Milburn Orchards
200+ acres just over the Maryland line — u-pick from June through fall, the BIG BackYard play area, hayrides, and the most underrated fall farm within 30 minutes of Wilmington.
The Quick Version
- • 200+ acre family-run farm just over the Maryland line, ~30 minutes from Wilmington. Family-owned since 1902 — currently the fourth generation working the land.
- • U-pick runs June through fall — cherries in early/mid June, then berries, peaches, apples, and pumpkins through October.
- • Fall Festival weekends are the marquee — hayrides, the BIG BackYard play area, barnyard, corn maze, pumpkin patch. Activity admission required on weekends. 2026 dates start Labor Day Weekend (official schedule still pending).
- • No outside food or picnics anywhere on the property — including parking lots, BIG BackYard, the Deck, and picking fields. Plan to eat from the market.
- • Budget 2-4 hours. The BIG BackYard alone will eat 90 minutes with a 4-year-old.
Best Ages
All ages, sweet spot 2-9
Plan For
2-4 hours
Adults
Free entry to market and grounds
Kids
Free entry to market and grounds
What to Expect
Milburn is what Linvilla would be if it were 30 minutes closer to Wilmington and quieter. A real working orchard, family-owned since 1902 and now in its fourth generation, with a Fall Festival operation that's serious without tipping into theme-park territory. The crowd is mostly families with kids under 10, and the place is built for them.
The Farm Market is the hub — produce, pies, the cider donut counter, fresh apple cider, jams, gifts. The BIG BackYard is the centerpiece for kids: a sprawling play area with slides, a giant jumping pillow, a corn-cob box, pedal tractors, tunnels, and the apple cannon. It's the kind of place where you sit on a hay bale with coffee and watch your kids disappear for an hour.
U-pick is the long arc. Cherries in early/mid June (the underrated highlight — almost no one knows about it). Berries late June into July. Peaches early July through August. Apples and pumpkins through October. You check in at the market, get a container, and either walk or take a hayride to the field. The cherry rows are particularly low-stress with toddlers.
Fall Festival weekends are the big draw. Hayrides to the pumpkin patch, the corn maze (kid-friendly, not haunted), the barnyard, the BIG BackYard at peak, and seasonal extras. The vibe is busy but well-organized — they've been doing this a long time.
The edge over Linvilla: closer, calmer, and the BIG BackYard is a stronger play asset than anything Linvilla has for under-7s. The edge Linvilla has: more u-pick variety on any given day and a bigger event slate. For most NCC families with little kids, Milburn is the better default.
Did You Know?
Milburn's cherry season opens the picking calendar — starting early-to-mid-June, well before most U-pick crops come in. The orchard was founded by Esma B. Milburn in 1902 and is now run by the fourth generation of the family.
Who It's Best For
Babies and toddlers: the barnyard, easy strawberry/cherry/blueberry picking, the toddler-scaled corners of the BIG BackYard. Preschoolers: pumpkin picking, hayrides, the slides and play structures, the corn maze. Elementary: u-pick, the maze, the apple cannon, hayrides, the bigger play structures. Tweens are less of a fit — the activity layer is squarely under-10. Multi-age groups thrive here because the play area is large enough to absorb a wide spread.
Highlights
BIG BackYard Play Area
Ages 2-9The signature kid asset. Slides, a giant jumping pillow, a corn-cob play box, pedal tractors, the apple cannon, tunnels. Will absorb a full hour of a 4-year-old's attention without effort.
Fall Festival & Pumpkin Patch
Ages 1-10Weekends mid-September through Halloween. Hayride to the pumpkin field, kid-friendly corn maze, full BIG BackYard, barnyard. Activity admission required.
U-Pick Cherries (Early/Mid June)
All agesThe underrated season — almost no one comes for cherries. Low rows, calm crowds, beautiful weather. The best u-pick visit of the year for a family with toddlers.
U-Pick Apples & Pumpkins
All agesMultiple apple varieties through fall. Hayride to the picking field on Fall Festival weekends. Pumpkin field opens late September.
Hayrides
All agesTractor-pulled hayrides to the picking fields during peak seasons. Short, kid-friendly, included in the activity pass on Fall Festival weekends.
Farm Market & Cider Donuts
All agesFarm Market with fresh produce, pies, jams, ice cream. Seasonal operation — Farm Market and BIG BackYard grand reopening June 5, 2026. The cider donuts are a real reason to come — buy a half dozen warm.
What to Skip with Little Ones
- • Saturday afternoons in October. The lot, the BIG BackYard, and the hayride line all peak between 1 and 3 PM.
