Fall Farm Markets Near Traverse City: Corn Mazes, Pumpkin Patches, and Special Events

Fall is one of my favorite times of year in Northern Michigan. Summer crowds have thinned, the air turns crisp, and farm stands start filling their shelves with their autumn harvest. It’s the time of year to pick apples, enjoy warm donuts, get lost in a corn maze, sip a glass of fresh-pressed cider and soak up the beauty of fall.

As a long-time local, I’ve put together this guide to some of my favorite fall farm markets near Traverse City. Some are lively destinations with corn mazes, bonfires and live music, while others are simple roadside markets where you can grab a bag of apples and a homemade pie. These are places I’ve visited and enjoyed myself, and I’ll share what makes each one worth a stop.

If you’re looking for even more ways to enjoy the season, check out my guide to the Best Things to Do in Traverse City in Fall, where I cover fall color drives, festivals, wineries, Halloween events and more.

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Farm Markets and Roadside Stands

Fall is a great time to wander through a local farm market and see what’s available for purchase. Pick your own apples and pumpkins, grab a pie or a bag of warm donuts, and enjoy fresh-pressed cider . Here are a few of my favorite farm markets near Traverse City.

Gallagher’s Farm Market and Bakery

Just a few miles west of Traverse City along M-72, Gallagher’s Farm Market is an old-fashioned roadside farm stand wildly popular with locals and visitors alike. There’s just something satisfying about buying fruits and vegetables grown right in the nearby soil.

The market sells seasonal produce grown on the Gallagher family farm and a few other local farms nearby. They also have fresh pies, breads and pastries made in their bakery. In the fall, you’ll find plenty of squash, apples, grapes, kale, lettuce, onions and potatoes.

And then there are the pumpkin donuts! So good – Gallagher’s is known for them.

Don’t miss Gallagher’s incredible pizza bread if you’re stopping by on a weekend.

You’ll also find other local products, including jams, jellies and salsas, chocolate covered cherries, honey, and maple syrup, making this a good place to stock up on a few Northern Michigan treats.

Gallagher’s is a fun stop for families, too. Kids can visit the small barnyard and see the pigs, chickens and goats. And keep an eye out for Frankie and Gracie, the market’s two resident gray cats. They roam freely around the property and are usually happy to accept a little attention from visitors.

If you’re heading to Sleeping Bear Dunes for a fall day trip, Gallagher’s makes an especially convenient stop along the way. Pick up some fresh produce—or, better yet, a pumpkin donut or two—for the road.

Gallagher’s Farm Market & Bakery is located at 7237 E. Traverse Hwy (M-72), just west of Traverse City.

Myrtle & Maude’s

For fall farm-market fun on the north side of Traverse City, make the 20-minute drive to Myrtle & Maude’s. This fourth-generation cherry and apple farm hosts seasonal events throughout the year, but fall is absolutely my favorite time to visit.

The farm market is open seven days a week, making it an easy stop for stocking up on farm-fresh apples and U-pick pumpkins in every shape and size. And bring your appetite— indulge in Grandma Birdie’s homemade pies, fresh cider and donuts, or one of Maude’s famous caramel apples.

Try a refreshing apple cider slushy, or go for something truly unique – their decadent apple pie parfait! It’s vanilla soft-serve ice cream layered with Grandma Birdie’s apple pie, all topped off with fresh whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

And be sure to pre-order if you’d like to pick up a pumpkin, cherry, or apple pie for Thanksgiving.

I also love browsing the gift store, which showcases Michigan-made products, antiques, and handcrafted gifts. Items range from jams and salsas to books and puzzles, lotions, soaps and tee shirts.

There’s plenty to keep kids entertained, too, including a play area and some very entertaining farm residents. Be sure to say hello to Patsy Cline, the resident mini Highland cow, along with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, two friendly goats.

For the full fall experience, plan your visit for a weekend. You can hop aboard a tractor-pulled wagon for a farm tour, watch football on the big outdoor screen, get lost in the corn maze or gather around a bonfire.

Myrtle & Maude’s is located at 10981 Elk Lake Road in Williamsburg.

Providence Organic Farm

Providence Organic Farm is one of my favorite farm markets – a worth-the-drive discovery if you don’t mind heading about 30 miles north of Traverse City. Once you’ve visited, you’ll understand why I think it’s worth the trip.

Providence is a certified organic farm growing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and much of what you’ll find on any given day depends on what’s coming in from the fields.

But what really makes Providence stand out for me is the authentic Mexican food.

The farm opens at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast and burritos. They also have a coffee bar, where you can order a coffee, latte, or iced mocha.

