The Apple Works is closed to the public for the 2026 season, so there are no fall festival weekends, pumpkin patch or farm market this fall. The family that runs the Trafalgar orchard announced the closure on the farm’s Facebook page on Aug. 8, 2026, and says it will post updates there as plans are made. The family also says it isn’t selling the orchard’s apples anywhere else and is taking care of the trees.
For apple picking and pumpkins while it’s closed, our guides to apple orchards near Indianapolis and pumpkin patches near Indianapolis list farms that are open.
In a regular season, The Apple Works is a family-run apple orchard and pumpkin patch in southern Johnson County, best known for its fall festival weekends, farm play areas, a country store and fall treats like apple cider slushies and apple dumplings. It is not a U-pick orchard. Our guide to fall activities in Indianapolis has more ideas for the season.
Where Is The Apple Works?
8157 S. 250 W., Trafalgar, IN 46181, in southern Johnson County. The farm’s ponds, wooded trails and treehouse make it a countryside stop as much as an orchard.
Fall Festival Weekends at The Apple Works
In a regular season, fall festival weekends run from late September through October. Activities have included:
- Apple Alley, with pre-bagged apples (no U-pick)
- Live music most Saturdays and Sundays
- Train rides on the Apple Express
- A petting zoo, with feed sold in the retail barn
- Face painting
- Wagon rides
- Food trucks and apple treats, including apple cider slushies, apple dumplings and ice cream
- A pumpkin patch
- Kids play areas: grain bin basketball, a ducky race, a corn crib pit, a hay bale mountain, a slide barn and a bamboo maze
- An artisan market
- Hiking trails and a treehouse
Family Fun at The Apple Works
Petting Zoo
The petting zoo has goats, chickens, peafowl, turkeys, a friendly donkey and alpacas. For other farms and parks where kids can meet animals, see our guide to animal encounters in Indiana.
Super Slide, Rope Barn and Zip Line
The farm-themed playground has a giant slide, a rope barn and a zip line.
The Apple Express, Pony Rides and Wagon Rides
During fall festival weekends, families can ride the Apple Express train to the pumpkin patch, take a pony ride or hop on a wagon ride.
Farm Market
In a regular year, the farm market at The Apple Works changes with the seasons. In early summer, expect strawberries, tomatoes and asparagus. By July, there are blackberries and blueberries, followed by sweet corn and melons in August.
In fall, apples take over: more than 60 varieties, starting with Honeycrisp and Jonamac around Labor Day. Classic favorites like Red and Yellow Delicious share the shelves with Jonagold, Fuji and Pink Lady, along with pumpkins, mums, winter squash and gourds later in the season.
Related Article: The 5 Best Apple Cider Donuts in Indianapolis
