It may be too early for colored leaves, but there’s another reason to head to the north Georgia mountains — it’s apple picking time!

The town of Ellijay in Gilmer County is the center of Georgia’s apple-growing region – it produces 600,000 bushels of apples each year, according to the local Chamber of Commerce. But Habersham County and other neighboring counties are not far behind. 

During October, many orchards open their gates so you can have a real farm experience — complete with petting zoos, hayrides, and activities for the kids.

If you don’t want to pick your own, you’ll find farm markets at the orchards, along with small roadside stands and farmers selling apples or fresh cider from the backs of pick-up trucks.

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• Apple Festivals and pick-your-own orchards

Apple Festivals

(See below for you-pick orchards!)

Georgia Apple Festival

The Georgia Apple Festival is an annual event that takes place over two weekends in Ellijay.
This 2022 festival dates are:

• October 8th & 9th
• October 15th & 16th

Festival hours:

• Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sundays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults.
Kids age 12 and under are FREE.

The festival includes hundreds of vendor booths that feature fresh apples and all kinds of apple products: fried apple pies, fritters, cider, jelly, etc. You’ll also find vendors with handmade, hand-crafted items, as well as many on-site demonstrations of how things are made.

Apple Arts on the Square is an extension of the festival this year. It takes place in downtown Ellijay on festival weekends, and the free shuttle runs between the Square and the fairgrounds. You’ll find vendor booths selling arts, crafts, and food.

There is a parade and antique car show each year.
In 2022, the car show takes place on October 8th — details here.
The parade is on October 15th and begins at noon in downtown Ellijay — details here.

In past years, there has been a play area for children and live music. We don’t have details about this for 2022, but you can look for updates on the Apple Festival Facebook page.

The Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds is located at:
1729 South Main Street
Ellijay, Georgia 30540

Parking is very limited at the Lions Club Fairgrounds, so please use the shuttle parking lots, located at:

• Gilmer High School
• Gilmer Middle Schools
• Ellijay Elementary School
• Mountainview Elementary School

The shuttle will take you to the festival and back to your car. Shuttles begin operation a half hour before the festival opens and run at least a half hour after the festival closes.

Apple Pickin’ Jubilee

The Apple Pickin’ Jubilee takes place over two days in 2022, at Hillcrest Orchards in Ellijay — September 17th and 18th.

The hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission is $15 per person, including kids.
The list of activities and entertainment included with admission is seemingly endless:

• apple picking (purchase picking bags and fill them)
• bluegrass bands
• clogging performances
• pig races
• jumping pillow
• cow milking
• apple tree maze
• giant slides
• corn maze
• moonshine museum
• enchanted forest trail
• pedal carts
• wagon rides
• and more…

There is also a wide variety of food available at the cafe: hot dogs, burgers, barbecue sandwiches, carnival foods, and sweet treats. The farm market sells a wide variety of apple-based food products, crafts, toys, t-shirts, and more.

Hillcrest Orchards is located at:
9696 Highway 52
Ellijay, GA  30536
more info here

Check out our complete list of fall festivals and fairs!

U-pick apple orchards

Please remember that the availability of fresh produce isn’t guaranteed. We recommend checking with the orchard before you go — please call or visit the website or Facebook page for updates on hours and apple varieties currently available. 

♦ Hillcrest Orchards

9696 Highway 52
Ellijay, GA  30536
(706) 273-3838

Hillcrest Orchards is open daily in the fall of 2022 for u-pick and activities. Daily hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the orchard is open through October or until the apples are gone.

On Saturdays and Sundays, admission is $18 per person. Weekday admission is $12 for limited activities that include a petting farm, wagon rides, jumping pillow, kiddie corn maze, ball zone, pig race, and playground. There is also a bakery and farm market.

Go to the website OR visit the Facebook page

♦ Red Apple Barn

3379 Tails Creek Rd
Ellijay, Georgia
(706) 635-5898

Red Apple Barn is a pick-your-own orchard that is open every weekend from September through November — or until the apples have all been picked.

• Saturdays 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sundays 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
• Weekdays by appointment only

There is a $10 admission fee per person.
It includes a tractor ride to and from the orchard, plus water, cider, and a doughnut when you’ve finished picking. Also included in the fee: rock & pumpkin painting, games, picnic areas, and playground for the kids.

There is also a farm market, a u-pick pumpkin patch, and u-pick flower fields.
Visit the website for more info and the current you-pick prices.

♦Mercier Orchards

8660 Blue Ridge Dr 
Blue Ridge, Georgia

Before you go, check the Mercier u-pick page for hours and availability. The orchard says they cannot predict U-pick conditions more than a week in advance, and they will announce the open U-pick dates on their website and Facebook page.

Admission is $14 per person, plus the cost of the apples you pick. This price includes a tractor ride into the orchard, and a bag to pick into. Children age 2 and under are FREE.

You can also buy pre-picked apples at the market store, and hard cider that is pressed on-site (tastings are available). There is a bakery and winery on site as well.

♦ B.J. Reece Orchards

9131 Highway 52 E
East Ellijay, Georgia
(706) 276-3048

Reece Orchards is open everyday through October 30th, as long as the apples are available in 2022.

A handy picking calendar online tells you which apple varieties you can expect to be ready on which dates.

You’ll pay a small admission fee that varies by day of the week (and includes some farm fun activities) and then purchase bags that you’ll pick into

There are also Weekend Farm Fun Packages that bundle up several activities — click through the link for details.

Many varieties of apples are available at the farm market, and and there is no admission fee to shop there.
There is a gift shop and concession stand, as well as a picnic area.

♦ Hillside Orchard Farms

18 Sorghum Mill Drive
Lakemont, GA 30552
(800) 262-9429

Hillside Orchard Farms has not published details about apple picking for 2022.
However, the farm market is open Monday–Friday from 10 to 5, and on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.

♦ Jaemor Farm

5340 Cornelia Hwy
Alto, GA 30510
(770) 869-3999

Jaemor does not seem to be hosting apple picking in 2022.
However, they have apples for purchase at their farm market. You may also want to visit the corn maze or attend one of their special fall farm days events.

More fall fun:

Friday, January 27, 2023