The lunch menu is available beginning at 11:00 a.m. Burritos and veggie bean or chicken tinga tostadas are available daily, while Friday and Saturday pop-ups bring even more tempting dishes to the menu. Depending on the day, you might find chicken fajita tacos, beef quesabirria served with consommé, carnitas, or tamales.

And if you’re really lucky, you might visit on Baja fish taco day. My friends have raved about them -homemade tortillas filled with locally caught whitefish rolled in pancake batter and topped with pico de gallo. Sadly, I still haven’t managed to make it there on fish taco day—but I’ll keep trying!

The best way to find out what is being served is to check Providence’s website for their daily menu.

Friday and Saturday visits can come with another delicious bonus: fresh French pastries straight from Gilda’s Lake Street Bakery in nearby Boyne City. Keep an eye out for croissants, cinnamon rolls, cream puffs, tarts, and sweet breads.  

Saturdays are especially fun, with live music from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. You can enjoy your food and beverages on a table under the covered patio, or at a picnic table under the trees.

Wander over to the pasture to look at the cows. The farm raises grass-fed Belted Galloway beef, a distinctive Scottish breed of cattle easily recognized by the white band around its middle. Then check out the U-Pick flower garden to put together a bouquet to take home.

Locals can join Providence’s CSA and get weekly boxes full of organic fruits and vegetables from a farm you can actually visit. Fall boxes can include watermelon, root vegetables, squash, onions and specialty radishes, with options to add local eggs and farm-raised meats.

Providence Farm is open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day but Sunday.

Providence Farm is located at 5691 N M 88 in Central Lake, north of Traverse City

Corn Mazes and Pumpkin Patches

If getting lost in a corn maze or picking out the perfect pumpkin is on your fall bucket list, there are several options around Traverse City. Two of the area’s bigger corn mazes can be found at Jacob’s Farm and Royal Farms, while Cory Holman’s Pumpkin Patch offers a quieter experience for those in search of the perfect pumpkin.

Jacob’s Farm

Jacob’s Farm is one of those places that seems to capture everything I love about fall in Northern Michigan. Just west of Traverse City along M-72, this fifth-generation family farm turns its fields into a giant autumn playground.

The star attraction is the farm’s enormous corn maze. Spanning about 10 acres, the maze gets a completely new design each year. Past themes have ranged from Alice in Wonderland and dinosaurs to the circus and pyramids.

After making your way through the corn, you can relax around the bonfire with a with a cup of fresh apple cider and a homemade cinnamon donut.

Jacob’s has a full bar and a restaurant on-site offering appetizers, salads and gyros. But they are far and away famous for their wood-fired pizzas. Order a classic pizza, build your own, or try something a little different like the Garden Pie, made with pesto sauce, tomatoes, black olives, onions, mushrooms, and jalapeños all finished with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

Jacob’s offers live music five evenings a week into the fall. If you time it right, you might even be able to catch a football game on their huge TV under the pavilion.

Jacob’s Farm takes pride in being a family-friendly destination. Kids can romp around the playground that features two play sets, a sandbox, a kiddy-kitchen, and hills perfect for safe running and rolling. They can even climb on farm-themed equipment.

Friendly dogs on a leash are always welcome, as long as you are willing to clean up after them.

Visit the U-Pick orchard to stock up on premier Zestar and Honeycrisp apples. And don’t head for home before  picking out that perfect Halloween pumpkin!

Jacob’s Farm is located at 7100 East Traverse Highway (M-72)

Royal Farm Market and Winery

Looking for a corn maze on the north side of Traverse City? Royal Farms has you covered. It is one of those places where it’s easy to stop for one thing and leave with an entire carload of goodies. The market is popular with locals for miles around and is filled with seasonal fruits and vegetables, including U-Pick apples in September and October.

The bakery is another big draw. Homemade pies, breads, cookies, brownies and other goodies are baked right on-site. We’re especially fond of the focaccia bread and cherry chocolate macaroons. If you happen to arrive around lunchtime, you can grab something to eat, too, with options such as asparagus soup, a cherry chicken salad wrap and white cheddar mac and cheese. And in the fall, of course, there’s cider and donuts.

For a relaxing afternoon, grab a glass of wine or a hard cider flight and relax in the wine garden, patio or tasting room. The Cellars of Royal Farms makes wine and cider using fruit grown right on the farm, and the tasting room features hard ciders made from vintage apple varieties. You can take your favorites home in bottles, growlers, howlers or yelpers. (And yes, those are actual cider container sizes!)

