Plan a Family Trip to Julian for Apple Days

September in Julian signifies the beginning of fall, and that means trips to U-Pick apple orchards and the annual Apple Days Festival. What better way to kick off autumn—even if it’s sunny and 85 degrees—than a family day in Julian picking apples and enjoying the fresh mountain air?

We’ve got all the information you need to enjoy Julian’s annual Apple Days festivities.

Apple Days Festival

The Julian Apple Days Festival will be held on September 24th and 25th at Menghini Winery. Guests can enjoy live music performances, dancing, an antique tractor display, children’s games and activities, a wine and beer garden, gold panning demonstrations, local food and merchandise vendors, and of course, apple pie. The festival runs from morning to evening on both Saturday and Sunday.

U-Pick Orchard Visits

During the months of September and October, many orchards in Julian are open for U-Pick apple visits. Pick some apples with your kids and revel in their delight at eating apples they picked themselves!

Tips Before You Pick:

Go early in the season and call ahead to confirm that apples are still available for picking. Because Southern California has been hit with such a severe drought, many of the orchards are not able to stay open as long as in year’s past.

Don’t fret about picking tons of apples. Nearly all the orchards have pre-bagged apples available for purchase if you’d rather skip the picking.

Consult this list of U-Pick apple orchards. If you’re interested in picking pears, consider O’Dell’s Pear Orchard. Or, at MJ Ranch, you can pick both apples and pears.

Explore Downtown Julian

Once you’ve had your fill of apples and fall festival activities, walk down Main Street and enjoy the cute shops, bakeries, old-fashioned pictures, historic buildings, food, and more.

Sip a cup of apple cider at Julian Cider Mill.
Learn about Julian’s history at the Pioneer Museum.
Browse the quaint Old Julian Book House.
Visit the Julian Mining Company, a family-friendly establishment with plenty of kids’ activities such as petting zoo, fossil digs, apple and pumpkin picking, and toy tomahawk throwing.
Step into the Candied Apple Pastry Company which offers reasonably-priced pastries, sandwiches, tea, and coffee.
Visit the Miner’s Diner for kid-friendly food.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Get some exercise during your visit to Julian! The Julian area has numerous scenic hiking trails to choose from, ranging from easy to moderately strenuous. Just make sure you check the weather, as even the mountains have warm weather in September and October, and remember to pack water and sunscreen.

For a more relaxing outdoor activity, pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it at one of these picnic sites.

An Apple a Day…

We all know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, so get your family together for a day trip to Julian during Apple Days!

Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups’ physicians are experts in 29 medical specialties, including family medicine. Contact your Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups doctor today for more information.

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