As the air gets crisper and roadside trees start showing off, there’s a brief and brilliant window when a road trip just feels right. For many Nebraskans, that window points south to Nebraska City’s orchard-lined streets. Just an hour’s drive from Omaha, the historic town transforms into the state’s unofficial fall capital each year, thanks in large part to its apple orchards, historic trails, and one very enthusiastic festival.
At the center of Nebraska City’s fall charm is the legendary AppleJack Festival, a delightfully over-the-top harvest celebration that draws tens of thousands annually. Now in its 57th year, it’s been named one of the best harvest festivals in the country by USA Today and HGTV, and with attendance topping 80,000, it’s far from a quiet local fair. Still, for all its popularity, the festival hasn’t lost its charm.
In 2025, the celebration happens over back-to-back weekends: Sept. 19–21, 2025 and Sept. 26–28, 2025. Weekend one is classic AppleJack Americana. There’s a full carnival on Central Avenue, a Saturday morning downtown parade, and community events scattered across town. Early risers can sign up for the AppleJack Fun Run, then reward themselves with pancakes and sausage at the fire station’s morning feed. In the afternoon, there’s a time-honored water barrel fight and an evening bull riding tour out at Hidden Falls Cabins & RV Park Arena, complete with mutton bustin’ and live music.
Weekend two goes all in on celebrating apples. Visitors can participate in orchard tours while enjoying caramel-coated everything, cider slushies, and a “sip and stroll” hard cider experience for adults looking to shop with a drink in hand. There’s also professional wrestling, for those who prefer their fall festivals with a side of spectacle—and plenty of places to stock up on apple butter, pie, and other fall necessities.
Events are spread across town, anchored by key locations like Arbor Day Farm, Kimmel Orchard, and the downtown district, making the atmosphere just chaotic enough to feel like fall’s version of a state fair.
Other Fall Must-Do’s In Nebraska City
AppleJack is the marquee event, yet the rest of Nebraska City delivers an encore you won’t want to miss. Visitors will find plenty more to explore before or after the festival crowds roll through—this is orchard country, after all, and fall is when it shows off best.
Arbor Day Farm & Tree Adventure
One of the most scenic spots in town, Arbor Day Farm offers 260 acres of wooded trails, interactive exhibits, and a massive treehouse playground suspended among the canopy. The Apple House Market is worth a stop for fresh apples and their signature apple cider—hot, cold, or slushified. For a slower pace, you can walk the grounds of the historic Arbor Lodge mansion at the edge of the property—a 19th-century time capsule surrounded by towering oaks. It’s also home to Lied Lodge, a cozy, timber-framed hotel with easy access to the fall festivities, making it the perfect weekend stay this time of year.
Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard
A few minutes up the road, Kimmel Orchard lets visitors pick apples straight from the trees, grab pumpkins, or hop on a tractor ride through the rows. Inside the gift shop, shelves are stacked with cider donuts, jams, slushies, and all the other fall standards, while the adjacent pavilion hosts food vendors, kids’ activities, and live music during AppleJack weekends. The on-site tasting room offers local wine pours, while the orchard itself is part of a larger agricultural education initiative run in partnership with the University of Nebraska.
Historic Downtown Nebraska City
The historic downtown area rounds out the itinerary with boutique shopping and a number of cozy cafés and bakeries. During the first AppleJack weekend, Central Avenue fills with craft and flea market booths. On quieter weekends, it’s a good place to browse, grab a slice of pie, or dive into the town’s history. The Nebraska City Museum of Firefighting and the Mayhew Cabin, a preserved Underground Railroad site, offer context to the community’s past. A few wineries and relaxed lunch spots nearby make for a nice post-orchard wind-down.
AppleJack might be the reason you plan the trip, but this charming town makes it easy to stay a little longer—though any ONYX vehicle offers plenty of space for the weekend’s bounty and all the comfort you need to enjoy the ride home. One weekend here is all it takes to see why fall just feels bigger in Nebraska City, but there’s no rush to leave when the season’s this good.
Original story written by Natalie Velosa, ONYX Magazine Fall 2025
For more information, visit nebraskacity.com/events/applejack.