- • Trying to do u-pick AND the full Fall Festival AND the corn maze in one visit with a toddler. Pick two — the BIG BackYard alone is a full visit.
- • The activity pass on a weekday during peak fall if you only want to visit the market and barnyard — many activities are available a la carte.
Logistics
Admission
Adults
Free entry to market and grounds
Kids
Free entry to market and grounds
Under
Free
Free entry. Fall Festival activity admission required on weekends mid-September through October (typically ~$15-20 per person, kids and adults, free under age 2). Covers hayrides, the BIG BackYard play area, the corn maze, and the barnyard. U-pick priced separately by container or weight. The activity pass is not required on weekdays — many activities run on weekdays for free or a la carte.
Membership tip: No membership program. Sign up for the email list — they send picking schedules and weather updates.
Getting There
Parking
Large free gravel lots on the property. Multiple lots used during Fall Festival weekends.
Saturday and Sunday afternoons in October fill up by 11 AM. Arrive at opening (typically 9 AM) or after 3 PM. Weekdays in October are dramatically less stressful — same farm, half the crowd, sometimes free activities. The drive from Wilmington is straight down I-95 to Rt 279 — easy.
Entrance
Main entrance off Appleton Rd into the Country Market. The BIG BackYard, hayride loading, and pumpkin patch are immediately past the market. Activity ticketing is at the entrance on Fall Festival weekends.
Parent Logistics
Mostly yes. The market and BIG BackYard play area paths are hard-packed or paved. The orchard rows and pumpkin field are dirt and grass — strollers work but bumpy. A wagon is the best tool. Many families bring their own; some are available on site during fall.
Permanent restrooms in the Country Market. Porta-potties scattered around the BIG BackYard and field areas during fall.
Changing table in the market restroom. Porta-potties are bare-bones.
Mixed. The BIG BackYard has shade structures and trees. The market area has some shade. U-pick fields are exposed. Bring hats, sunscreen, and water in summer and early fall.
Food & Snacks
Substantial. The Country Market sells fresh-baked pies, cider donuts (famous), apple cider, fresh produce, jams, and prepared foods including sandwiches and ice cream. Food trucks and BBQ during Fall Festival weekends. Plenty of picnic tables.
Snack strategy: Milburn does not allow outside food or picnics anywhere on the property — including the parking lots, BIG BackYard, the Deck, and picking fields. Plan to eat from the market. The cider donuts are excellent and a real reason to come. The ice cream counter is the move on a hot July day after berry picking. There's enough on site to feed a family on a fall weekend.
Pro Tips
- ✓ No outside food or picnics allowed anywhere on the property. Eat from the market.
- ✓ It's 30 minutes from downtown Wilmington — closer than Linvilla and dramatically calmer. The drive is straight down I-95.
- ✓ Cherry season in early/mid June is the secret. Almost no one goes. Beautiful weather, low rows, calm crowd.
- ✓ Weekday visits in October give you 90% of the fall fun at 30% of the crowd, and many activities are free or pay-as-you-go.
- ✓ Bring a wagon if you have one. The BIG BackYard plus a pumpkin haul plus a tired 3-year-old is a lot to carry.
- ✓ Cider donuts are best warm. Eat them on a bench by the BIG BackYard.
- ✓ Sign up for the email list. They send picking schedules a week ahead.
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings in fall to dodge the crowd. Cherry season (early/mid June) is the quietest u-pick and underrated. Weekday afternoons in summer for berries and peaches. Avoid Saturday afternoons in October — the lots overflow and the BIG BackYard lines are real.
Seasonal Notes
Cherries early/mid June. Berries late June into July. Peaches early July through August. Apples late August through October. Pumpkins September through October. Farm Market and BIG BackYard grand reopening June 5, 2026 — seasonal closures apply outside the active season. 2026 Fall Festival weekends start Labor Day Weekend (official dates/times still pending). Christmas trees and wreaths in late November and December. Confirm current hours on milburnorchards.com before driving over.
Rainy Day?
The market stays open and the cider donuts are a perfect rainy-day errand. The BIG BackYard and u-pick close in heavy rain — check Facebook the day-of before driving over. Light rain is workable for a short market visit.
While You're in the Area
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area is 10 minutes north — great pairing for a longer outdoor day. Elkton's downtown is 10 minutes south for lunch. If you're already this far south, Plumpton Park Zoo is 15 minutes west in Rising Sun. Wilmington families often pair Milburn with a stop at Janssen's or Brew HaHa in Greenville on the way home.