It seems like only yesterday we were looking forward to the beginning of Summer. And now here we are in September, with Summer ending and Fall on its way. There is something very special about September in Orange and Sussex Counties. Known for our abundance of apple orchards and wineries, there are lots of places to explore on weekends. Before we know it, leaves will be turning vibrant reds and oranges. And the natural beauty of these counties, lying side by side in adjoining states, is spectacular.

Places to go, things to do…

It’s Apple Picking Time!

Here’s a list of just some of the places to go to pick your own apples from hvparent.com. Further, it’s almost pumpkin picking time, too. Visit their websites for more details on each location, including any admission fees, picnicking rules, etc.

Apple Ridge Orchards, 101 Jessup Rd, Warwick. Friday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tractor-pulled hay wagon, friendly farm animals, honey bee observation hives, and farm stand. 845-987-7717.

Apple Dave’s Orchard (Formerly known as Applewood). 82 Four Corners Rd, Warwick. Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Music, hayrides, puppet shows, food.and farm store. 845-986-1684.

Masker Fruit Farms, Inc., 45 Ball Road, Warwick. Open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Barnyard baby animals, pony and wagon rides, and country store. 845-986-1058.

Ochs Orchards, 4 Ochs Ln, Warwick. Pick Your Own, Wed. through Sun., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but always call before you come (845) 986-1591 as they may close at any time due to weather or picked out fields. The store is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Pennings Orchard. 169 State Rt. 94S, Warwick. Open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Farmer’s market, beer garden, pumpkin fields, hayrides, farm animals, and more. 845-986-7080.

Soons Orchards & Farm Market. 23 Soons Circle, New Hampton. Apple picking weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Country store open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Orchard Hill CIder Mill Tasting Room Thursday – Sunday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. 845-374-5471.

Warwick Valley Winery & Orchards. 114 Little York Road, Warwick. Orchard hours Mon-Sun, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Live music every weekend from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. There is a tasting room bar and cafe with a bistro menu as well as the Black Dirt Grill, open on Thurs.and Fri. 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Sat, and Sun., 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Wright Family Farm. 329 Kings Highway, Warwick. Sept. hours are Sat. and Sun.10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last admission 5 p.m.). Farm Stand and Granny’s Basket with knitting creations. The Barnyard includes corn box, farm animals, rubber duck races, hayride, pedal carts, pumpkin bowling, cow train, tube slide, and community campfire. Save money on tickets to Barnyard by buying online. 845-986-1345

Beemerville Orchard. 73 Lusscroft Rd, Sussex. Small family-run orchard. On-site store with apples, honey, and more.

Pochuck Valley Farms Market and Deli.  962 McAfee Glenwood Rd, Glenwood. Pick your own hours 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Entertainment on weekends starting Sept. 14. Country store with bakery, deli, and gift items. 973-764-4732.

For a listing of wineries, click here for our blog post from May of this year.

Places to go, things to do in Orange County, New York

25th Annual Taste of Warwick. Sept. 10, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Warwick Valley Winery, 114 Little York Road, Warwick. Music, food, and wine sampling. Visit the web page for a list of participants and ticket information. 845-986-2720.

New York Renaissance Faire. 600 Rt. 17A, Tuxedo.  Every weekend through Oct. 6, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Themed weekends, music, dancing, food, and live entertainment. 845-351-5171.

Wawayanda Music on the Farm, Sept. 14-15. Sunflower Valley Farm, 366 County Rd 12, New Hampton, NY – 2 days of magical music, fabulous food, and family fun, featuring local and national music artists and artisans. Tickets starting at $30.

Bellvale Farms Creamery. 1390 Route 17A Warwick, Ranked #2 among the top ten ice cream parlors in the U.S. by Trip Advisor, you’ll want to make sure to get there before they close for the season on Oct. 30!   Mon, Tues & Wed open 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thurs-Sun, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. 845-988-1818.

Events – Sussex County, New Jersey

Vernon Street Fair and Farmers Expo.  Sept. 7. Main Street between Route 94 and Guthrie Road, Vernon. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hosted by the Vernon Chamber of Commerce. Contests, music, amusements for the kids, and local vendors for shopping! And… Food!!

Great Pumpkin Festival. Weekends from Sept. 14 – Nov. 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Heaven Hill Farm, 451 State Route 94, Vernon. The largest fall festival in Northern New Jersey, ride the hay wagon tractor to the Pumpkin Patch and find your perfect pumpkin. There’s a large corn maze, visiting farm animals, spider web crawl, barnyard sports, obstacle course, and much, much more. Check the website for admission prices and other details.

Sussex County Day, Sept. 15. Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Rd, Augusta. 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrate Sussex County at this free event. There will be lots of vendors, exhibits, food, contests, giveaways, and much more! Check the web page for entry forms for the contests, which include the Sussex County Idol Singing Contest! And for those whose culinary skills exceed their vocal abilities, there are lots of cooking and baking contests.

49th Annual Peters Valley Fine Craft Fair. Sept. 28 & 29, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Rd, Augusta. 12-5 p.m.  This event is the largest fundraiser for Peters  Valley School of Crafts. With over 150 exhibiting artists, demonstrations, live music, and more, odds are that you will find a unique,l hand-crafted item to take home with you!

Newton Theatre. 234 Spring Street, Newton. If you haven’t discovered The Newton Theatre yet, now is a great time to check it out.  The historic theatre, founded in 1924, presents diverse programming, ranging from world-renowned music acts, comedians, family productions, holiday shows, and movie nights. It is also home to the Newton Theatre Arts Academy for children 5 and above. This 501(c)(3) non-profit organization also finds ways to give back to the community. Box Office: 973-940-NEWT.

Fall projects for your home

While it’s not quite time for Fall/Winter home maintenance, there are some end-of-summer chores you might want to put on your to-do list. Charles and Hudson features Your End of Summer Home Maintenance Checklist.

Homebnc.com has some unique Fall wreaths to decorate your front door for the season. And, if you don’t find your inspiration there, Southernliving.com has 90+ Fall Decorating Ideas for a Beautiful Autumn Season.

Fall Recipes

Buzzfeed.com’s has 21 (Really Good) Recipes to make in September. You’re sure to find some inspirational for the seasonal produce grown on local farms.

Have a wonderful September. See you next month!