Community, Family, and Church in the Amish Culture (2024)

By ALICIA DEMO • 07 Sep, 2023

The air is crisp, the leaves are changing, and everyone wants to get outside and enjoy the season. Fall is an important time in Amish Country as farmers get to reap the benefits of their hard work. Lucky for visitors to the area, there is always more apples, pumpkins, and fall fun to go around. Come to Berlin, Ohio to celebrate the harvest season with us. Farm Fresh Pumpkins and Apples If the changing leaves are the first fall image that comes to mind, then pumpkins and apples are certainly the second and third most iconic representations of fall. Pumpkins are perfect decorations whether you carve them into jack-o-lanterns or not. Apples are one of the most versatile fruits since they can be eaten whole, included in salads, or made into amazing desserts. Start a new fall tradition by going straight to the farm and into the fields to choose your pumpkins and apples. Hershberger’s Farm and Bakery is a fall treat for all your senses. See the fields full of produce. Smell the fresh baked goods. Hear the animals in the petting zoo. Touch and carry a heavy pumpkin. And, of course, taste the delicious food. Hershberger’s is an Ohio Amish Country establishment that should not be missed. They have already started harvesting pumpkins and making pies for 2023. Moreland Fruit Farm has different items available to pick yourself depending on the season. They start with strawberries in June and end with apples and pumpkins in the fall. If you want to see and experience the fields in a more relaxing way, enjoy a horse drawn wagon ride through the pumpkin fields. Ramseyer Farms has many types of pumpkins that you can pick yourself. This is a great place for specialty pumpkins such as white pumpkins, pie pumpkins, Cinderella pumpkins, and Fairytale pumpkins. They charge admission in September and October but that fee gives you access to 50 different activities. Try the country coaster, the chalk truck, the tractor pull, the rubber duck races, the giant rocking chair, and multiple mazes (see below). Hillcrest Orchard of Walnut Creek Ltd boasts 75 acres of orchards that grow 22 varieties of apples. Their store is open seasonally from August until March. Schedule time to sip their signature apple cider while enjoying views of Mud Valley from the deck. Corn Mazes If you love a challenge, then corn mazes are just the activity for you. These mazes may be temporary but that does not lessen the fun and excitement. Come back year after year for a new maze. Nickajack Farms grows 15 acres of tall corn each year just to create a maze. They are open every day from September 15 until October 31 for their Pumpkin Days Fall Festival. The event has been steadily growing for 19 years as the farm adds more and more activities. Enjoy the maze, hayrides, pony rides, peddle carts, pumpkin bowling, food trucks and more. Take the wagon grain out to the pumpkin fields to choose from 75 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and squash. Ramseyer Farms features two corn mazes each year. The Ohio Maze includes two miles of trails on eight acres but everything is labeled to help you find your way. The maze also boasts 275+ signs with information about the state, sports figures, famous Ohioans, and more. It is both fun and educational. The Mystery Maze is also two miles of trails on eight acres but it is a bit more challenging. Ramseyer recommends scheduling 30-60 minutes or more to complete the Mystery Maze. Looking for more maze fun? Ramseyer has a potato box maze, straw bale maze, rope maze, math maze, and mind bender maze. Events and Festivals Ohio’s Amish Country Quilt Festival – September 7-9, 2023 – The festival features classes and trunk shows, a vendor mall, quilt show, and quilt contest. Admission to the vendor mall and quilt show is free if you attend a paid class. Tuscarawas County Fair – September 18-24, 2023 – The week-long event has a jam-packed schedule of activities with rides, livestock events, and evening entertainment. Woosterfest – September 29-30, 2023 – The annual Oktoberfest-style festival is held in downtown Wooster. There is free entertainment, food vendors, a bier and winegarten, and hilarious activities for all ages. Do not miss the beer stein race, corn hole tournament, sausage toss, or wiener dog race.