A nice alternative to some of the bigger and more popular orchards around St. Louis and across the river in Illinois, Braeutgam Orchards is definitely a place you'll want to visit in the Fall for your annual pumpkin and apple picking traditions. Crowds were manageable and any line we stood in (whether it was for the tractor to take us to the orchard or in the bakery to buy goods) didn't take long to go through. Loved that there was no additional fee to ride the tractors to the orchards. The one downside is that while there is a bakery, there is no food stall to buy lunch or snacks like chips or hot dogs. If you plan on spending a portion of your day there, you'll want to be sure to bring a cooler with food. We made the mistake of assuming there would be things to buy for lunch and we left starving after snacking on a couple of apple cider donuts. read more

See all

What a great place to take the kids. Apple picking, pumpkin patch, feeding the animals and eating at the food truck to wrap up the Saturday. The staff were nice and friendly. The wagon ride drivers were nice and did stop the wagon when requested by one of the guest since a kid drop his water bottle. For next year. I would definitely come earlier in the apple picking season. read more

See all

My first time visit went great. Tractor ride to pumpkin field and apple picking are free. Pay when you get off the tractor at the end. Lots of pumpkins but it was hard to find any good apples left. I'll have to make sure to go earlier next year! They have a bakery and the pumpkin donut is great! read more

See all

Very small family run orchard. I had a good time because it was my first visit, I knew it was a small business and the weather was beautiful. How can you not enjoy being out in nature on a beautiful day. I purchased some fruit, honey and syrup at the market. I purchased a blueberry donut at the donut shop and it was magnificent! They have animals! I saw the turkey, chicken, pigs, goats and rabbit. They sell food for the chicken in the market. Fifty cents a cup. I think small children would love this place. I had a good time! read more

See all

Fewer bells and whistles than the bigger operation down the road, but more of a small family-owned feel and a tad less crowded during busy fall pumpkin and apple weekends. Our kids enjoy the tractor rides out to the pumpkin patch and the farm animals, and the playground is great! Lots of room to run and play, even amongst a crowd. Recommend the apple cider and slushies! read more

See all

Had a really solid experience with Braeutigam orchards. If you are looking for a small business/family run feel this is the spot for you. It is quite literally located on a family farm. There is a house on premises(not sure if anyone lives there). They have lots to do for all ages. A bakery, mini market, games, and some wildlife are all centrally located. You take a short hayride to the orchards where you can pick both apples and pumpkins. They have a diverse selection of apples, but it seems they were running thin on a few varieties, Namely the granny smith apples. This is a consequence of being a small business, it can be difficult to keep up with high demand. Their market and bakery both had great selections of homemade, hand crafted, and fresh baked goods. All of the workers were very nice and helpful. The only problem I encountered was parking. Once again, a consequence of the small, family run model. Parking was just some grass fields so it was a bit of a free for all. And, given that, people park chaotically causing inefficiency and people getting blocked in. All in all, I definitely recommend braeutigam to the larger, commercialized orchards in the area. Despite a few of the logistical inefficiencies that come with high demand for a small, family business, I will take that everyday of the week to a commercialized 'touristy' experience. read more

See all

It's a really lovely place with plenty of food and delicious apple cider donuts. The woman weighing our pumpkins was putting her thumb on the scale, so keep an eye out when it's time to pay... read more

Whenever fall hits I'm always ready to go to orchards and pumpkin patches. I've been to a half dozen in the St. Louis area, both on the IL and the MO side. I ended up coming to Braeutigam Orchards with my children's preschool. It was a nice small family business. There is a small farm shop with donuts, cider, and some vegetables throughout the year. We went a bit later in the year so the pumpkins were somewhat picked over. The kids still enjoyed the trip though. They got a small pumpkin, some cider, and then run of the playground. They also go to meet some animals on the farm. It was a decent experience for a school trip, but I don't think I'd go out of my way to visit the location for a family outing. read more

