They say the apple does not fall far from the tree. Around here, it may not even make it out of the orchard.
North Georgia turns that old saying into a full fall outing. The apples get you through the gate, but cider, the bakery, and a wagon ride can start tugging the day in different directions.
This family-run farm has been growing apples since the 1940s, and that tradition still shapes the season.
U-pick begins in September, while the weekend Jubilee carries the fun deeper into fall. Weekdays move at a gentler pace, but there is still plenty happening around the farm.
Come for the apples if you want. Just do not blame the tree when the rest of the day starts branching out.
Apple Picking Starts The 2026 Season On September 1
The simplest way to begin is with a bag and a row of apple trees.
Hillcrest Orchards opens its 2026 U-pick season on September 1. Visitors buy admission and a picking bag before entering the orchard, and apple availability changes as different varieties ripen through the season.
That timing matters more than a fixed shopping list. A variety available early in September may be finished later, while another can become ready as the month moves along.
The orchard keeps its U-pick trees small enough for younger pickers, which can make the experience easier for families with children who want to reach fruit themselves.
Weekday and weekend visits work differently. U-pick apples are available Monday through Friday during September and October, and weekend picking is part of the Apple Pickin’ Jubilee. November picking continues only while apples remain.
Start in the orchard if fresh fruit is the main reason for the drive. If a particular variety matters, check availability close to your visit rather than assuming it will still be on the trees.
You can also fill part of a U-pick bag inside the market when a variety you want is not available in the picking orchard.
The Farm Market And Bakery Stay Open Daily
The orchard does not require a full day of activities if you mainly want apples, cider, or something from the bakery.
Hillcrest’s farm market and gift shop are open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during September and October, then from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in November. No activity admission is required simply to shop in the market and bakery.
Inside, apples are sold from large bins, with customers able to mix varieties in several bag sizes. The market also carries local honey, jams, pickles, chow chow, apple butter, cider by the gallon, stone-ground cornmeal and grits, kitchen tools, and seasonal gifts.
The orchard sits at 9696 Hwy 52 E, Ellijay, GA 30536.
That location places it east of Ellijay on Highway 52, with Dawsonville farther to the east. Once you arrive, free parking is available on the farm.
Around midday, the question becomes how much of the property you actually want to explore. A market stop can stay quick, while an admission ticket opens the door to orchard activities and U-pick access.
Save a little room in the car if you plan to leave with apples, cider, and pantry goods at the same time.
Cider And Bakery Treats Can Take Over The Food Plan
Cold cider by the glass is available on weekdays, while cider by the gallon is sold in the market for the trip home.
The sweeter choices expand quickly from there. Hillcrest lists cider doughnuts, apple fritters, apple pies, caramel and candy apples, homemade fudge, soft-serve ice cream, cider slushies, and cider floats among its weekday treats.
Hot bakery items are made on site and can be paired with ice cream. That gives you an easy decision after apple picking: keep the visit centered on fruit, or turn the bakery counter into the next stop.
Weekend food service adds a larger lunch menu from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Burgers, hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken meals, steak tacos, fries, corn on the cob, funnel cakes, churros, boiled peanuts, lemonade, and sweet tea join the sweet items.
Let the day of the week decide how much food planning you need. A weekday trip works well for cider and bakery treats, while weekends offer enough savory choices to build lunch into the visit.
A cider slush makes sense on a warm September afternoon. When the air cools later in fall, an apple pie or fritter can take its place.
Wagon Rides Run Through The Orchard
A wagon ride gives you a way to see more of the farm without making the entire visit a walk.
Hillcrest includes wagon rides with both weekday and weekend activity admission. The route travels through the orchard and beside a pond, giving families another look at the property after time in the picking rows.
Weekday admission also includes the petting farm, playgrounds, giant slides, trike rides, jumping pillows, ball games, giant bubbles, and other farm activities.
The weekend Apple Pickin’ Jubilee expands that lineup considerably. Cow train rides, mini golf, an apple tree maze, duck races, additional play areas, and scheduled entertainment join the farm experience.
The wagon ride fits naturally between more active stops. Children can sit for a while, adults can take a break from walking, and the orchard remains part of the view.
For a shorter weekday visit, pair the wagon with apple picking and the market. On a Jubilee weekend, it can become one stop among many.
The ride also gives you a broader look at the orchard than you get while concentrating on individual trees during U-pick.
Pig Races Give The Schedule A Fixed Time
Some activities can happen whenever you reach them. Pig races are different.
During 2026 Jubilee weekends, races are scheduled for 12:30, 2:30, and 4:30 p.m. The program now also includes goat, duck, and chicken races.
Weekday visitors are not left out. Pig races are scheduled daily at 12:30 p.m. during the weekday activity season.
That makes the races one of the easiest parts of the visit to plan around. If you arrive close to midday, check the time before heading deep into the orchard or settling into a food line.
Other timed farm experiences appear on the schedule as well. Cow milking runs during designated hours, while weekend show times for clogging, bluegrass music, apple bobbing, and hula hoop contests are posted at the ticket booths.
The easier approach is to choose one or two timed activities rather than organizing every minute of the day around a schedule.
Pick apples first if the morning is cool. Grab food before a later race, or use the race as a natural break between the market and the rest of the farm.
Apple Pickin’ Jubilee Weekends Bring The Largest Activity Lineup
The 2026 Apple Pickin’ Jubilee runs on Saturdays and Sundays from September 5 through November 1.
Weekend admission includes U-pick access along with the broadest collection of activities on the farm.
The petting farm, pedal carts, wagon rides, cow train rides, giant bubbles, mini golf, duck races, playground areas, the apple tree maze, pig races, cow milking, and other attractions all operate as part of the Jubilee setup.
The petting farm includes animals such as chicks, goats, a calf, lambs, and rabbits.
Families can move between those animals and the more active play areas without leaving the farm.
The market and bakery remain open as part of the weekend visit, but you do not need Jubilee admission if shopping is your only goal.
Admission closes one hour before the farm itself closes, so a late-afternoon arrival gives you less time for the activities included with the ticket.
Weekends make the most sense when the attractions are as important as the apples. A weekday works better when you prefer a smaller activity lineup while still keeping U-pick, wagon rides, pig races, the market, and bakery available.
Choose based on what you actually want to do rather than assuming Saturday is automatically the better orchard day.
The Reece Family Has Been Growing Apples Here Since 1946
The orchard’s history begins with Hayward Reece, who started growing apples in 1946 after returning from World War II.
He married Ellen Weaver in 1951, and the family continued building the orchard over the decades that followed. Today, later generations remain involved in the operation, including the fourth generation of the family.
That history still connects directly with what visitors do during fall. Apples remain at the center of the farm, whether you are picking them from the trees, choosing varieties from the market bins, drinking cider, or ordering something from the bakery.
The season also gives you more than one way to experience the orchard. September begins with U-pick apples and warm-weather cider slushies. October brings the same fruit-growing focus alongside the full Jubilee schedule.
November continues with daily market hours and activities as the apple supply allows.
Let your priorities decide the date.
For a quieter orchard day, choose a weekday and build the visit around picking, a wagon ride, the 12:30 pig race, and bakery treats. For the fullest farm experience, use a Jubilee weekend and leave enough time to move between the activities before admission closes.
Either way, apples and cider remain the thread connecting the whole day.