For a little more adventure, tackle Royal Farms’ five-acre corn maze, which comes with a scavenger-hunt twist. Six stations are hidden throughout the maze, and those who find all six in under 30 minutes win a prize. Full disclosure: we did not win a prize. Maybe because we hit the tasting room before venturing into the corn?

On fall weekends, you can also hop aboard a hayride through the orchards and vineyards, with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan along the way.

And don’t skip the gift shop. If you can think of a cherry-themed item, they probably have it—jewelry, towels, puzzles, candles, signs and plenty more. It’s a great place to pick up a distinctly Northern Michigan souvenir.

Royal Farms is located at 10445 US-31 in Ellsworth, about 45 miles northeast of
Traverse City.

Cory Holman’s Pumpkin Patch

Sometimes you don’t need a corn maze, live music or a full slate of fall activities. You just want to wander through a pumpkin patch, pick out the perfect pumpkin and enjoy a warm cider and a fresh donut. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Cory Holman’s Pumpkin Patch on Old Mission Peninsula.

From late September through Halloween, rows of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes fill the field beneath the cherry trees. The fall harvest also includes colorful gourds, squash, apples and cornstalks.

There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles here—and that’s part of the charm. On weekends, Cory’s serves up fresh apple cider and some seriously good pumpkin donuts, making this a great little stop while you’re touring Old Mission Peninsula in the fall.

Cory Holman’s Pumpkin Patch is located at 12926 Center Road, on Old Mission Peninsula, in Traverse City. It’s about three-quarters of a mile north of Chateau Grand Traverse. Keep an eye out for the pumpkin sign—it’s surprisingly easy to drive right past it!

Fall Farm Experiences

Some of my favorite fall stops involve more than picking apples and pumpkins. These are places where you can eat food grown on the farm, visit with cows and goats, enjoy a seasonal beer or cider, or spend an afternoon in wine country during grape harvest.

Farm Club

Farm Club is a unique destination that manages to be a restaurant, farm market, brewery, and working farm all at the same time. Located in the countryside just outside Traverse City, this modern barn-style building has become a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike to celebrate good food grown right here in Northern Michigan.

The whole idea behind Farm Club is simple: celebrate local produce and let the seasons help determine what’s on your plate. They grow vegetables, herbs, and plenty of other good things right on the farm, and the menu changes throughout the year to make the most of what’s coming out of the fields.

Fall is one of my favorite times to visit. During the height of summer, Farm Club can be packed, with more than 1,000 people stopping by on a typical July day. As the season shifts toward autumn, the crowds begin to drop, making it much easier to secure a table without waiting in a long line.

And fall brings some pretty delicious things to the menu. Think butternut squash bisque, carrots and beets, roasted chili peppers, fingerling potatoes, heirloom corn, and freshly milled polenta.

And if you’re really lucky, you just might discover Farm Club’s crowd pleasing onion rings on the menu. These huge rings are created from a sweet onion variety called Ailsa Craig that is harvested in September. They are cooked in a tempura beer batter with a garnish of creamy maple dressing.

Of course, Farm Club is more than just food. They brew their own beer and make their own cider, so you can pair your meal with something made right on-site. The selection changes, but you’ll usually find a variety of beers along with house-made ciders.

You can also stop by the market to pick up fresh produce and house-made products to take home.

We especially love visiting Farm Club when we’re out enjoying an afternoon on our bikes. It’s located just off the paved TART Trail, making it a popular stop for cyclists and hikers who are ready for a cold drink or something to eat. There is ample seating both inside and out.

Keep an eye on the Farm Club Calendar for special events taking place during the fall. September typically kicks things off with a Field Social at the outdoor bar, where the Farm Club brewers pour free tastes of new beers and ciders that they’ve created. It’s a great chance for visitors to mingle with the staff and farmers. Marigolds and other flowers grown on the farm are available for making your own garland. Bonfires will be lit if the weather gets chilly!

September also brings Farm Club’s annual Corn and Chili Roasting Festival, a celebration of the fall harvest featuring roasted green chiles, heirloom corn, and freshly milled polenta. Shuck some corn and sample special autumn dishes.

Then in October, Farm Club celebrates Annual Apple Days. They fire up an old-fashioned crank cider press and make fresh cider right on the spot. You can sample hot cider and hard cider, along with apple cake, apple fritters, apple hand pies, and freshly milled buckwheat donuts.

More than 20 varieties of apples are typically available for tasting and purchase, making Apple Days a fun stop for anyone who takes their fall apple tasting seriously.

Farm Club is located at 10051 Lake Leelanau Drive in Traverse City.

