Amesbury · Massachusetts
Cider Hill Farm
Choose a precut balsam or Fraser from 5–14 feet, with trimming, netting and vehicle securing.
At a glance
Plan your visit.
- Tree season
- Trees arrive late November; Farm Store season through December 13
Hours: Farm Store daily 8am–6pm in announced April 17–December 13 season; Thanksgiving closed
Dates & hours ↓
Dates & hours.
Tree season: Trees arrive late November; Farm Store season through December 13
| Farm store and free orchard walks | Hours |
|---|---|
| Farm Store, April 17–December 13 | Daily 8am–6pm; Thanksgiving closed |
| Free orchard walks, Saturdays–Sundays October 31–November 29 | 8am–2pm; no registration; November 7 partial race closure |
| Orchards on weekdays | Closed |
| After Thanksgiving closure | Published shop notice reopens November 27 at 8am for trees |
The holiday page describes tree arrival before Thanksgiving; the reopening row is after the holiday closure, not a claim that trees first arrive that day. Check actual remaining stock and any later tree-selling dates.
Choose your Christmas tree.
Cider Hill’s holiday tree stand offers fresh-cut balsam and Fraser firs in 5–6, 7–9, 9–11 and 11–14-foot ranges. Trees arrive in late November before Thanksgiving. Prices and the actual inventory are announced closer to the holiday season, so check the selection before travelling for a tall tree.
Staff trim the bottom of the trunk, net the tree and secure it for transport on the roof or inside your vehicle. The tree stand also carries wreaths, kissing balls, balsam boughs, white-pine tips and winterberry.
Tree species
- Balsam fir
- Fraser fir
The farm visit.
Parking, access, payment and pets
Parking is free and plentiful, with ADA spaces beside the main-lot crosswalk and an ADA portable toilet. Paths and orchard conditions still vary, so choose a route suited to your needs. Pets are prohibited except trained service animals.
The farm accepts cash, credit and debit cards and Apple Pay. SNAP is listed for eligible in-store purchases; that does not establish benefit eligibility for a Christmas tree. Outside food and nonalcoholic drinks are welcome, with large rubbish taken home by visitors.
Free play and seasonal animals
The main lawn, trike yard, giant sandbox and horse-tire swings are free 8am–6pm while the farm is open. The farm also has a bee observatory. Its goats and large flock of hens arrive from mid-May and feed is sold; ask about current animal access rather than promise a winter barnyard encounter.
Professional photography has no business fee, but June–October crop-entry tickets for ages 3+ and seasonal access rules still apply. The announced November orchard walk is separate from crop picking.
Bakery, farm food and holiday events
The store sells cider donuts, cider, jams, honey, eggs, produce, dairy, prepared meals, ornaments and gift boxes. Weekend biscuit breakfasts are another seasonal food choice. Ask staff about allergens: the farm’s donuts contain wheat, milk, egg and soy, and the premises are not nut-free; purchased gluten-free alternatives are available. Published donut-dozen prices differ, so check the current total.
Mrs. Claus storytime is a separately ticketed holiday event, with announced sessions November 28–29 and December 5–6. The autumn fire-pit series is communal and free, with its own calendar and first-come access; its RSVP does not reserve a fire pit or table. The specific storytime and fire-pit conditions are below.
The Eleanor lunch operation is closed for the season. Food-truck and cider-bar hours apply to the spring-through-autumn/festival period and weather, so they are not a guaranteed Christmas lunch service. Growing-season fruit and flower picking is separate from the ready-cut tree stand; autumn hayrides do not establish holiday rides.
Group visits and seasonal orders
The contact page marks its announced group-picking and birthday-tent season fully booked, while inviting enquiries for the following May–August. The published outdoor tent programme runs from late April through August and lists a semi-private birthday tent at $275 for two hours for up to 30 people, plus 30 minutes for setup and 30 minutes for cleanup. Indoor private events are not being booked for the next announced season, and the farm does not host weddings. Confirm the planned season, date and rate with the farm.
The current Thanksgiving ordering program closes November 15, with pickup November 23–25, 8am–5:30pm. Thanksgiving itself is closed. Those food-order deadlines are separate from a tree order and from the Farm Store’s daily browsing hours.
The tent package includes four picnic tables, eight metal chairs, a six-foot food table, rubbish barrels, a day-of greeter, welcome signage and ADA accessibility. The tent is not available during peak apple season from September through late October. Next-season enquiries request May–August dates; a requested date is not a confirmed booking.
