A Fall Tradition: Heartland Apple Festival at Beasley's Orchard
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Even before moving to Hendricks County, I started visiting Beasley's Orchard in the fall for their Heartland Apple Festival in Danville, Indiana. It's a place with lots of memories for me -- visiting with my mom and her sisters or my aunt, and now visiting with my own children.
The Heartland Apple Festival occurs the first two weekends in October. It'll take place Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 10-11 this year. As they celebrate their 40th annual event, the festival continues to grow and improve. There are tons of activities, great food and u-pick apples and pumpkins.
Here's a guide to help you start a great tradition that will create sweet memories.
U-Pick Pumpkins & Apples
We go to Beasley's for all of their u-pick produce throughout the year, but there's something special about apples and pumpkins. It's the start of fall weather as well as the start of all the holiday traditions. The apple orchard and pumpkin patches also make a great backdrop for pictures!
You can walk to the u-pick apples and purchase a bag to fill. Each row is clearly marked with the variety names. And when it comes to the pumpkins, don't miss the opportunity to take a hayride to the pumpkin patch.
Food & Other Treats
The Heartland Apple Festival offers a variety of delicious food. Obviously, apples are on the menu. I had my first-ever fried biscuits and apple butter at Beasley's years ago, and not being a native to the Hoosier state, I didn't realize what I had been missing.
This year, they will have a hard cider shed for those 21 and older, where they will serve hard cider with new flavors to be released in October. Beasley's also offers food and produce inside their market, including pastries and their popular apple cider slushies, apple cider doughnuts and hot apple cider!
Family Activities & Entertainment
General admission tickets for the Heartland Apple Festival include access to all the activities. You'll be able to enjoy the corn maze, shoot an apple cannon, take a hayride to the pumpkin patch and more!
Beasley's keeps the activities open throughout the week. I've found that weekdays are less crowded and cheaper, but both visits have been enjoyable.
Pricing & Details
General admission costs $16 a person to the Heartland Apple Festival. However, you can purchase discounted tickets by ordering ahead of time on their website. Kids 2 and under are free!
Beasley's opens at 9 a.m. on Sundays during the Heartland Apple Festival, giving you a few more hours to enjoy the festivities. With your general admission ticket, you'll be able to enjoy the hayride to the pumpkin patch, five shots each at the apple cannons and access to the corn maze and barnyard bonanza. You'll also be able to enjoy the marigold flower field too!
Other Fall Events At Beasley's
While the Heartland Apple Festival remains their signature event, Beasley's has other fall festivals virtually every weekend in September and October. They include:
- Opening Weekend: Sept. 19-20
- Hometown Heroes: Sept. 26-27 *Free admission for first responders and 50% off for their immediate family members.
- Heartland Apple Festival: Oct 3-4 and Oct. 10-11
- Dog Daze at the Maze: Oct. 17-18
- Halloweekend: Oct. 24-25
- Dia de Los Muertos: Oct. 31 - Nov. 1
Insider Tips
Beasley's is always a great place to enjoy the seasons. There are usually plenty of picnic tables spread throughout, along with portable restrooms and handwashing stations. I would recommend wearing boots if it has recently rained and you plan to go into the corn maze or pick apples.
I also recommend taking pictures -- there are tons of beautiful natural backgrounds for great photos! And if this does become a new tradition for you, you'll have pictures to look back on and see how much things have changed, both with your family and at the orchard.
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