Pumpkins, Apples & Flowers in the Brainerd Lakes Area | Fall 2026
September 18, 2026
Where to Find Pumpkins, Apples & Flowers in the Brainerd Lakes Area
Fall in the Brainerd Lakes Area comes with crisp mornings, colorful trees and every excuse to stop for a bag of apples, a porch full of pumpkins or a freshly picked bouquet.
Whether you’re planning a full day of family fun or simply want to add a little local fall color to your vacation rental, the Brainerd Lakes Area is filled with farms, orchards, flower stands and seasonal pop-ups worth exploring. Grab your coziest sweater, order something pumpkin-spiced for the drive and get ready to enjoy fall Up North!
If your perfect fall outing includes flowers, apples and pumpkins, Country Sunshine is a great place to start.
This family-owned Brainerd farm and greenhouse is known for its beautiful specialty-cut flowers, with blooms grown and harvested throughout the season. Depending on availability, visitors can find fresh bouquets, cut-your-own flowers, apples, pumpkins, gourds, mums, fall planters and seasonal décor.
Country Sunshine also offers goat milk products and occasional farm experiences and workshops—making this an especially fun stop for anyone who wants a little more than the standard pumpkin run.
Best for: Flowers, pumpkins, apples and fall porch décor
Location: 2911 145th Avenue, Brainerd
For an apple-picking adventure with a side of family fun, head east to Gilby’s Orchard in Aitkin.
Gilby’s began with 300 apple trees and has grown to more than 1,300 trees featuring a wide variety of apples. During its fall season, the orchard traditionally offers activities such as tractor rides, a hay-bale playground, a scavenger hunt, a corn maze and pumpkins.
It’s a bit of a drive from the heart of the Brainerd Lakes Area, but it makes an easy fall day trip—especially when the route is lined with changing leaves.
Best for: Apples, pumpkins and family-friendly fall activities
Location: 30069 State Highway 210, Aitkin
One of the newest additions to the Brainerd Lakes Area’s fall farm scene, The Crafted Orchard & More is a family-owned orchard and agritourism destination located on more than 35 acres in Brainerd.
The farm is home to approximately 1,400 apple trees, along with strawberries and pumpkins. U-pick apples are expected to begin as the orchard matures, while seasonal farm-stand dates, pumpkin availability and special events are announced throughout the year.
Because this is a growing orchard with offerings that vary by harvest, check its website or social media before visiting. You may just get to say you discovered a new local favorite before everyone else!
Best for: Apples, pumpkins, farm-stand finds and watching a new local orchard grow
Location: Brainerd
Add a little locally grown color to your fall adventures at Irondale Acres Flower Farm.
Located in Ironton, just outside Crosby and the Cuyuna Lakes area, this family-run farm grows unique specialty flowers from seed to stem. Its seasonal offerings include fresh bouquets, a flower stand, occasional U-pick opportunities, bouquet subscriptions and flowers for weddings and special events.
You can also find Irondale Acres at the Cuyuna Range Farmers Market on Saturdays from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. through early October—perfect for pairing with a fall bike ride, hike or afternoon exploring Crosby.
Best for: Locally grown bouquets, U-pick flowers and Cuyuna Country day trips
Location: Ironton and the Cuyuna Range Farmers Market
If fresh flowers and honor-system farm stands are your love language, make your way to Petal + Posy in Pine River.
This local flower farm keeps its self-serve stand stocked with freshly arranged bouquets throughout the growing season. It’s an easy, cheerful stop on your way through Pine River—or a lovely addition to an apple-picking trip at nearby Red Barn Orchard.
Availability changes with the season, so check Petal + Posy’s social media for current flower-stand updates before heading out.
Best for: Self-serve bouquets and an easy flower stop near Pine River
Location: Pine River
Flowers are even more fun when they arrive in a vintage Volkswagen bus.
The Bloom Bus is a family-owned mobile flower business that combines a love for blooms, creativity and vintage vehicles. The bus makes appearances at pop-ups and seasonal events, offering a uniquely charming way to shop for flowers—and a pretty adorable photo opportunity along the way.
Because The Bloom Bus travels to different events and locations, check its upcoming schedule before making plans. If it happens to be popping up nearby during your fall getaway, it’s well worth adding to your itinerary.
Best for: Fresh flowers, seasonal pop-ups and a picture-perfect shopping experience
Location: Mobile—check the current event schedule
For pumpkins, fall décor, and plenty of family fun in one stop, head to Copper Creek Fall Festival Days in Nisswa.
Copper Creek transforms its garden center and grounds into a pumpkin patch-like fall destination filled with pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, mums, fall flowers, seasonal home décor, and plenty of inspiration for giving your home or cabin an autumn refresh.
The festival offers much more than shopping. Families can explore the interactive maze, corn pit, mini hay maze, giant slide, bounce houses, hay-bale playground, yard games, and photo stations featuring Copper Creek’s signature painted hay bales. Saturdays include Touch-a-Truck activities, while Sundays feature the Cedar Acres Petting Zoo. Food trucks and additional activities make it easy to spend a full fall afternoon here.
Best for: Pumpkins, fall flowers, seasonal décor, family activities and festive photo opportunities
Location: 24735 Highway 371, Nisswa
2026 dates: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, September 18–October 31, plus additional days during MEA weekend
Activities may vary by day and weather. Visit Copper Creek’s website for current hours, admission information and the latest festival schedule.
Want pumpkins with a little extra celebration? Add Brainerd’s Great Pumpkin Festival to your fall calendar.
The 2026 festival is planned for Saturday, October 3, from 1–4 p.m. at Memorial Park. The event typically includes family-friendly activities and pumpkins supplied by Boys-N-Berries Farm, with pumpkin sales supporting the Brainerd High School band.
It’s a fun way to pick out a pumpkin while enjoying an afternoon in the community.
Best for: Families, community fun and supporting a local cause
Location: Memorial Park, Brainerd
Date: October 3, 2026
Fall crops and flowers follow Mother Nature’s schedule—not ours. Apple varieties, bouquet availability, pumpkin inventory, U-pick opportunities and farm hours can change quickly throughout the season. Always check each business’s website or social media before heading out.
Before heading out:
Find the whole list of local festivals and fun on our 2026 Brainerd Lakes Area Fall Events Guide.
A farm stop is even better when it’s part of a full fall weekend Up North. Spend the day hunting for pumpkins, filling a basket with Minnesota apples and choosing a bouquet for the cabin. Then head back to your vacation rental for a cozy evening by the fire, a soak in the hot tub or a round of caramel apples with the family.
The summer crowds may be gone, but the Brainerd Lakes Area still has plenty waiting for you.
Ready to plan your fall escape? Browse Book the B.L.A. vacation rentals and find your cozy home base for an autumn weekend in the Lakes Area.
Farm hours, activities, and seasonal inventory are subject to change. We recommend checking directly with each destination before visiting.
