All About Those Apples: An In-Cider’s Look

Nothing says fall like a cup of fresh apple cider. Families searching for apple cider in Maryland and Virginia will find everything from kid friendly orchards serving fresh pressed cider to local cideries pouring handcrafted hard cider. Whether you’re planning a family outing, a date or a scenic drive through the countryside, these destinations deserve a place on your fall bucket list.

Key Takeaways

• Something for everyone: Most cideries serve both nonalcoholic and hard cider, making them great destinations for the whole family. Note that the Maryland Cider Festival is 21 and up only, so plan childcare accordingly.
• A good cider is worth the drive: A few of the best cideries and festivals on this list sit just outside the DMV, but the scenic countryside views and fresh-pressed cider make the extra miles more than worth it.
• Check ahead and book early: Hours vary widely by location, popular festivals like LoCo Cider Fest and Great Country Farms’ Apple Gala sell tickets online at a discount, and some spots like Corcoran Vineyards require appointments.

This article was recently updated on July 20, 2026, by Washington Parent writer Cayla Gardner. The update included her research and fact-checking expertise to provide the latest information on DMV cider locations and events for families. Questions? Please reach out to daceditor@washingtonparent.net. 

Some cidery background

Cider, hard and soft, has been around for at least a few thousand years. According to manuscripts dating back to 55 B.C., Roman invaders in the British Isles discovered that the Celts made a drink from crabapples. In Colonial America, apples were one of the first and most important crops. 

The colonists enjoyed cider as early as the 1600s and ever since then, it’s been a drink that brings people together to harvest the fruit, prepare the beverage and enjoy it together. Since water was often unsafe to drink back then, even kids were served a diluted version of hard cider. 

Today, of course, hard cider is only for adults, but even its nonalcoholic counterpart is highly sought after when the weather begins to chill. 

Where to get your apple cider fix in Maryland and Virginia

The good news is that the DMV area has a wide variety of apple orchards, and each type of apple produces a unique cider. If you want to buy a jug of cider, hard or soft, you can go down to your local market and find a range of options. Sweet, gluten-free, dry, small-batch, organic, whatever you want.  But for more of an adventure, plan a trip to a local cidery where they make their own cider from scratch.

Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery

Mt. Defiance crafts small-batch hard ciders and spirits in a custom-built barn-style tasting room just outside downtown Middleburg, alongside traditional dry blends, single-varietal ciders, and inventive infusions like fresh ginger and five-pepper. Food trucks are a regular weekend feature, and there’s a cocktail loft and patio bar for those who want to branch out beyond cider.

• Hours: Noon-4 p.m. Monday (Bottle sales only); noon-6 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday and Sunday; noon-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday
• Address: 495 E. Washington St., Middleburg, VA
• Planning tip: Outside alcohol is strictly prohibited on the property, and groups of 12 or more need a reservation.

Willow Oaks Craft Cider and Wine

Run by Eric and Lori Leitzel Rice on their 35-acre certified-organic farm, Willow Oaks crafts farmhouse-style ciders from heirloom apples alongside port-style dessert wines, with several vintages that have taken home Maryland Governor’s Cup medals. The cozy tasting room has board games, deck and garden seating, and a welcome mat out for well-behaved, leashed dogs.

• Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
• Address: 6219 Harley Road, Middletown, MD
• Planning tip: Maryland law prohibits outside alcohol on-site, so plan to do all your sipping from their menu — and pack a picnic for the food, since they welcome that.

Doc Waters Cidery 

Montgomery County’s first cidery, Doc Waters presses its own apples grown right on Waters Orchard for a fresh, tart cider profile, and the open grounds include fire pits, a train play area for kids, and regular live music. Nonalcoholic cider and cider slushies are both on the menu, making this one of the more explicitly kid-friendly stops on the list.

Hours: 4-9 p.m. Friday; noon-8 p.m. Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday 

Address: 22529 Wildcat Road, Germantown, MD 

Planning tip: Reservations are recommended for igloos, fire pits and private spaces — walk-ins are welcome if space allows, but book ahead for weekend visits.

Lost Boy Cider 

Billed as Northern Virginia’s first urban cidery, Lost Boy ferments its dry, sugar-free ciders in an open-air 2,000-square-foot tasting room in Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood, with heritage varieties aged in tequila, gin, and bourbon barrels. Kids and leashed dogs are both welcome, and there’s a play area on-site along with regular food trucks.

• Hours: 4-9 p.m. Monday-Tuesday; 3-9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 3-10 p.m. Friday; noon-10 p.m. Saturday; noon-9 p.m. Sunday
• Address: 317 Hooffs Run Drive, Alexandria, VA
• Planning tip: No food menu on-site beyond light snacks, so plan around the rotating food trucks parked out front for a bite to eat.

Corcoran Vineyards & Cider 

A small, family-owned winery and cidery near the historic village of Waterford, Corcoran pours its handcrafted hard ciders alongside award-winning wines and dessert wines in a renovated barn, with gazebo and indoor barn seating for tastings. The cidery has produced ciders since 2013, blending a mix of locally grown apple varieties. Note: There is a $50 minimum purchase per group.

• Hours: Appointment only 
• Address: 14635 Corky’s Farm Lane, Waterford, VA
• Planning tip: Reservations are especially recommended for groups of eight or more, and pets are welcome on the grounds if you’re bringing the whole family (four-legged members included).

