Fall FUN

From hayrides to pumpkin-picking, celebrate the fall season at these family-friendly and festive locations:

Verhage Farms

Throughout the year, Verhage Farms is best known for its apples, cherries, peaches and pumpkins. Each fall, Verhage Farms becomes a popular destination for seasonal activities, such as pumpkin picking, apple picking and hayrides.

More than 100 years of delicious history sit on the property at Verhage Farms. An old cider mill produces homemade, unpasteurized cider. In the mill there is also a small bakery that makes a creative variety of fresh donuts and caramel apples.

Verhage Fruit Farms and Cider Mill is located at 8619 W ML Ave in Kalamazoo. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until November 5. Hayrides around the orchard at Verhage’s are available on the weekends. Group tours are available during the week. For details, call 269-375-0153.



Husted Farm Market and Cider Mill

Enriched in family tradition, the Husted Farm Market has been in operation for more than 45 years. Located a 9191 West Main Street in Kalamazoo, Husted’s Farm Market features a cider mill, bakery and an array of fresh produce.

The Cider Mill at Husted’s Farm Market produces fresh apple cider weekly. The Husted’s grow more than 20 varieties of apples and offer u-pick to its patrons. The Cider Mill also features homemade donuts and caramel apples. Tractor-pulled hayrides are available on the weekends. Private group hayrides are available during the week, and may be arranged by calling 269-372-1237.

Husted’s Farm Market is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Thanksgiving. For directions and details, visit http://www.hustedfarmmarket.com/Home_Page.php.



Gene The Pumpkin Man

Known as the “land of orange” and featured in Michigan students’ textbooks, the homestead of Gene the Pumpkin Man is a bright, Southwest Michigan landmark.

The 130-acre farm is located at 22637 M-43 in West Kalamazoo. You can’t miss the orange barn, tractors and farm vehicles belonging to Gene the Pumpkin Man, who typically dresses in, you guessed it, all orange.

Gene the Pumpkin Man grows a variety of winter squash and pumpkins. He offers natural Halloween decorations, including straw, sunflower heads, Indian corn and corn stalks. He harvests more than 250 tons of pumpkins and 40 tons of squash annually.

Gene the Pumpkin Man will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. until November 1. Call 269-668-2952 with questions.



Gull Meadow Farms Fall Fun & Corn Maze

Gull Meadow Farms offers a variety of fall-themed family-friendly activities. Whether picking apples, touring the apple barn and market or visiting the pumpkin patch, Gull Meadow Farms is a place where family traditions are made.

Open seven days per week, Gull Meadow farms also features wagon rides, a pumpkin lane train, a zip cord and an obstacle course. Its most popular attraction is the corn maze. Sprawled across five acres, the corn maze is packed with clues and stories of perseverance to encourage the participant to reach the finish. Corn maze prices are $5 for children and $6 for adults.

Scenic group tours are available at low rates and provide a structured visit to Gull Meadow Farms. From simple pumpkin picking self-guided tours to wagon rides and apple picking, all tours include a cup of cider and a fresh donut. Group tour rates vary from $3.50 to $6.50 per person, with a minimum of 8 – 15 participants. For group tour details, visit http://www.gullmeadowfarms.com/tours.html.

Gull Madow Farms is located at 8544 Gull Road in Richland. For directions and details, visit http://www.gullmeadowfarms.com/index.html.