It’s fall, y’all! That means apple picking, pumpkins, corn mazes and more. When it comes to fun fall happenings in the Chapelboro area, we’ve got you covered with this helpful list to get you started on planning your autumn excursions.

Apples

Mill Stone Creek Orchard

Though apple picking is relatively hard to find around the Chapel Hill area, that doesn’t mean picking your own apples is off the menu! Just an hour outside of Chapel Hill, in the town of Ramseur, you’ll find Mill Stone Creek Orchards. Every weekend in September, they’re celebrating everything great about apples! For just $8 per person – kids 2 and under are free – enjoy picking apples, apple bobbing, hayrides and so much more. Shopping will be available and you can purchase all the apples, cider, jams and jellies you want. It’s worth the (short) trip to Apple Fest 2017 if you’re ready to get your orchard on!

Starting the first weekend in October, Mill Stone will also be hosting a free family movie night with all your spooky favorites: “The Great Pumpkin,” “The Goonies” and “Ghostbusters.” Optional hayrides available for $7 per person. For more details visit their website.

Perkins Orchard

Head on over to Durham to Perkins Orchard and find a variety of apples to choose from. For over 47 years, Perkins has been serving the community with fresh produce as Durham’s oldest and largest fruit stand. You’ll find everything from mums and pumpkins to apples and peaches, with availability depending on the season. Although you can’t pick your own apples here, Perkins carries an average of 16 varieties and up to 36 come November.

They also make their own fruit sorbets, and starting October 5 you can try their new pumpkin vanilla bean sorbet, complete with roasted pumpkin seeds.

Perkins Orchard is open every day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit their website for all the details.

Pumpkins and Corn Mazes

McKee’s Cedar Creek Farm

One of the largest cornfield mazes in North Carolina opens this Saturday, September 23, and runs each

weekend until October 29. Mckee’s corn maze boasts a total of 14 acres between a 12 acre main maze and 2 acre children’s maze. More than just an afternoon activity and a piece of interactive agriculture to wander through, the corn maze designs have been

described as “aerial bio-billboards providing wonderful views for commuters flying over northern Orange County.”  Come out, explore the corn maze, and pick out a pumpkin to take home. For more spooky fun, a haunted trail and cornfield maze will be featured on October 22, 27, and 28. You can purchase your tickets to the event at the farm for $12. Cedar Creek Farm is located in Rougemont, NC about forty minutes south of Chapel Hill in Orange County. For more details about their upcoming events visit their ­­website.

Smiths Family Fun Farm

This family-owned pumpkin patch in Hillsborough offers pumpkins on the vine ripe for picking, tractor rides on the weekends and a sunflower maze. All activities are free with the purchase of a pumpkin, which is a definite plus for those looking to multi-task. For more information visit them on Facebook.

Pumpkin Patch Express at Museum of Life and Science

Beginning the first weekend in October the Museum of Life and Science will be bringing back the famous Pumpkin Patch Express! Take the kids to ride the train to the museum’s pumpkin patch, pick your favorite pumpkin to take home and enjoy the carnival games and other fall activities. Pre-registration is required and children under the age of 2 are free. Read the full details and purchase your tickets here.

Huckleberry Trail Farm

A short drive from Chapel Hill in Siler City you will find Huckleberry Trail Farm. The farm opens Saturday, Sept. 30 and stays openon weekends through Oct. 30. You’ll find a whole lot of fall fun on the farm including farmyard games, a corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin patches and more. Check their event schedule to participate in the flashlight maze on specific days at night. Admission is $8 – $10 depending on age and covers all the activities offered at the farm but pumpkins and concessions. Find out more on their website.

Spooky Fun

Xtreme Haunt: A Zombie Shooting Experience

On Friday the 13th of October sign-up for a real-life zombie shooting experience at Xtreme Park Adventures in Durham. Guests will ride on a 40-foot military truck with mounted paintball guns to shoot the zombies in the dark as part of a harrowing pre-Halloween experience. For tickets and pricing visit their website here.

Thrills n’ Chills Halloween Tour

Hosted by the UNC Visitors Center, this family-friendly walking tour will tell the tales of Chapel Hill mysteries and ghost stories. Enjoy pieces of local history backed up with spooky stories that just might turn out to be more true than you expect. Costumes are encouraged and admission is free. RSVP on Facebook.

Myers House Halloween Bash

Michael Myers fans, this event is for you! The Myers House NC is a life-size replica ripped right from John Carpenter’s famous horror flick that kickstarted slasher movies as a genre, “Halloween.” Located in Hillsborough, this is the ninth year for the “Myers House Bash.” This event is rain or shine, taking place Saturday, Oct. 28 from 6:30 p.m. till midnight. Activities include outdoor movie screenings, bonfires, food trucks, tricks, treats and more! Costumes are encouraged but not required. For more information and to purchase tickets visit their website here.

More Fall Fun  

Festifall Arts Festival

The 45th Festifall Arts Festival is happening Sunday, Oct. 1. Engage with the local art community as handmade artists line the streets of Franklin street. Enjoy live performances on any of the three stages. Plenty of food will be available from local food trucks and, new this year, Festifall will also include a video game lounge, mega mural and giant chair. 97.9 The Hill will be sponsoring the Local Motion Stage, so make sure to stop by and say hello. For a full festival guide click here.

The Veranda Fall Festival

On Friday, Oct. 27, The Veranda in Chapel Hill will be celebrating the fall season with an evening event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Listen to live music and come out in your costumes and bring the kids. Walk through the numerous local stores for some special treats. For all the details, follow the event page on Facebook.

Oktoberfest Hillsborough Farmers Market

Enjoy craft beer tastings from multiple breweries plus a bratwurst dinner at the Hillsborough farmers market. This event takes place Oct. 14, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here.

Pittsboro Fall Street Fair

Rain or shine, come on out to the Pittsboro Fall Street Fair Saturday, Oct. 28, Enjoy arts and crafts, live music, carnival food and a whole lot of fun. More information about the event on their Facebook page here.