from as the weather gets chillier and the leaves rotate to vibrant colors. One is exploring the two hundred and fifty acres of land, grown for fresh fruit, including strawberries, raspberries, pumpkins, and fourteen varieties of apples. Located just on the outskirts of Hastings Minnesota, Afton Apple Orchard strives to stay open for business even through these harsh times.

Hearing the crunch of leaves under my boots as I strolled through the white orchard gate generated a sensation of excitement throughout my body. I was then greeted with a friendly “hello!” and given a traditional brown paper bag to hold all the many apples I was going to collect. Among the hundreds of lanes of apple trees, I decided to pick the Honeycrisp apples — they accumulate the most flavor in my mouth. Many orchard participants also shared the same experience. For instance, a fall expert, Makayla Bowen, shared, “I really enjoy the fall weather, so I love all the activities that are common during the season. I think it is so exciting to spend time with friends and family and have some fun picking apples together!” 

Another seasonal interest associated with The Afton Apple Orchard was an immense patch of perfectly grown pumpkins. The size range of the pumpkins at this apple orchard is crazy. Some of the pumpkins were too heavy to even carry, while others could fit into the palm of a small child.  Many folks even had a square red wagon to haul their prized pumpkin possessions to their cars. As I picked the largest pumpkin I could find, I thought of how thrilling it was going to be to carve it into a jack-o-lantern. There is also a six-mile corn maze located at Afton that is ideal for people looking for a challenge. It even has a birds-eye view tower to give customers a hint before they enter. Another orchard go-er, Lucas Newinski, mentioned, “I think having a pumpkin patch and a corn maze in an apple orchard is a wonderful idea. It lets customers experience everything fall has to offer in one place.” 

Overall, Afton Apple Orchard is such a unique fall gathering because it has multiple spontaneous activities incorporated into it. Although there are still the common health and safety restrictions applied to the orchard, it gives families the opportunity to experience some normal fall festivities.