This is a small farm compared to the one down the road. There's not much to do and the variety of veggies is limited. They have a small shop that sells what I'm assuming is only doughnuts because that last 3 times I've been there the doors are locked. The other building is where you walk in to buy veggies, jams, honey and apple cider. The pricing is about that of an actual market if not a tad more but I'm guessing you're paying for the farm fresh aesthetics. Restrooms are port a John's aka port a potty's and the wash stations are the foot pedal but paper towel holders were empty so air dry or use your clothing. Animals are very few in small cages and don't seem very active. You can feed them but you have to pay $2 I believe it is per small cup like the very small mouthwash cup size. Another thing, is the customer service. Each time I've been in the women at the registers and the girls who help restock all seem very snooty and unwelcoming to visitors. It's like they stare at you like ugh another customer and then they check your items out like just give me your money, get out and next. Lord forbid if you ask a question! I was paying for an apple cider gallon but my hands were full so I told the lady to charge me for it, well can you go get it.. I told her just charge me and I'll grab it in a min, can you go get it now I need you to go get it! Good lord, let me drop everything to go grab it now! Like she had no smile, no welcome, no pleasantries about the visit, no kindness to her at all. Then after I pay she didn't say thank you, no receipt was offered or anything so I asked her for my receipt and she said it got emailed to you next! People are literally going out of their way to shop & visit your small establishment. They should be more courteous to the visitors and not treat them like just another dollar amount in then push them out quickly! Even at the bigger place down the road (Eckerts) as busy as they are, are much nicer, welcoming and ask how your visit was and have much more going on for guest. In fact, after writing this review Ive decided that we're not going to visit this establishment again. 1 time maybe it's me, 2nd time let them redeem from the 1st, 3rd time I'm over the unpleasantries! read more

Braeutigam Orchards - Photo from parking spot - Farmers Market Near Me - Belleville, Illinois

See all

WONDERFUL!! Not too crowded especially for a Saturday afternoon. Great pumpkin picking patch. We found two pumpkins that worked for what we were looking for and there was plenty more to choose from. Also, their bakery and their apple cider donuts were fantastic! I also got some mums which have turned out quite nicely. Such a fun atmosphere and all the staff and even other customers were nice. read more

This orchard is a hidden gem! My first visit was during their annual pumpkin fest, and it did not disappoint. I have returned in October for the past two years and will try to make it an annual tradition. For pumpkin and apple picking, it's free to enter and a free tractor ride to the farm area. The farm is beautiful with pretty views, lake included. They have cute areas set up for photo ops, the best hot and frozen apple cider, and the most delicious apple cider donuts. This place has a family feel and doesn't feel overly commercialized. read more

See all

Soo many good reviews, I will probably be attacked for this review but here it goes.... Braeutigam is a very small cute farm but there are some pros and cons. Let's start with the cons...the farm gave me scary movie vibes. Especially in the kids area where they have baby dolls that are really dirty, looks like they were straight out of a horror movie. Their restroom is a porta john that is filthy! We were there at 10am and I needed to go to the restroom so bad. I didn't know they didn't have actual restrooms since I've never been here before. But the John's were not cleaned at all. It is near impossible that so many people took craps and pees that early in the day. I lifted the lid and thought I was going to pass out. I didn't even want to pee in it because I was afraid someone's nastiness would splash up on me. Yes, that's how full those nasty John's were. Just flipping' disgusting. I probably should of not drank a coffee before coming here lol. I would of been better off peeing outside but of course that wasn't humane with kids and parents all over the place. Pros, you get to feed the animals and apple cider is good. The donuts...not sure what people rave about them, they're not as good as everyone talks about. But again, I'm not a donut fan. That's it for me. I will stick to Eckerts. read more

