Taves Family Farms Applebarn is one of my favourite places to visit for family-fun fall activities.
I am so happy that I managed to slip away from work for a few days to spend some quality time with the kids and do fun family activities mid-week, without the crowds.
I can honestly say that it was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.
No crowds mid-week meant: pedal Karts to ourselves, corn maze to ourselves, petting barn to ourselves, jumping pillow to ourselves, and so much space to physically distance on the hayride!
We picked apples, fed the bunnies, drank apple slushies, bought fudge and picked up a four pack of hard cider for an at-home tasting flight.
Did you know they have hard cider? I highly recommend the black current flavour.
Follow Melanie on Instagram for more fun-filled kids activities.
Be sure to check out our 2020 Pumpkin Patch Guide for Metro Vancouver and the Halloween Guide.
See our visit to Laity Pumpkin Patch in Maple Ridge.
Taves Applebarn COVID-19 Updates
We are impressed by the high level of COVID-19 measures in place at Taves to help keep guests and staff safe and healthy.
Taves Applebarn provides ample space on their 10+ acres family farm to allow social distancing. Participation limitations are in place for the various activities.
Masks are mandatory for all visitors over the age of 4. If you don’t have your own, a mask can be bought for $1 at the ticket booth or store.
There are numerous hand washing and sanitizing stations in key areas available throughout the farm.
A COVID-19 waiver needs to be filled out to enter the farm.
School group visits are not available.
Read about all the COVID-19 protocols implemented at the Taves Family Farms Applebarn before you go.
Taves Family Farms Applebarn
Celebrating 30 years, Taves Family Farms Applebarn is a real family affair.
Loren Taves, his wife Corinne, and their children operate the farms, growing produce on 60 acres including the 10 acres of orchards at the Applebarn which welcomes visitors in spring, summer and fall.
Farmer Loren Taves talked to us about how he got his start in farming.
Taves Applebarn celebrates 30 years with fun-filled fall activities including a Pumpkin Patch and a Corn Maze.
The History of Taves Family Farms
Farming has been a family tradition and it is now going into the fourth generation at Taves Family Farms Applebarn.
It started in the 1930s when Loren Taves’ great-grandfather, Opa John, purchased a plot of land in the southern Fraser Valley.
Loren Taves says, “In 1969, my father John Taves bought the farm on Gladwin Road when I was a one-year-old. I remember when I was growing up that he would clear the stumps with dynamite. My brother and I would pick up all the wood as we cleared the land.”
“We grew raspberries”, Taves continued. “My dad worked during the day as a school teacher and then he would work weekends on the farm. When I graduated from college I took over the farming.”
“We have always believed in having several eggs in our basket,” he explained. “We raised poultry, did some greenhousing, added gooseberries and red currents and then went to apples, pumpkins; and eventually making apple cider.
Even though the Taves’ are farmers, they wanted to make the farm experience a fun thing. They wanted people to be able to run through the corn maze, pick some apples, choose a pumpkin, go on a hayride, walk through the sunflower field and be able to pick up some farm-fresh produce.
The farm continues to grow and evolve and in the spring of 2020, Taves Estate Cidery opened its doors to offer many types of hard cider.
A map of the legendary fall activities at Taves Applebarn in Abbotsford.
Education at Taves Family Farms Applebarn
Corinne Taves, originally a teacher, provides the educational component to children and others visiting the farm.
The Taves family welcome people into the store to watch apples going through a washing machine, the grinder and getting pressed to make into the apple cider.
Old fashioned Greefa apple sorter on display at Taves Family Farms Applebarn. The apple sorter was built in the 1950s and was brought over from Holland in 1951.
Fun Fall Adventures at Taves Family Farms Applebarn
Taves Family Farms Applebarn, Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze
(about 50 minutes from Vancouver)
Activities: Pumpkin Patch, Slides, Zipline, bee hive viewing, cider press demonstrations, petting barn, Corn Quest Maze, pedal Karts, playground, Jumping Pillow and Pumpkin Pillow, apple and plum picking, Bunny Town, Farmville, tractor hayride on stand-by and pony rides. Pick up a locally grown pumpkin.
