About Edwards Apple Orchard
Edwards Apple Orchard started as a dairy farm on Centerville Road that Bob Sr. and Audrey Edwards worked for 25 years. In the spring of 1964 Bob and Betty Edwards planted the first apple trees and sold their first small crop off a hayrack. The old dairy barn became the Apple Barn, and the third and fourth generations now run the farm, with 18 family members in the business. A tornado on January 7, 2008, destroyed six of the farm's seven buildings but spared the trees; the family rebuilt using an 1860 Wisconsin barn and a 1910 Illinois barn and reopened seven months later.
The orchard grows more than 30 apple varieties. Pick-your-own runs September through October, daily from 9 to 5:30 when the weather allows, and costs $49 per half bushel plus a $5 basket deposit for a group of up to six (as posted October 2026). In mid-October Golden Delicious and Late Fuji are on the trees, with Pink Lady and Granny Smith opening around October 30. Pumpkin patches keep the same hours, and raspberries are offered for picking in season.
The Apple Barn sells pre-picked apples by the half peck, cider pressed on site with no added sugar, apple butter, salsa, jams and fudge. Cider donuts are the specialty, made fresh each day with the farm's own cider. The Cider Cellar serves pulled-pork sandwiches and warm apple pie with ice cream. The farm does not currently offer school tours or group events.
Maria's Farm, a lavender farm near Marengo that hosts visits by appointment, is about 12 miles east, roughly a 20-minute drive.
What to do
- Pick your own apples September through October; $49 per half bushel for up to six people
- Buy cider donuts made fresh daily with the orchard's cider
- Take home fresh-pressed cider, apple butter, jams and fudge from the Apple Barn
- Have a pulled-pork sandwich or warm apple pie at the Cider Cellar
- Pick a pumpkin from the patches in fall
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open September through November; U-pick apples September through October
- Hours
- As posted October 2026: Apple Barn and Cider Cellar daily 9 am–6 pm; apple and pumpkin picking daily 9 am–5:30 pm, weather permitting
- Admission
- No admission listed; U-pick apples $49 per half bushel plus $5 basket deposit (as posted October 2026)
Good to know
- Dogs
- Service animals only
- Payment
- Cash, personal checks and credit cards
Tips for your visit
- Carry-in food and picnics aren't allowed; dining areas are for food bought at the farm
- Picking can pause in bad weather, so check before you drive out
- Keep apples refrigerated, and freeze cider you won't drink within a week
- The farm is smoke- and vape-free
Pair it with a lavender farm
Maria's Farm · about 20 minutes away
Maria's Farm is about 20 minutes east and welcomes visitors by appointment, so book it ahead of an orchard day here.
Getting there
Questions
When can you pick apples at Edwards Orchard?
September through October, daily 9 am–5:30 pm when the weather allows.
Is Edwards cider pasteurized?
No. It is treated with UV light instead, and it has no added sugar.
Can I bring my dog?
No pets are allowed except trained service animals.
Does Edwards Orchard take credit cards?
Yes. Cash, personal checks and credit cards are accepted.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Marengo & Woodstock, Illinois
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