Braeutigam Orchards - Farmers Market Near Me - Belleville, Illinois

After finding out this year the orchard I've been going to for decades was not going to do pick-your-own apples this year, I searched around online for local orchards that offered Empire and Winesap apples. These are older varieties and not a lot of orchards offer them anymore (which is a shame because Empire apples are THE BEST sweet/sour apple around). After Googling "orchards with Empire apples" I came across Braeutigam Orchards. I love the family history they have on their website and was super excited to see they not only offer pick-your-own Empire apples, but they also use them to make their apple cider and slushees! They also list each type of apple the orchard has and the time of month they ripen, which is really helpful. While it's a 37-minute drive from my home in Shrewsbury, my sister and I had a nice car trip on the way there with little-to-no traffic on a Thursday late afternoon/early evening. The farm itself is lovely! I appreciated the signs asking patrons to please wear masks when you first walk up to their storefront. There are bags you can grab for pick-your-own apples, or if you prefer there are pre-picked apples and veggies available for purchase. A bright orange tractor carts patrons to and from the apple orchard and pumpkin fields. I talked to the driver and told him how excited I was about the Empire apples, and he made sure to point out the trees with those apples and dropped us off in the correct section. Very kind! My sister and I had a blast getting the apples down from the tops of the trees and seeing all the different shapes. A quick rub on my jeans, and these apples have an incredible shine! And that first bite... crisp, sweet and sour goodness! We filled our bags and made our way back to the storefront where we picked up some cider, freshly-made apple cider donuts, and goat feed (they have goats, pigs, chickens, and cows you can pet and feed!). The donuts are SO delicious. Our containers had steam in them because the donuts were so hot and fresh! They were soft, moist, dusted in sugar, and oh so flavorful! Be sure to check out the farm animals too. Their goats are adorable and fun to watch frolicking around. Feeding them is hit or miss depending on how hungry they are. Their pigs are so adorable too! They were happily oinking and wagging their tails before heading for a mud bath. Overall, I'm so glad I found Braeutigam Orchards, and I will be coming back many more times in the future. Thanks so much, Braeutigam Orchards Family, for a wonderful experience! read more

The directions once you turn off the main hwy are very easy to follow (if you lose your GPS signal) since they have signs placed every quarter mile or so letting you know where to turn or to reassure you that you are headed the correct direction. The parking lot is well-designated with plenty of spots on their gravel/grass fields. Plan to bring your sun shield, bc there is no shade! There is a reminder sign before exiting the parking lot letting everyone know that masks are required. The only time we did not see people masked up was when they were eating the apple slushies they had just ordered from the shop. They have a variety of fresh veggies and fruits, local honey, jams and jellies. They have a refrigerator filled with various sizes of apple cider. The checkout for the apple pickers is the same checkout for people in the store. The lines do get a little long if you happen to check out when the wagon comes back from the orchard. After seeing so many people drinking the apples slushies, we had to get some for ourselves. You can get a small dixie cup size for $1 and a larger option for $3. Absolutely a must order! Frozen, refreshing, like biting into a frozen apple. They have 6 and 12 pks of apples cider donuts at the register. They had just run out of the 6pk option, so when we inquired, the owner grabbed us a fresh box from behind the counter somewhere. Interacting with the 7th generation owner was a great experience. Outside the shop, they have a few tables for eating (separated for safety). We did not pick apples, but the wagons were coming to pickup people very regularly. There is no cost to take a wagon ride to pick your own apples. Near the wagon area they have chickens and turkeys to look at and feed. Closer to the parking lot, they have a larger penned in area where you can pet and feed goats, pigs, and cows. read more

See all

Eckert's is getting too expensive, so we came here instead. The family had fun, looking at animals, picking apples, and eating doughnuts and cider. That said, the execution could be better. A guy told us that certain ribbons marked certain types of apple trees, but it was hard to remember. Maybe they could print some handouts with the information. Also, it was hard to find apples that weren't bruised or partially eaten by insects, though we eventually found enough. Overall, pretty good, but room for improvement. read more

