Get ready to raise your glasses and toast to the crisp autumn air at the 2024 Franklin County Cider Days! This beloved annual event is set to take place from November 1st through 3rd, 2024, in the picturesque Franklin County, [...]

There's something truly magical about fall in New England. And in Franklin County, Massachusetts, the arrival of November means one thing: it's time for Cider Days, an annual celebration of all things cider. In 2023, this festival marks its 29th year, promising a weekend filled with orchard adventures, cider tastings, workshops, and [...]

Franklin County is often celebrated for its thriving agriculture and abundance of local farms. The local orchards stand out as one of our agricultural gems, drawing in visitors to enjoy the annual harvest and partake in the fun of pick-your-own fruits. Warm autumn days are the perfect time to visit a local orchard to pick your own delicious, [...]

Cider Days, Franklin County’s popular event for all things apple, happens every year during the first weekend of November. This fun and informative event brings together local cider producers and orchards to share their love for apples and apple products and to expand their passions outward into the community. This Friday through Sunday, November 5th to 7th, local cideries and orchards will open their doors to host workshops, demonstrations, and tours. 

The events kick off Friday with a Pomological Exhibit at Ashfield Community Hall from 10 am to 5 pm. After the exhibition, there will be a cider makers gathering at Scott Farm Orchard in Dummerston, Vermont from 5-8 pm.

Then the events continue all day Saturday and Sunday at our local favorite orchards. Clarkdale Fruit Farms in Deerfield will host a cider pressing demonstration, an orchard tour, and several “Cooking with Apples” demos. Apex Orchards in Shelburne Falls will host a talk about Pollination for the Home Orchardist with Tim Smith. Pine Hill Orchards in Colrain is offering a workshop on pruning with David Shearer and William Shearer. 

West County Cider in Shelburne Falls will talk about “Preserving and Increasing Our Botanical and Cultural Heritage” with Ben Watson and explore Wild Apple Foraging with Matt Kaminsky. Plus, New Salem Orchard in New Salem will host an outdoor presentation about the History of Cider in Early America with William Grote and show how to make bread overnight with Cider Lees. Historic Deerfield will also participate in the Cider Days fun with a Heritage Apple Workshop on both Saturday and Sunday.

There are 23 venues in total offering workshops, tastings, tours, and demos. View the Cider Day’s Trail Map and check out all the Cider Day’s events planned for this weekend at ciderdays.org/cider-trail-2021. 

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog.

New England is known for its delicious varieties of apples - and New England cider is one of my favorite ways to enjoy these magnificent fruits. This year’s Franklin County CiderDays might not have cider salons or workshops, but you can still enjoy the regions’ wonderful ciders by hopping in your car and visiting all the great spots on the CiderDays Cider Trail. The event has been extended through the end of the season this year, so you have more time to stop by every point on the trail. 

All of the venues on the trail can be found at ciderdays.org/venues. Most of them are found in Franklin County. However, a few are found in the surrounding areas, such as Berkshire Cider Project in North Adams. Opened in July of this year, Berkshire Cider Project is a new craft cidery focused on dry sparkling ciders, located in a beautiful former textile mill with adjacent café and distillery. They are open Fridays and Saturdays from 12 to 6 pm. Check out their website for special CiderDays events!

Hawley’s own Headwater Cider Company is also on the list of cideries participating in CiderDays. Headwater prides itself on doing every step of the cider-making process (growing, pressing, and bottling) all right there at the orchard. With over 2000 apple trees in the orchard at 1800 feet elevation, Headwater has a short but ideal growing season, with plenty of sunlight. This makes for perfect apples for hard cider with lots of flavor and natural sugars. Headwater is open on the weekends starting October 10 to November 8 from 10 am to 5 pm.  Check out their website for more information! (Photo right taken from Headwater Cider Company's Facebook Page.)

Did you know that the oldest running cider house is located right here in Shelburne, Massachusetts? West County Cider was started in 1984 by the Maloney family. Today, they continue to make small-batch ciders using local apples, working with the variety of flavors that come from each year’s distinct apple harvest. The community is welcome to their tap room and bottle shop, located on Peckville Road, and as well to wander along their hiking trails and picnic grounds with an incredible tri-state view.  For their open hours, directions, and to check out their different styles of cider, head to their website. (Photo left taken from West County Cider's Facebook Page.)

Find out who else is on the CiderDays Cider Trail, plus more information about the 2020 Franklin County CiderDays at ciderdays.org. 

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog.

Apex Orchards, Shelburne

As of Saturday, August 15th, Apex Orchards  welcomed the community to come and pick their own peaches. Located in Shelburne, just off of Route 2/The Mohawk Trail, between Greenfield and Shelburne Falls, Apex Orchards offers stunning views of Western Mass and the borders of Vermont and New Hampshire. Experience the incredible scenery of the orchard while you stroll amongst the trees and pick your own delicious peaches. 

Pick Your Own Peaches is open to the public on weekends only from 11 am to 4 pm. However, you can visit the farm store daily from 9 am to 5 pm and purchase fresh-picked fruit and other local agricultural products. Currently, the Apex Farm Store has Lodi Apples, Methley Plums, Blueberries, and Garnet Beauty Peaches. Plus, as we move further into harvest season, this list will grow! Stay updated on what’s available in the store and which apples are ready for Pick Your Own by following the Apex Orchards Facebook Page or call the store before you visit at 413-625-2744

(Photo taken from Apex Orchards Facebook Page.)

Pine Hill Orchards, Colrain

You can compare peaches to peaches by visiting Pine Hill Orchards in Colrain and picking up some of their fresh-picked peaches as well! Currently, their farm store is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm, where they sell other fresh-picked fruit like plums and blueberries, as well. They also offer takeout from their restaurant Thursday through Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm. In just a few weeks, starting Labor Day weekend, Pine Hill will be running their Pick Your Own apples! Check their website or Facebook page for updates on which varieties are ready. 

Clarkdale Fruit Farm, Deerfield

You’ll also find juicy, fresh-picked peaches at Clarkdale Fruit Farm in Deerfield. Clarkdale is a fourth-generation family-owned fruit farm, whose farm store is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. You can stay safe with their drive up ordering and never have to get out of your car. Visit them at 303 Upper Road in Deerfield for yellow-fleshed peaches now or visit them in a few weeks for apple season.  Find out what fruit is available on their website or Facebook page.

Happy Harvest Season to all!

For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog.

It’s apple picking season! Check out these local Franklin County orchards to find the best apples around:

Apex Orchards

Head down Peckville Road in Shelburne and you’ll find Apex Orchard’s farm store and orchard. If you have the time, you can pick your own apples in the orchard, which by the way has a beautiful tri-state view! The rows of [...]

For a long time, cider has been the traditional drink of New England. Right here in Franklin County, we are lucky to be surrounded by wonderful orchards and cideries, who make this delicious fall drink. For 24 years, Franklin County has celebrated cider with their Annual CiderDays. This 3-day event, always occurring on the first full weekend [...]

Fall in New England is such a favored time of year; the bright colors of the foliage, a chill in the air, and of course, all things apple. Every fall on the first full weekend in November, I look forward to CiderDays, a Franklin County celebration of apples. Many of the events are free and range from workshops to talks to tastings to [...]