It can easily be argued that fall is when the North Shore is at its most glorious. There’s the brilliant foliage, the cider donuts, and the crisp air that inspires cozy sweaters and fire pit gatherings.
Throughout the region we have an abundance of beautiful places to go for a hike, pick apples, or buy from local farms at the peak of their harvest season. If you’re looking for yet more fun, there are plenty of other ways to immerse in the wonders of autumn. We’ve gathered six of our favorites:
Fall Weekends at Cider Hill Farm, Amesbury
Every weekend through Oct. 14
Through Columbus Day, every weekend at Cider Hill Farm is a celebration of classic New England autumn. Pick your own apples, bump along the farm on a hayride, groove to live music, sip hard cider, and nibble on cider donuts or pumpkin whoopie pies. And don’t forget to pick up some colorful gourds and lush mums to bring the harvest joy home with you. Purchase PYO tickets ahead (48 hrs in advance) or upon arrival at the farm.
Learn more at ciderhill.com/fallinformation
Corn Maze, Marini Farm, Ipswich
Weekends through October
Go over the rainbow and take a journey down the yellow brick road at Marini Farm’s Wicked Awesome Oz Corn Maze. Get lost and then find yourself in this sprawling seven-acre corn maze (there’s also a one-acre version for the littlest adventurers). Bring the kids to enjoy the play structures, giant slide, and jumping pillow before or after the maze. Special corn maze events include Brew Your Way Through, a 21p+ event featuring beer tasting on October 10th and 17th, and a 21+ Wine Your Way Out event with wine tasting on October 12.
Learn more about the maze and all the other fun available at marinifarm.com/corn-maze.
Mandarava Farm Dinner at Appleton Farms, Ipswich
October 23, 5:30PM
Dine at twilight on the patio of their historic farmhouse, overlooking the Great Pasture and the rolling organic fields from where your meal was harvested. Newburyport’s Mandarava will host their October Farm Dinner. Guests will enjoy a multi-course journey of family style seasonal dishes. It is BYOB – so bring your favorite bottle of wine.
More details available at thetrustees.org/place/appleton-farms.
Fall Festival Weekends, Smolak Farms, North Andover
Weekends through October
Every weekend Smolak Farms offers up seasonal fun for folks of all ages. Kids will love the themed hayrides and activities –pirates on Sept. 27 and 28, Halloween throughout October – and adults will enjoy sipping on beer, wine, and fall-inspired cocktails. Everyone will have fun with the classics: pumpkin and apple picking, cider donuts, cider donut ice cream, live music, and visiting with farm animals.
Details available at smolakfarms.com/2025-fall-festival-weekends
Fall Foliage Cider & Donut Cruises, Essex River Cruises, Essex
Weekends in October
If you want to enjoy fall from the water Essex River Cruises offers up excursions aboard the Essex River Queen I and the Essex River Queen II. Their Fall Foliage Cider & Donut Cruises in October take you near Hog/Choate Island and down the Essex River while you enjoy complimentary hot cider and donuts from Russell Orchard of Ipswich.
Buy tickets at essexcruises.com.
Corn Maze, Connors Farm, Danvers
Weekends & Holidays through November 2
Get ready to buzz on over to the 2025 Connors Farm corn maze with its Bee Happy theme. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online. Your admission ticket includes the Putnamville Railroad, corn maze, hay rides, ropes course, jumping pillows, pedal carts, Fort Connors, play area and more. Make sure you stop at their Farm Stand for pumpkins, apples, hot apple cider donuts, and freshly squeezed apple cider.
For more information: connorsfarm.com