The leaves in St. Louis are finally starting to change, and it has me feeling incredibly festive! I love everything fall. From the spookiness of Halloween to the crunch of fallen leaves as you walk through Soulard, it's my favorite season. Being the first year in our new house, and the first time I've ever had a porch to decorate, I was super excited to visit Braeutigam Orchards. Thankfully my boyfriend was there to temper my excitement, or else our small Soulard home would have looked like I bought the entire Orchard! The Orchard is just south of the city on route 55. It was a very short trip for us to get there, and is not far from the exit. I was very pleased at how easy it was to get to. Upon arriving, you're directed to grass parking behind the main nurseries. While we didn't go into the fields to pick our own pumpkin, the selection inside the main store area was incredible! I really wanted a white pumpkin, which are oddly popular in our neighborhood. I was happy to find they had so many to pick from. The selection of all pumpkins appeared to be arranged by size throughout the store. They had everything you might want from extremely large pumpkins to tiny table top pumpkins. The store was beautifully decorated in fall decor that really got me excited to rush home and put the decorations up in our house. I was pleased with the prices at the Orchard. We left with a corn stalk, three large pumpkins, a bale of hay, and an assortment of decorative gourds for just under $50. Had we gotten similar items at a grocery story we definitely would have paid more. *AN ASIDE* How cool are decorative gourds? Like what are their true purpose in life? That's an actual question. Because like. They don't look appetizing. I don't want to slice up one of the bumpy yellow and green gourds for a soup or salad. No thanks. But when you put them with some flowers on a dinner table **BOOM** they are transformed from a warty toad to a group of handsome princes! I have always yearned to have a big dining room table to decorate with gourds. If you have not incorporated gourds into your overall autumn decor vision, you're doing yourself a massive disservice. Go to Braeutigam's and spruce your table up with some gorgeous gourds!!!! read more

See all

Had an enjoyable weekend afternoon with friends at Braeutigam Orchards. We started by riding a tractor to the fields where we were able to pick pumpkins to bring home. We then went to their bakery and enjoyed some apple cider as well as apple cider donuts. The cider was warm and delicious. The donuts were ok, but I've had better apple cider donuts at similar establishments in the past. The staff were all friendly and eager to help. This is a smaller but decent alternative to Eckert's if you want to avoid the busyness and large crowds at Eckert's. read more

Braeutigam Orchards - apple cider donuts - Farmers Market Near Me - Belleville, Illinois

A smaller, family run business. We came here because it showed up that the other, bigger jam, was closed. We drove by them and they weren't, but thought we would stick to going to Braeutigam and I'm glad we did!! I loved being able to help a small business. My best way to describe them was they were small enough to care, but big enough to still do everything the other could have done. Help smaller businesses like this one! read more

It's a great outdoor option! We came here for apples and pumpkins. They had hand sanitizer and washing stations. My kids love the apple cider donuts and have fun playing with the animals. People seemed to do their best to wear masks and space apart. Definitely a fun thing to do with the family. Also, it is nice that there is no field access fee. read more

We went here on a trip back to my hometown as the admission at the popular orchard in town is $15 per person on the weekends. Braeutigam is free admission and cheaper apples. Upon arrival we grabbed some bags and got on the wagon heading out to the field. There were 5 different types of apples available which the staff showed you were to find each. We got several bags full, picked out a pumpkin, and got in line to head back. Upon arrival, they also had tomato picking where we found the best yellow cherry tomato ever! My mom picked out some small pumpkins and gourds for a fall display as well. I love animals so bought some feed for the chickens, cows, and goats but they were already full for the day. Lastly we tried the apple cider doughnuts which were hot and fresh. We had a good few hours of family fun! read more

I cannot believe that this is not on Yelp yet! Braeutigam Orchards is down the road from the more touristy commercial circus also known as Eckert's. Similar in concept, this orchard can be found further east off of Route 15 through some back country lanes. Maybe that's why it's less popular; it's harder to find even though the signage is plentiful. Less commercial in nature, Braeutigam Orchards boasts a children's "farm village", farm animals (including cows, pigs, chickens, goats, and rabbits), tractor wagons, and of course, orchards and fields of fresh produce. It does not have a restaurant, custard, or even an extensive country store. Geared toward children groups and families, Braeutigam Orchards runs like clockwork. I accompanied a friend, her child, and their daycare group for a field trip. Kids are first introduced to the "farm village" where they are encouraged to explore what a farm really is, all in kiddie form. Petting and feeding animals are available. Sooner or later, one of the owners comes and takes the kids to feed the cows and maybe the pigs. The trip is then rounded out by a tractor wagon pull to the orchards for picking either peaches, apples, or pumpkins, depending on the season along with some apple cider at the end. Their website is excellent for telling customers what is currently in season. Better yet, in store, they have several varieties of produce, accompanied by suggestions on what to use them for. My recent visit showed apples for baking vs. making butter vs. eating. That makes shopping easy! Most of the field trip was rained out. Staff members tried to accommodate us the best they could and actually asked if the group would like to re-schedule, which the day care staff declined. I'd like to check this place out again on a better day. read more