Henway Hard Cider 

An extension of Bluemont Vineyard, Henway produces hard ciders from apples grown at neighboring Great Country Farms, with a farm-to-glass focus and sweeping Blue Ridge Mountain views from the outdoor seating. The grounds include a stocked pond for catch-and-release fishing and a dog-friendly patio, making it an easy add-on to a Great Country Farms visit.

• Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Monday
• Address: 18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont, VA
• Planning tip: Henway occasionally hosts 21-and-up events like an after-dark corn maze night — check their events calendar before visiting if you’re bringing kids, to make sure your date isn’t an adults-only one.

Albemarle CiderWorks

Set on a working orchard in North Garden, just south of Charlottesville, Albemarle CiderWorks presses fresh, unpasteurized cider in season from late fall through early spring, alongside its lineup of heirloom-apple hard ciders like Arkansas Black, Harrison and Virginia Hewes Crab. The tasting room also stocks nonalcoholic beer, kombucha and juice boxes, and a small farm stand sells apples and seasonal fruit when available.

• Hours: Noon-5 p.m. Friday-Monday
• Address: 2545 Rural Ridge Lane, North Garden, VA
• Planning tip: Fresh cider availability varies by season, so call ahead to confirm it’s in stock before making the drive — and note that outside alcohol isn’t permitted on the property.

Weber’s Cider Mill Farm

A Parkville institution since 1908, Weber’s is part farm market, part cider mill, and part fall festival grounds, pressing sweet apple cider on-site alongside apple cider donuts, cider slushies, and baked goods from its country bakery. The farm’s petting zoo, play area, and seasonal hayrides make it one of the most kid-focused stops on this list, with the fall festival season drawing the biggest crowds.

• Hours: PYO is available by appointment; times vary based on produce. Market hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.
• Address: 2526 Proctor Lane, Parkville, MD
• Planning tip: There’s a nominal admission fee for the barnyard and activity areas, and fall weekends get busy — arrive early to avoid long lines at the petting zoo and hillside slide.

Apple cider festivals and events in Maryland and Virginia

If you love apple cider enough to make a day of it, these festivals and events are worth checking out! 

Great County Farms’ Apple Harvest + Corn Maze & Pig Races

Kick off the apple cider season at Great Country Farms’ annual Apple Harvest + Corn Maze & Pig Races event, where fresh-pressed cider, award-winning apple cider donuts and cider slushies take center stage. Guests can spend the day exploring the corn maze and stop by the Henway Cider Barn to sample locally crafted hard ciders. On weekends, visitors can watch pig races and cider-pressing demonstrations.

• Date: Sept. 1-18
• Best ages: 8 and older  
• Cost expectation: Admission starts at $14 Monday-Friday and $18 Saturday-Sunday for ages 3 and up
• Planning tip: Purchase tickets online ahead of time to save on admission. 

Maryland Cider Festival 

Join the Cider Association of Maryland for their tribute to cider, held at the Gamber and Community Fire Company carnival grounds. This annual festival brings producers across the state together for a curated selection of hard ciders, artisanal meads and small-batch spirits and celebrates Maryland’s rich orchard heritage and thriving cider scene. Mark your calendar for Sept. 12 to taste your way through the very best of Maryland. 

• Date: Sept. 12
• Best ages: 21 and up 
• Cost expectation: General admission tickets start at $35; VIP tickets start at $45 (processing fees not included)
• Planning tip: Plan for a designated driver or rideshare, especially if you plan to sample multiple ciders. Parking is available on-site. 

Johnny Appleseed Festival and Fall Harvest Days at Weber’s Cider Mill Farm

Kick off fall in true Weber’s fashion at their 51st Annual Johnny Appleseed Festival, a Parkville tradition over five decades in the making. The two-day kickoff features fresh apple cider, hay rides, a hillside slide, food trucks and a family-friendly spooky walk for the little ones. Once the festival wraps, the fall fun doesn’t stop — Weber’s rolls straight into Fall Harvest Days, keeping the cider, donuts and autumn activities going for nearly two months.

• Date: Sept. 12-13 (Johnny Appleseed Festival); Sept. 14-Nov. 8 (Fall Harvest Days)
• Best ages: All ages
• Cost expectation: Registration details will be announced soon — check Weber’s social channels for ticket information
• Planning tip: Arrive early for shorter lines at the hillside slide and hay rides.

LoCo Cider Fest 

Celebrate the start of Virginia Cider Week at LoCo Cider Fest, where Loudoun County’s mountain view provides the backdrop for a packed day of hard cider tastings, live music, local food vendors and family activities. With scenic countryside, seasonal flavors and plenty of entertainment, this festival is the perfect spot for cider lovers and families alike. 

• Date: Nov. 14
• Best ages: 6 and up
• Cost expectation: Children’s admission starts at $16; adult admission starts at $41 
• Planning tip: Buy tickets in advance for a discounted price. 

When the leaves start turning and the cider jugs come home, the rest of the season is waiting just down the same country roads. Make a full day of it and add one of these 10 pumpkin patches in Maryland and Virginia to your orchard trip, or time your drive around the DMV’s best spots to see the changing leaves. If your weekend is still wide open, our roundup of things to do with kids in the DMV has the short list, and Luray Caverns is a reliable backup when the forecast turns. Pour a cup, pick a direction and let fall do the planning for you.