OSHKOSH – Fall means football, right?
Nope, we’re here for the orchards and patches. It’s apple- and pumpkin-picking season, baby!
Thankfully, Oshkosh has more than its fair share of farms where you can not only pick your own bad boys, but also entertain the kiddos with bounce castles, animal petting and hayrides.
Here are some of those Oshkosh area options.
The Little Farmer
A fully functioning farm on the other side of Fond du Lac, at N9438 U.S. 151, Malone, The Little Farmer gives patrons the ability to handpick pumpkins and apples with a number of other family-friendly activities such as hayrides, playgrounds and feeding animals.
You can also buy your pumpkins and apples already picked and choose from a variety of pastries and items from the farm’s on-site bakery and gift shop.
Hayrides are $5 and patrons are asked to make a $2 donation for the playground while pumpkins and apples are sold by the sizes and bags, respectively.
Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
For more information, contact The Little Farmer via phone at 920-921-4788 or visit their website, mytlf.com.
Sunny Acres Farm
Pick your pumpkins and interact with a variety of farm animals northwest of Oshkosh at the 5-acre Sunny Acres Farm at 4759 County GG.
There is a play area for younger kids that includes bean bag games, train rides, mini golf, bounce castles and, of course, pumpkin painting.
Sunny Acres also has free-roaming ducks, chickens, goats, ponies and lamas, offering children a variety of different animals with which to interact.
Admission is $8 for kids and includes a pumpkin, although there is a $2 parking fee per car. Animal feed is $1.
The farm is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. right up until Oct. 31.
Call Sunny Acres Farm at 920-582-7146 or visit them on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/upickpumpkinfarm/.
Redmond’s Apple Basket Orchard
A family owned and operated business in N9025 Custer Road, Ripon, Redmond’s Apple Basket has a retail store on its orchard, offering over 30 varities of apples.
You can also purchase fresh picked pears, freshly pressed cider, locally produced honey, maple syrup, different canned goods and even seasonal handmade and vintage gifts from their farm store.
Be sure to get there early for complimentary mini donuts on offer on Sundays.
Redmond’s Apple Basket is open Thursday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit their website at https://redmondsapplebaske.wixsite.com/website or call 920-239-8917 for more information.
Rasmussen’s Apple Acres
Located 2 miles west of Highway 41 on State 21, Rasmussen’s Apple Acres will be open daily from 1 to 4 p.m. starting Sep. 15.
The orchard is open to the public for apple picking, with trees low enough for toddlers to pick a variety of apples including Cortland, Macintosh, Snow Sweet and Honey Crisp.
For more information, visit https://www.theappleacres.com/ or call 920-235-2850.
Pumpkins Plus
Situated at 4880 Ninth Street Road, Oshkosh, Pumpkins Plus offers pumpkins in assorted sizes and colors along with straw bales in two sizes, bundles of corn stalks and potted mums.
Pumpkins Plus is open daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be contacted at 920-948-9503.
Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @justinmarville.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Here’s our list of the 5 best apple orchards and pumpkin patches in the Oshkosh area
Reporting by Justin Marville, Oshkosh Northwestern / Oshkosh Northwestern
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
