About Broom Orchard
Broom Orchard has been in the Broom family since 1968. Bill and Joan Broom ran it as a wholesale and retail orchard for 30 years, and in 1998 their son Jeff and his wife Lisa took over and turned it into a farm-market business, selling nearly the whole crop at the orchard. Over the years they have grown the apple list from 3 varieties to 26, so there is usually something fresh from midsummer into fall.
The season opens in July with peaches, and Red Havens are a summer favorite; blackberries, nectarines, plums and pears follow. U-pick apples start Labor Day weekend and run into mid-October, with later varieties such as Granny Smith, Pink Lady, EverCrisp and Scarlet Beauty coming in around the second week of October. Pumpkins arrive in fall. The orchard usually closes around Thanksgiving and donates leftover apples to Carlinville's Christmas basket giveaway.
The family's motto is that they sell the fruit and the fun is free. There is no charge to park, and the playground and corn maze are free. The farm market carries sweet cider, preserves, no-sugar spreads, popcorn, nuts and fall decor. The orchard holds an Apple Festival in September and a Pumpkin Festival in October; the 36th Pumpkin Festival ran October 11 and 12, 2025, from 9 to 6.
Moore Acres Lavender Farm, a small family homestead near Girard with a roadside stand, is about 20 minutes north, so a summer peach run can include a stop for lavender and fresh eggs.
What to do
- Pick your own apples from Labor Day weekend into mid-October
- Buy Red Haven peaches in July and August
- Walk the free corn maze and let kids use the playground
- Stock up on sweet cider, preserves and popcorn at the farm market
- Visit during the Apple Festival in September or the Pumpkin Festival in October
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Peaches from July; U-pick apples Labor Day weekend to mid-October; market open until about Thanksgiving
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun noon–5 p.m. in season (2025)
- Admission
- free
Tips for your visit
- Late varieties like Pink Lady and EverCrisp come in around the second week of October
- Festival weekends run longer hours, 9 to 6
- Call ahead for what is picking that week; they have no website
Pair it with a lavender farm
Moore Acres Lavender Farm · about 20 minutes away
Moore Acres' roadside lavender stand near Girard is about 20 minutes north of the orchard.
Getting there
Questions
Is there an admission fee?
No. Parking, the playground and the corn maze are free; you pay for the fruit.
When can you pick apples?
U-pick apples start Labor Day weekend and run into mid-October.
When does the orchard close for the year?
It usually closes around Thanksgiving.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Girard, Illinois: Carlinville and Macoupin County on Route 66
Checked in October 2026 against local tourism and news pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
