Kuipers Family Farm opens for 25th fall season Saturday

It may feel like summer outside, but autumn kicks off Saturday in Maple Park when Kuipers Family Farm opens for its 25th fall season.

The farm, which seasonally offers pick-your-own apples, pumpkins and flowers along with family-friendly activities, will celebrate with special events, theme days and more each weekend through its closing date on Nov. 1.

“For the past 25 years, we’ve seen families come year after year to pick apples from our orchard and celebrate fall,” general manager Joe Kuipers said in a news release. “These families become a part of our family and nothing makes us feel more connected to the community.”

The “25 Days of Fall Fun” special event calendar starts Saturday with a free cider doughnut when you spend $25 in the Orchard Shop, the farm’s 20,000-square-foot store and bakery. On Sunday, the first 25 groups at the U-Pic Apple Orchard, which offers more than 45 varieties of fresh apples, will get to choose a mystery gift.

Other events this month include complimentary professional photos in the Fall Flower Fields from noon to 3 p.m. (admission required) on Aug. 29 and a U-Pic scavenger hunt on Aug. 30 (U-Pic admission required).

New to the farm this year is the Blooms and Bushels Festival, which runs Aug. 22 through Sept. 17. Guests can take a walk through eight acres of sunflowers, zinnias, and more at the Fall Flower Fields. Admission is $11.99 per person with the option to purchase a hand-picked bouquet.

The Fall Harvest Fest will run Sept. 18 through Nov. 1, when guests can explore the Pumpkin FunFarm.

Admission to the U-Pic Apple Orchard is $14.99 per person. Admission to the Pumpkin FunFarm starts at $19.99 per person and includes more than 30 activities, including the corn maze, jumping pillow, mountain slide, farm animals, apple blaster, giant corn box, delicious concessions, and more. A combo ticket for both is $35.99 per person.

rwest@dailyherald.com