New this year, check out Taves Estate Cidery.
Check admission rates here.
Hours: Open September 5 through October 31.
Location: 333 Gladwin Rd, Abbotsford, BC
email: info@tavesfamilyfarms.com
Phone: 604-853-3108
Website: https://www.tavesfamilyfarms.com/rates/
Visit the pumpkin patch and corn maze at Taves Family Farms Applebarn in Abbotsford, BC.
Pedal Karts
Ride a pedal Kart. Fun fall activities on a visit to Taves Family Farms Applebarn in Abbotsford, BC
Petting Barn
Come see the adorable goats at Taves Family Farms petting barn.
Remember to wear your mask if you plan to get close to any of the animals and always wash and sanitize your hands after.
A friendly goat at the petting barn at Taves Family Farms Applebarn in Abbotsford, BC.
A toddler wears a mask to visit goats at the petting barn at Taves Family Farms Applebarn.
Tractor Hayride
The tractor hayride looks a little different this year due to COVID-19. Masks are mandatory and there are good social distancing in place so you can feel comfortable doing this activity.
Melanie Lomond and Wendy Nordvik-Carr hop on the Taves Family Farms Applebarn tractor hay ride for a fun-filled family activity.
Corn Maze
It is always an adventure to run through the corn maze.
Sunflower Patch
The Taves Family Farms Sunflower Patch is part of the Fraser Valley Sunflower Trail. The flowers are in full bloom in August and start to fade in the first weeks in September, depending on weather conditions.
Take a peaceful walk through three varieties of giant golden blooms.
Loren Taves discusses his love for his Sunflower Patch.
Farmer Loren Taves relaxes in the Taves Applebarn sunflower field near the end of the season last fall.
Celebrate fall harvest on the Taves Family Farms Applebarn in the Sunflower Patch.
Apple Picking in the Fall
Taves Family Farms grow eight different varieties of apples at two different locations, 270 Gladwin Road and 333 Gladwin Road in Abbotsford.
- September Wonder Fuji is very sweet and not that tart. The apple is crunchy and stores longer.
- Honeycrisp is sweet, crisp, juicy and delicious. We found our 25 lb bag of apples stored well for many weeks without being in the fridge.
- Ambrosia is a softer crunch apple with a sweet, pleasant flavour
- Gala apples have a gentle sweet taste and are crisp. Good for eating, baking or adding to a salad.
- Jonogold is a large apple good for eating or baking with a slight sweetness like honey.
- Spartan apples are small with a sweet flavour.
- Elstar is crunchy but not hard with yellowish flesh. Sweeter and juicier that a Golden Delicious.
- Sunrise is an early season apple. Its flavour is a balance of sharp and sweet while being fairly juicy and crisp. Store for up to one week in the fridge.
U-pick Rates
10 lbs for $16.
25 lbs for $35.
In October, the special is 50 lbs for $60.
Find out more about Taves’ apples here.
Apple picking at Taves Applebarn is one of the best fall activities for family fun.
Taves Estate Cidery
The Taves family has been making apple cider since 1991. For more than 10 years, their Apple Barn Cider has been available in local Fraser Valley stores.
Farmer Loren Taves opened the Taves Estate Cidery in 2020. The line of hard ciders he developed uses a blend of apples and berries they grow on the Taves family farm.
Taves Estate Cidery in Abbotsford Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
The Taves Estate Cidery offers the Barnyard Series and Estate Series. It is open from April through December.
Come in to the tasting room or order online for delivery or curbside pickup.
We picked up a four pack of hard cider on our visit to do an at-home tasting. We highly recommend the black current cider.
Taves Family Farms’ first tractor sits in front of Taves Estate Cidery tasting room. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Have you been here? Want to go or have other tips or comments. We'd love to hear from you.