How ‘bout them apples? 🍎

5 farms for apple picking near Boston, MA
Multiple apples hanging at an orchard
Whether you want ‘em by the bushel or peck, these farms have you covered. | Photo by @aprilmaena
It’s not a New England fall without a day of apple picking. Most local orchards offer pick-your-own apples now through November.

Luckily, there are plenty of options about an hour drive away from Boston — here are our top picks for picking.

Lookout Farm, 89 Pleasant St., South Natick
📍 ~17 miles from Boston
🗓️ Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Plan ahead and pre-purchase your U-Pick bags to save on weekend visits — bags range from $20-24. Pro tip: make a reservation to dine at the outdoor picnic tables and sip the farm’s signature hard cider.
Honey Pot Hill Orchards, 16 Boon Rd., Stow
📍 ~28 miles from Boston
🗓️ Daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
  • Pick a peck (10 lbs) of apples for $22 or a half bushel (20 lbs) for $33. You can also visit the farm store for cider donuts, jams + jellies, and a variety of baked goodies.
Red picnic tables set up on a farm with barns

Lookout Farm serves wagyu burgers, lobster rolls + deep dish pizza.

Photo by @lfbeerandcider

Shelburne Farm, 106 West Acton Rd., Stow
📍 ~31 miles from Boston
🗓️ Daily from 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m. on weekdays + 6 p.m. on weekends
  • Pick pears + pumpkins along with your apples ($29+) and hop on a 15-minute hayride ($3 per person) for some family fun.
C N Smith Farm, 325 South St., East Bridgewater
📍 ~34 miles from Boston
🗓️ Tuesday-Sunday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • One peck bag costs $32 and admits one to three people. Plus, the family-owned South Shore farm serves unbeatable cider donuts in City Editor Sara’s humble opinion.
Cider Hill Farm, 45 Fern Ave., Amesbury
📍 ~47 miles from Boston
🗓️ Daily from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
  • Buy pick-your-own tickets at the farm or online for $12+. Be sure to stop by the barn yard, hard cider bar, and food truck while you’re there.
One last pro tip: visit each farm’s website to see which apples are currently picking before your visit.

Should we follow this up with a guide to pick-your-own pumpkin farms? Let us know.
Share this story with the apple of your pie to plan a fun fall outing.

Click here to have your event featured.

Today
  • Backyard Bash on the Common | Thurs., Sept. 15 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Parkman Bandstand, 139 Tremont St. | Free | Head to the pop-up party for music from A Trike Called Funk, games like cornhole + badminton, and free ice cream treats.
  • The Great Boston Fire Book Talk | Thurs., Sept. 15 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Jamaica Plain Branch Library, 30 South St. | Free | Boston author Stephanie Schorow recounts the history of one of the most expensive fires per ace in US history. 📖
Friday
  • Lamplighter Oktoberfest | Fri., Sept. 16 | 5 p.m.-12 a.m. | Lamplighter Brewery, 284 Broadway, Cambridge | $10 | Have a Bavarian good time at this celebration — receive a custom German stein + free beers if you win best dressed.
Saturday
  • Watercolor Painting Workshop | Sat., Sept. 17 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Highland Park, 58 Beech Glen St., Roxbury | Free | Register to practice your landscape painting skills — classes are hosted by a local artist every weekend this month. 🎨
  • Brookline Porchfest | Sat., Sept. 17 | 12-6 p.m. | Brookline Arts Center, 86 Monmouth St. | Free | Jam out to local bands like The Grateful Dads + Beech Party — visit the website for a map showing where bands will perform. 🎤
  • CiderFest | Sat., Sept. 17 | Time Out Market, 401 Park Dr. | 12-5 p.m. | Free to attend | Jump into fall flavors with live music, free cider samples, and the chance to win a special barrel aged High Limb Cider.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
100+ MORE EVENTS

This Oktoberfest celebration is sure to be the ‘schnitzel’ 🍻
Oktoberfest High Res.jpeg
The free all-day party features festive, German-inspired games, competitions, music, food, drinks + more. | Photo by Brian Samuels Photography
Oktoberfest. It’s the most ‘brew-tiful’ time of year. To celebrate the occasion, High Street Place — Boston’s popular new food hall — is transforming into a traditional Munich-style beer hall on Sat., Sept. 17 for its inaugural Oktoberfest celebration.

