As summer comes to a close, families flocked to Royal River Orchards in New Gloucester on Saturday for the farm’s opening day of apple picking and a family-friendly corn maze. It’s not yet autumn, but Royal River Orchards co-owner Leslee Clark said it’s already time for apples.

“Our apples are ready,” Clark said. “It’s a short season, so we always do it this weekend.”

Apple season in Maine starts in late August, according to the Maine Pomological Society, a nonprofit organization made up of apple orchards around the state. The season only lasts through October, Clark said, and Royal River Orchards stays open as long as they can, typically closing on Indigenous Peoples Day each year.

As a fully functioning apple orchard, Royal River Orchards offers apples and apple picking, homemade apple cider, pumpkins and apple cider doughnuts made by Clark herself. For Clark, opening day is the kickoff to the best season in Maine.

Tucker Leo, 9, avoids the low-hanging fruit and goes for the highest apples he can pick at Royal River Orchards in New Gloucester on Saturday. The 250-acre family-owned farm allows visitors to pick their own apples by the bag instead of by weight, and is open Saturdays and Sundays through mid-October this season. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)

“Fall is my favorite time of year, with all the smells of hot cider and cider doughnuts,” Clark said. “I love seeing all the families on opening day. Everyone is so happy.”

Saturday was busy from the start, Clark said, with new families visiting the farm and old friends stopping by. In the corn maze, the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram ran into Emily Remillard and her son Elijah White, 3, who were enjoying their day at the orchard.

“It’s so nice,” Remillard said. “Elijah loved apple picking. He was really excited about it.”

At the entrance of the corn maze, Melissa Dubie posed with her granddaughter Scarlett Parady, 7, as Stephanie Parady took their photo. The family was visiting Royal River Orchards to celebrate Dubie’s birthday.

“It’s a fun fall day for the family,” Dubie said. “We wanted to do the corn maze and apple picking for my birthday.”

Across the orchard, families weaved in and out of rows of apple trees, carefully reaching for the perfect apples. Munching on a freshly picked apple, Kacey Stewart spoke about her family’s plans to make apple cider with their bushels.

“The apples are crisp, smooth and yummy,” Stewart said. “We’re excited to make cider with the apples. It’s wicked fun, wicked cool.”

Jenna and 5-year-old Stella navigate the corn maze at Royal River Orchards in New Gloucester on Saturday. The family-owned farm and its attractions are open Saturdays and Sundays through mid-October this season. It is located at 201 Peacock Hill Road. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)

At another apple tree, Hannah and Andy Goodine watched as their children, Lucas, 4, and Claire, 18 months, excitedly reached for apples. It was the family’s first time apple picking in Maine after recently relocating from Texas.

“The kids love it,” Hannah Goodine said. “They love it. They always get excited when we do stuff as a family.”

As a reporter left the family to continue apple picking, the Goodines talked of plans to make apple pie. Lucas reached his apple-picking basket to the tree.

“Yeah, I got one!” he said.