Apple picking near Syracuse 2026: which orchards are open now, hours, prices and what is ripe

Apple picking near Syracuse is open as of Monday, September 7, 2026. Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in LaFayette is picking Ginger Gold and Paula Red, according to a schedule the orchard updated September 3. Abbott Farms in Baldwinsville has had pick-your-own apples open since August 17 and lists six varieties. Deer Run Farms Orchard in LaFayette opens Friday, September 11. Critz Farms in Cazenovia starts apple picking Saturday, September 12.

CNY Signal read each orchard’s own website today rather than repeating last year’s listings. Where a site does not state a price, a variety or an hour, the table says “not listed.” Conditions change weekly, so an orchard’s own date stamp beats anything printed here.

Which orchards near Syracuse are picking apples right now?

Reeves Farms in Baldwinsville lists no apple picking; its site says its berry fields are closed for the season.

What does pick-your-own cost in 2026?

Beak & Skiff charges by weight and by day. Ten pounds of McIntosh picked on a Tuesday costs $12.00; the same ten pounds on a Saturday costs $16.00. Ten pounds of Honeycrisp or SnapDragon costs $27.50 any day. Admission, parking and the wagon ride are free, and the last wagon leaves at 5 pm.

Critz Farms sells by volume, one price for every variety: $6 a quarter peck, $9 a half peck, $16 a peck, $28 a half bushel. The bigger question at Critz is which day you go. Weekdays carry no admission fee to pick. On Saturdays and Sundays from September 12 through October 25, every visitor needs a $10 Fall Harvest Celebration ticket for a 10 am to 2 pm or 2 pm to 5 pm arrival slot, and the farm says nobody can come on a weekend just to pick. A family of four or more in one vehicle pays $40.

Abbott Farms says no Fall Festival wristband is needed to pick apples or visit the pumpkin patch; the wristband covers the Farm Yard Funzone for ages 3 and up, and neither its price nor the per-bag apple price is posted. Owen Orchards sells by the pound without posting a rate.

What is ripe now and what comes next at Beak & Skiff?

The picking schedule, stamped “Updated Sep 3 at 9:28 am,” lists these windows for the rest of the season:

– Now picking: Ginger Gold, Paula Red (both also sold in the Apple Barn)
– Early September: Sweet Maia, Jonamac; early to mid September: McIntosh
– Mid September: Gala (already in the Apple Barn), Honeycrisp, SnapDragon
– Late September: Cortland, Macoun
– October: Empire (early), Red Delicious (early to mid), Fuji and RubyFrost (mid), Jonagold, Northern Spy, Golden Delicious and Ida Red (late)
– Early November: Pink Lady, Evercrisp

The orchard’s FAQ says Honeycrisp timing “is highly dependent on the weather” and is typically mid September.

One address note. The visitor address is 2708 Lords Hill Road. New York State Liquor Authority records show Beak & Skiff Apple Farms Inc holds a Class A-1 farm micro-distillery licence, issued August 24, 2026, at 4473 Cherry Valley Turnpike in LaFayette, the address tied to its 1911 Established spirits business.

When is the LaFayette Apple Festival?

The 53rd LaFayette Apple Festival runs Saturday, October 10, 9 am to 6 pm, and Sunday, October 11, 9 am to 5 pm, at 2444 Tully Farms Road in LaFayette. An apple pancake breakfast starts at 7 am both days. The apple pie baking contest is Friday, October 9, with entries taken at the Red Apple Barn from 3 pm to 6 pm and judging at 6:15 pm.

As of September 7 the tickets page says “Ticket sales, prices, and dates will be announced at a later time.” The policies page says tickets can be bought at the door with cash or card. On-site parking is free with a free shuttle to the gate; unaffiliated paid lots across Route 20 have no shuttle. No pets, service animals only. Deer Run Farms Orchard is on Route 11A a block north of the festival grounds.

Before you drive: what the orchard sites do not say

– Beak & Skiff’s separate “Pick Your Own Apples” page still says picking “has ended FOR the 2024 SEASON.” The picking schedule page, updated September 3, is the one being maintained.
– Owen Orchards’ U-pick page says “closed for the season until August,” and its store page still refers to the 2025 season. Phone: 315-252-4097.
– Navarino’s apple schedule is a set of graphics labeled tentative, with no update date.
– Deer Run promises a variety list “as of 9/11/26” but had posted none on September 7.
– None of the six sites says anything about this summer’s weather or crop size, so this guide does not either.