Braeutigam Orchards - From website - Farmers Market Near Me - Belleville, Illinois

Absolutely love being able to come and enjoy a full day of pickin' and relaxing. The only downside is the cost of the pumpkins. For a medium size pumpkin, it was $23. I'm all about staying local and helping out, but when you can get a jumbo pumpkin for $6.99 from an Illinois Amish Community, it's hard to buy a $23 pumpkin that isn't half the size. On the plus side, you aren't require to buy anything to come out and enjoy the farm and tractor ride. We we're just in shock and awe of the price for the pumpkins. Still love the place and staff, truly a gem of a farm. read more

This a great place to bring the kids. We are picking pumpkins with Kenlee and Riley today. read more

Braeutigam Orchards - Farmers Market Near Me - Belleville, Illinois

See all

This HAS to be one of the best kept secrets in the Apple Orchard world!! I'm almost afraid to post this review because i want to keep the cheerful friendliness of Braeutigams to myself. Tucked away on a little side road about a mile down the way from a huge theme park type orchard is a 7th generation family run farm. Perfect for adults and children, THIS orchard makes the connection between the land and family. It is hard to not get swept up in the cheery smiles and laughter that pervades every inch of it. From the tiny bakery with Mom cooking in the back, to the apple barn / museum, it brings you to a time and place long forgotten in the corporate farming world. You will be impressed by it all. The highlights were the AMAZING apple cider doughnuts fresh out of the kitchen. The From scratch pumpkin, apple and blueberry pies. And then there are the animals.... Which you can get up close and personal with ( for NO cost, I may add). Feed is there for you to use, and learning experiences are plenty. We got to talk to a turkey, hold the chicks, see the fresh laid eggs come out, wander through the pig cage, and walk the lake trail to help fetch the cows. Where else can you do all that!? There is even more beyond that once you start on a pumpkin and apple picking journey. The hayride to and from the multiple pumpkin patches is great (and also FREE), and picking what you like is wide open. No goofy restrictions on what you can pick or where you can go. Braeutigam Orchards is a DO NOT MISS place when visiting St. Louis. Trust me, I already want to back to be greeted by that friendly family, and their very addictive doughnuts. read more

See all

This is a really fun place. Everything is priced fair. Not too expensive and plenty of free options. The staff is friendly and they have plenty of things to do for the kids. This is my go-to spot for pumpkins and as long as I live in this area I will be coming here. read more

This local place is so friendly and kind. They have excellent options at the bakery and their slushes are to die for. I would come here every day if I could. They also have many selections of fruit and vegetables. read more

I used to love this place because it was so family friendly and smaller than the commercialized eckert's. This place is now way too crowded; way too many people. read more

Best farm for Toddlers. Nice to see happy healthy animals and the staff are wonderful and engaging with the little ones. Ask when they're feeding so your kiddos can help. We love the play area! read more

I could go on and on, but I don't have to. Read this well, APPLE CIDER DONUTS! That's all I need to say.