Moomers

A local favorite just outside Traverse City, Moomers serves up creamy homemade ice cream made with milk straight from the cows you can see grazing in the pasture right next to the shop. And while ice cream may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of fall, Moomers is one of my favorite places to visit when the leaves start turning color.

Fall brings some especially creative seasonal flavors to the menu. Try the apple crisp ice cream, made with cinnamon ice cream and chunks of homemade apple crisp, or indulge in pumpkin chip ice cream with pieces of homemade pumpkin chip cookies. And then there’s banana bread ice cream—yes, that’s banana ice cream mixed with pieces of real banana bread!

Whatever flavor you choose, don’t pass up one of their homemade waffle cones. They’re legendary!

October brings even more reasons for families to visit. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Halloween, Moomers offers themed I Spy wagon rides around its 75-acre dairy farm. Keep your eyes peeled for ghosts, goblins, and witches—and, of course, cows!

Then, in early November, Moomers hosts their annual Moomers Staff Flavor Contest. Employees create brand-new and unique ice cream flavors, and customers can purchase a tasting flight that includes a scoop of every employee creation before voting for their favorites.

One of my top staff picks that made it onto the menu recently was named Pep In Your Step -vanilla ice cream with a crème de menthe swirl and mint Oreos. Delicious!

Voting typically runs through Thanksgiving, with the winning employee flavor announced in late November or early December and earning a spot on the Moomers ice cream menu.

The tasting flight boxes are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and they sell out quickly—typically within just a few days of the release date. If you’re interested in trying a Flavor Contest flight, keep an eye on Moomer’s Facebook page for the official date the flights become available.

Don’t worry if you miss the window for the Flavor Contest. Moomers offers a 5-flavor ice cream flight every day, year-round.

Pro Tip: Try the Cherries Moobilee! It just seems like the right thing to do when you’re enjoying ice cream in the Cherry Capital of the World.

If you’re visiting Traverse City in December, check out our post about Moomer’s Holiday flavors and Gingerbread Decorating Contest.

Moomers is located at 7263 N. Long Lake Road in Traverse City.

Black Star Farms

Black Star Farms is one of my favorite wineries in the Traverse City area. If you’ve never visited, you can read my complete guide to Black Star Farms Winery for the full scoop. For this post, I’m focusing on some of the special events that make a fall visit even more fun.

Fall Wine Country Wagon Rides are a great choice for families. A tractor-drawn wagon takes you on a 30-minute ride through the 160-acre Suttons Bay estate, with views of the cherry orchard, terraced vineyards, horses and resident goats along the way. Afterward, head to the tasting room for a glass of wine, mulled wine, a craft cocktail or a mocktail.

For those of you who are wine enthusiasts and devoted chocoholics, keep an eye out for Black Star Farms’ Wine & Chocolate Tasting Workshops. The guided tasting pairs Black Star Farms wines with artisan chocolates from Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate. Several workshops are scheduled for fall, including September and October dates.

For something a little more out of the ordinary, there’s Goat Yoga. The one-hour class includes 45 minutes of beginner-friendly yoga followed by time to take photos and hang out with the goats. Your ticket also includes a drink token for a glass of wine, cocktail or mocktail afterward. And part of the proceeds benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

And then there’s Happy Hour with the Goats. Grab a glass of wine or a cocktail, find a spot on the lawn and let the goats provide the entertainment. They’re happy to pose for photos and accept a little attention while you enjoy your drink.

Black Star Farms continues to offer its popular Sail & Stay package into early October, combining a stay at the Inn with a private morning sailing trip on West Grand Traverse Bay.

With grape harvest underway, changing vineyard colors and a calendar full of special events, fall is a particularly good time to visit Black Star Farms. And if you’re planning your visit around a specific event, be sure to check the Black Star Farms event calendar for current dates and availability.

Black Star Farms is located at 10844 E Revold Road in Suttons Bay, about 10 miles outside of Traverse City.

Final Thoughts on Farm Markets Near Traverse City

Fall is one of my favorite times to explore the countryside around Traverse City. The summer crowds have faded, the orchards and vineyards are busy with harvest, and local farms are full of apples, pumpkins, cider, donuts and special events.

And don’t feel like you have to fit everything into one day. Pick a few stops and take your time. That’s usually how we enjoy fall around here. Sometimes the unplanned stops end up being the best ones!

If you’re planning an overnight fall getaway, take a look at my guide to Where to Stay in Traverse City, with recommendations for downtown hotels, waterfront properties, resorts and budget-friendly options.

Pair your apple‑picking or pumpkin patch stop with a scenic drive, a local winery, or a dinner downtown, and you’ll have the kind of fall day you’ll remember long after the leaves fall.