17 Farms Near Boston to Visit This Summer
When:
Monday, Jul 01, 2024 9:00a -
Monday, Sep 30, 2024 5:00p
Monday, Jul 01, 2024 9:00a -
Monday, Sep 30, 2024 5:00p
Where:
Boston
Surrounding areas
Boston, MA
Admission:
FREE
Categories:
Date Idea, Drinks, Farms, Festivals & Fairs, Food, Good for Groups, Kid Friendly, Meetup, Music, Nature, Outside, Photoworthy, Seasonal
Event website:
thebostoncalendar.com
Summer’s a great time to get out of the city and visit a good ol’ fashioned farm. With the summer festival season at its peak, you can enjoy a cold cider at an outdoor taproom; sample fresh meals made from local produce; and even pick your own fruits and veggies so you can recreate that perfect summer dish at home. Check out our picks for the best farms to stop by this summer, even before the apple season begins.
🍹indicates alcoholic beverages are sold
By Kenneal Patterson & Yelena Nicolle Salvador
Cider Hill Farm 🍹 (pictured)
Where: Amesbury | 42.6 miles from Downtown
Why: Cider Hill Farm’s the best place for family fun. Whether you’re shopping at the farm market, picking produce, or grabbing food (either at the daily food trucks or their very own restaurant, The PitchFORK), there’s something for everyone. This summer, PYO blueberries and enjoy the festivities of the Blueberry and Flower Festival; PYO peaches, make bouquets, and stroll through sunflower fields at the Peach & Sunflower Festival; get creative at pop-up workshops and enjoy free tastings; or stay all night at the hard cider bar and jam out to live music.
Where: Harvard | 34.1 miles from Downtown
Why: Carlson Orchards isn’t just for apple picking. Adventure through their many fields of blueberries, peaches, nectarines, and raspberries and PYO buckets and bags of fresh fruit! Don’t forget to stop by the Cider Barn taproom for a wide selection of their in-house ciders and yummy flatbreads! For fun events like bingo, trivia, and festivals, check out their page for updates.
Where: Douglas | 56.9 miles from Downtown
Info: Douglas Orchard and Farm has the ultimate blueberry picking experience. Your mouth will be watering just looking at pints of the bright and juicy bluebs. Plus, new raspberry and blackberry fields will be ready for picking in the fall of this year. Say hello to the many pigs, chicks, goats, and farm animals while checking out their summer concert series, complete with the state’s best rock n’ roll cover bands.
Where: Hudson | 28.2 miles from Downtown
Why: Although Ferjulian’s Farm doesn’t offer any PYO produce opportunities, it's worth a mention for cutting your own beautiful, fresh-cut flowers. Head to their colorful and carefully curated flower garden to fill a mason jar, bucket, or basket. And when you get hungry, the market offers all the fresh fruits that your heart desires, plus some crisp seasonal veggies.
Where: Stow | 27.7 miles from Downtown
Why: This orchard just opened on July 17th for the season. Blueberries are ripe and ready at this adorable farm. You can celebrate them all at the annual Blueberry Festival. Check their socials for more exciting announcements during the season!
Where: Sterling | 44.9 miles from Downtown
Why: PYO is open (blueberries and raspberries are in season now), and the Orchards are also well-known for their delicious restaurant (including the iconic Thursday night BBQ, with vegetarian options included)!
Where: Phillipston | 65.7 miles from Downtown
Why: Red Apple Farm offers PYO experiences for blueberry and raspberry lovers, with a Blueberry Jamboree Festival. Plus, for anyone looking for a bouquet, PYO sunflowers will be back and better than ever this August, so make sure to stop by the famous annual Sunflower Festival! The Farm also offers PYO apples starting in late July, a taproom with delicious food (and often live music), and all around good vibes. For a unique experience, dig your own potatoes too!