Best place to get unique pumpkins and for cheap! This is much more of a mom and pop/down-to-earth orchard than others in the area. It is never overly crowded either. read more

I love me some fall frolicking on the farm. We visited to pick apples and we were delighted by our expereience here! It's another mile down the road from Eckert's and you have to drive to the back of a neighborhood and then a little farther to find it, but it's worth it! It's a much much smaller operation, but that's what makes it great! There's a small house on the side that has baked goods - including APPLE CIDER DONUTS! They did hint that they were made from a mix, but they are at least made on site. Then, there's barn. Head through there to pick up the hay bale shuttle out to where they are currently picking. They have apple picker poles available out in the orchard for people's use. I was concerned to see how many trees looking like they weren't picked soon enough and were just raining their fruit onto the ground, but I'm not an expert. You can also pick tomatoes when they are in season and peppers. If you like peppers, pick your own. I got a bag full of peppers for $2.00. No joke. So then you take a ride back to the barn and pay for your wares. There are chickens running amok, a few pigs you can look at, some goats to feed, and port-o-potties in case nature calls. They also have Cider Slushies. Genius. They just pour the cider in a slushie machine. I personally would have added some buttershots or something, but maybe I have a problem. Anyway, this is a great, fantastic, family farm that you should visit if you like anything at all about fall. read more

Great family farm. Very small but a welcome change from Eckerts. Adorable playground and animal area that are free. I've heard with school field trips it gets too packed. We were fortunate enough to have the ace to ourselves. Played for hours. I wish they sold coffee , cold cider just doesn't do it for me! Other than that it was great read more

Hands down, the best Orchard in the STL area. Not commercialized at all, super friendly, lots of stuff for the kiddo's, yummy apple cider donuts fresh from the bakery, as good as it gets. read more

After recently moving to the area, we were thrilled to find this hidden gem of a family farm in Belleville. It's a great place to take the kids for an afternoon of exploring, relaxing and teaching them about where their food comes from. The staff and owners are extremely friendly, knowledge, and are always willing to answer questions or give advice on picking the ripest fruits and veggies. My girls loved the playground and the tractor rides into the orchards to pick peaches and can't wait to go back in the fall for apples and pumpkins. My favorite part was watching them explore and pick out their own fresh produce, because I know how much more likely they are to eat it. Be sure to try the apple cider slushies and apple cider doughnuts, they are amazing. I will definitely be giving this small, family run farm my business for years to come. read more

Not organic but the BEST orchard in the area. Very friendly helpful staff. U pick veggies too! Not commercial just a great place to visit. A real farm with a new bakery. read more

I used to work at Braeutigam Orchards when I was in high school because Mr. Range was my chemistry teacher, and he always needed help at the farm. I'm 29 now, so that was quite a while ago! I absolutely love this place, and obviously, the people are wonderful. There is not a better "U-pick" peach around, period. Don't even waste your time going to Eckerts when this is just another mile up the road! THE JUICIEST PEACHES YOU WILL FIND, and this is a REAL family farm. Can't beat it, I wish they did weddings! Highly recommended. read more

We had a great day pumpkin picking at Braeutigam! The pumpkin fields themselves were a little picked over, but there was a great play area for little ones and animals to pet up front. They also had a nice store and donuts (who doesn't like donuts?!?) Definitely less crowded than Eckerts. I'm a fan! read more

This place is really nice and it gets better every year! The lunch is amazing and the bakery is really cute!

What a wonderful place! Friendly people (not sales-y friendly, really friendly--made us feel like family!), plenty for the kids to see and do, a real farm feeling and delicious apples. There were animals to see--we got to feed some cows and hold a chick. We arrived early in the day and could smell the amazing donuts being made. The kids loved the play area--it's more for younger kids (a 12-year-old might be bored after 20 minutes or so), but much better than all the bigger attractions for the younger kids. The best part was that it wasn't overly commercialized--we drove right past Eckert's on the way, and were glad we weren't stopping there--too many people and not much of a farm feeling left. We will definitely be back to Braeutigam Orchards! read more

Great place to go !! Very relaxing atmosphere. Just enough to do to keep our 4-1/2 year old granddaughter busy for a few hours. She got to pick apples, play, feed the pigs and cows. The owner didn't hesitate to talk with us and answer all our questions. We drove past the commercial location shaking our heads we new that wasn't for us. The apple selection was fantastic. We'll go again and we live 2 hours away. read more