For many Pittsburgh-area families, a trip to Soergel Orchards has become a fall tradition, and the crowds this season show no signs of slowing down.
Each weekend through Nov. 1, the Wexford orchard transforms into a fall destination packed with activities for all ages. Visitors can spend the day picking apples and pumpkins, navigating a corn maze, climbing aboard tractor-pulled hayrides and stopping at colorful seasonal displays that have become popular photo backdrops.
The festival offers plenty for children, with games, farm attractions and opportunities to get up close with animals around the property. Families can easily spend an entire afternoon exploring the orchard grounds while taking in the sights, sounds and flavors of fall.
Food is also
a major draw. Guests can grab fresh apple cider, cider slushies and the orchard's popular apple cider donuts, while food vendors serve a variety of meals and snacks throughout the festival grounds. Adults can also stop by Arsenal Cider House offerings on site.
Inside the farm market and gift shop, visitors will find fresh produce, baked goods, homemade pies, jams, specialty foods and locally made gifts to bring home. The market remains one of the orchard's biggest attractions, especially for shoppers looking to stock up on seasonal favorites.
The festival's popularity, however, comes with one challenge: traffic. Long lines of vehicles stretched off nearby highways and roads during recent weekends as thousands of visitors headed to the orchard. While staff members directed traffic and managed parking through an organized system, visitors may want to arrive early and allow extra travel time.
Between the pumpkin patches, hayrides, fresh cider and family-friendly activities, Soergel Orchards continues to be one of Western Pennsylvania's most popular fall destinations.
This story was produced by reporter Gabby Sartori, [gsartori@usatodayco.com], with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Soergel Orchards' Fall Festival brings family fun to Wexford