Where: Sharon | 27.2 miles from Downtown
Why: You won’t need to go grocery shopping for weeks. At Wards Berry Farm, strawberries, blueberries, peas, and lots of beautiful flowers are in excellent picking condition. They also have hayrides, picnic areas, a bounce pillow, pigs, play areas for the kiddos, and plenty of food opportunities, including a smoothie bar and sandwich counter. This season, there is also a weekend pop-up beer garden with live music too!
Where: Millis | 31.5 miles from Downtown
Why: Tangerini’s Farm has a heavenly harvest. Head over now to pick your own blueberries, sunflowers, and gorgeous wildflowers. The farm also offers some of the best ice cream around— scoops straight from Maple Valley Creamery. Plus, don’t forget to check out their amazing restaurant, The Farmer’s Porch.
Where: Tyngsboro | 37.5 miles from Downtown
Why: Blueberry, apple, and flower picking galore! There’s so much to choose from at Parlee Farms, and blueberries are perfectly ripe for your homemade crumble. Plus, check out the animal barn where you can pet and feed baby sheep, goats, and chickens. Stop by Mary’s Country Kitchen for strawberry shortcake too!
Where: South Natick | 19.4 miles from Downtown
Why: Make sure to be on the lookout for South Natick’s Lookout Farm. They have brews and tunes at the farm’s restaurant. The outdoor dining experience includes picnic tables spread across the beautiful farm, serving country comfort food and deep-dish pizza. Plus, they offer fun ice cream days for your kiddos.
Where: Northampton | 104.9 miles from Downtown
Why: At Pie in the Sky, the fields are always plentiful. While blueberry season has come to a close early this summer, this farm is prepping for PYO flowers. Check their socials regularly to see what’s in store at this farm as the seasons change.
Where: North Andover | 28 miles from Downtown
Why: Peaches and raspberries are ready to be picked at this farm! And check out their Red, White & Berry Festival to pick some bluebs, taste some ice cream, sip on sangria, and enjoy family-friendly activities. Check out other experiences such as hop-on hayrides, farm-to-table dinners, comedy nights, an animal and playground area, concessions on the farm (with the grill fired up), storytelling events, and so much more.
Where: Bolton | 44.1 miles from Downtown
Why: Do wineries count? With Nashoba’s commitment to the farm-to-table experience, we think so. Come pick your own peaches and nectarines, and don’t forget to try their vino: there’s no better way to cap off a farm day than with a fruity wine tasting. You can also take a tour of the grounds and dine at The Vintner’s Knoll. This season, there are live music weekends with food trucks and other outdoor dining options too.
Where: Ipswich | 36.5 miles from Downtown
Why: There’s so much fruit to pick at this orchard: raspberries, blueberries, currants, jostaberries, and blackberries are currently in season. You can even enjoy the Orchards' wine tastings, which occur every Friday through Sunday. Trust us, the fruit wines and hard ciders are next level!
Where: Northborough | 39.3 miles from Downtown
Why: It’s time to explore the fields of blue at this family farm. Pick some blueberries while they are still in season and stay tuned for PYO peaches soon. Enjoy amazing fresh-fruit sundaes, ice cream, and pies; feed some barnyard animals; explore the playground with your kiddos (and the adults who are kids at heart); and stay tuned for festivals like Donut Days of Summer! Their beer and hard cider garden will reopen Labor Day weekend too.
Where: Ipswich | 33.7 miles from Downtown
Why: This farm is one of the oldest operating farms in the country. While this farm does not offer PYO events, it does offer a full immersion into nature. Hike through over 12 miles of historic farm roads, wetlands, and rolling hills. Plus, get cozy and (literally!) cuddle up to cows and barnyard animals with their unique Cow Connection and Befriend the Barnyard experiences. Don’t forget to stop by their farm store for high quality baked goods and treats, and be on the lookout for wood-fire pizza cook out days.
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Don’t wait until fall to head to our fave farms. There’s no better time than now to explore outside the city!