Casual gatherings can use one or two main-lawn picnic tables free for up to one hour, 8am–6pm while the farm is open. These tables are first come, first served and cannot be reserved. That option also has ADA access; group picking containers and advance donut orders are separate arrangements.
Outside food and nonalcoholic drinks are welcome, with excess rubbish and large food containers taken home. Outside alcohol is prohibited. The gathering programme can arrange drink tickets for the operating weekend cider bar, listed there as 11am–4pm, or a private bar by the tent; confirm its seasonal availability and charges. Allow the farm’s requested 48 hours for an enquiry response.
Separate group fruit-picking visits are advertised for 15 or more people, with blueberry picking in July–August and apple picking from late August to mid-October. The contact notice marks the announced group season fully booked and accepts blueberry bookings for the following summer; confirm the actual programme and date with the farm.
| Option | Published charge and use | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-private birthday tent | $275; two hours; up to 30 people | 30 minutes setup plus 30 minutes cleanup; announced season fully booked; next outdoor-season enquiries require confirmation |
| Main-lawn picnic tables | Free; 1–2 tables for up to one hour | 8am–6pm while open; first come; no reservation |
November orchard walks and communal fire pits
The self-guided orchard walk is offered on weekends October 31–November 29, 8am–2pm, with no registration required. Stay out of the orchards on weekdays and follow the partial closure for the November 7 race. This walk is separate from fruit picking, and the Farm Store keeps its own daily 8am–6pm schedule through December 13.
Fall Fire Pits runs on announced Saturdays and Sundays October 31–November 29, generally 11am–3pm. Admission, communal fire pits and live music are free. An RSVP helps the staff plan but does not reserve a pit or table; space is first come, first served. Ellie’s Snack Bar sells hot cider, hard cider, seasonal food, s’mores kits and snacks separately. Check the chosen event’s time, as individual sessions can differ.
This is an outdoor, weather-dependent outing: rain, strong winds or unsafe conditions can change or cancel a date. Check the farm’s update before travelling. You may bring a chair or blanket. Attendants tend the fires; guests must not add logs, and adults are responsible for supervising their children.
Pick-your-own and hayrides are not part of Fall Fire Pits. Goats and chickens leave for their winter homes in late October or early November, so barnyard animals may not be available. Portable toilets, including an ADA-accessible toilet, are behind the Farm Store. Alcohol may only be poured by farm staff and kept within designated areas; it is not allowed in the orchards.
| Outing | Published timing | Access and conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Self-guided orchard walk | Weekends October 31–November 29, 8am–2pm | No registration; weekdays closed; November 7 partial race closure |
| Fall Fire Pits | Announced weekends October 31–November 29, generally 11am–3pm | Free communal pits and live music; first come; RSVP does not reserve a place; food and drink extra |
Mrs. Claus storytime events
The announced storytime sessions run for 45 minutes in a heated indoor space, with a limit of 35 children per session. Every child, regardless of age, needs a $16 ticket plus a $0.40 ticket service fee; adults attend free and do not need a ticket. The ticket includes stories, a photo opportunity and meet-and-greet with Mrs. Claus, letter writing for the North Pole Mailbox, cocoa and a mini bag of gluten-free kettlecorn. The wooden sleigh outside the Farm Store offers another family-photo spot.
Choose the actual date and start time below and check remaining places before booking. Arrive about ten minutes early and check in at the information table. Tickets cannot be moved to another day or time, but you may send someone else to use them. Cancellations with at least 72 hours’ notice receive a 95% refund. A later refund depends on the farm reselling the ticket and is not guaranteed; the farm retains 5% for processing on any refund. A limited waitlist opens after standard tickets sell out.
| Date | Start times | Session scope |
|---|---|---|
| November 28 | 9:15am, 10:15am, 11:15am or 12:15pm | 45 minutes; up to 35 children; every child needs a ticket |
| November 29 | 9:15am, 10:15am, 11:15am or 12:15pm | Same programme and ticket conditions |
| December 5 | 9:15am, 10:15am, 11:15am or 12:15pm | Same programme and ticket conditions |
| December 6 | 9:15am, 10:15am, 11:15am or 12:15pm | Same programme and ticket conditions |
Farm Store gift-basket giveaway event
The announced November 7–29 giveaway places seven gift baskets of local and artisan goods around the Farm Store, with a code beside each for optional entry. No purchase is needed. Winners are chosen at random and notified by email November 30; winners must collect their basket by December 13 because prizes cannot be shipped.
Before you go.
- Farm enquiries: hello@ciderhill.com.
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