The free, full-day event features fun for all ages including:
  • Oktoberfest games and activities
  • Best Dressed competition (think: lederhosen and fun hats)
  • German-inspired food + beverage specials from the hall’s restaurants (read: bratwursts, schnitzel, pretzels with beer cheese, Festbier)
  • Live music
And more. 🍻 *
COME ON GET HOPPY

Weather
  • 70º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain
Open
  • Don’t wig out — the Wig Shop is now open in Downtown Crossing. The whimsical cocktail lounge at 27 Temple Pl. pays homage to the space’s former business, Wig World. Stop by for old-school cocktails + bites like mini squid ink crepes and lobster-topped pancakes. (Boston Magazine)
Transit
  • Shuttle buses will replace service on the Green Line D Branch from Sat., Sept. 24-Sun., Oct. 30. The MBTA is encouraging Bostonians to either use the C Branch from Dean Road or access the shuttle from Reservoir station. 🚌 (7 News)
Traffic
Health
  • The Boston Public Health Commission is hosting a free COVID-19 vaccination event this Saturday. B Healthy Back-to-School will take place at White Stadium in Franklin Park from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. with vaccines + boosters available for attendees six months and older.
Cause
  • Registration is now open for Boston Blooms with Daffodils, a volunteer-led beautification initiative. Community members plant daffodil bulbs around the city in late October and early November. Sign up to volunteer. 🌼
Listen
  • One of our favorite local murals has inspired a new music album. Students at McKinley Schools produced “Amplify Boston” based on the “Breathe Life Together” mural at the Greenway. Give it a listen.
Community
  • It’s time for your close up. Dorchester photographer Mike Ritter is snapping free professional portraits at five library locations in the coming weeks. Learn more about the “Beautiful Dot” project. 📸 (Dorchester Reporter)
Plan Ahead
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

About that “Jenga” building 👀

Boston University’s new data sciences building
Boston building with stacked levels in the night sky
Weigh in on this bold architectural choice. | Photo by @haleedayburg
Whether you see a stack of books, blocks from a game of Jenga, or an innovative architectural achievement, the design of Boston University’s newest building is sure to draw your attention.

Beyond the bold look, here are a few quick facts about the campus’ Center for Computing & Data Sciences:
  • It’s 19 stories (or 305 ft tall), 345,000 sqft in total, and cost $305 million.
  • It will house the school’s mathematics, statistics + computer science program when it officially opens to students later this year.
  • The building is 100% free of fossil fuels, in alignment with BU’s Climate Action Plan. It’s poised to be the largest carbon-neutral building in Boston.
Construction began back in 2020, and Bostonians can now see the structure on the western part of our city’s skyline. The building is now completed, and will be celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, Dec. 8. We can expect an official opening in January 2023.

We want to know — what do you think about the cutting-edge design on Commonwealth Avenue?
THE WRAP
Small dog on person's lap in a car
Boston, meet Chip. | Photo via Multi-City Editor Sarah
Today’s issue was written by City Editor Sara.

Editor’s pick: A few weeks ago, we asked your help in naming Multi-City Editor Sarah’s new pup. Without further ado, allow me to present Chip.

Feel free to send your own dog photos my way so I can continue to take in all the puppy cuteness. 🐶

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Check out our tips for spending a day in Allston-Brighton (and learn how to enter our Roadrunner ticket giveaway).
Read More
Connect with us.

Editorial: Jessica Burton, Sara Frazier, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea| Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Peter Baldassare| Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?
SUBSCRIBE

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

Copyright © 2023 6AM City Inc, All rights reserved.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY