Merridale Facts and Questions

Planning a visit to Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley? Here are answers to some of the most common questions about Merridale Cidery & Distillery, from cider, dining and orchard experiences to our signature festivals and year-round events.

There’s always a reason to gather at Merridale, but fall is when our working orchard truly comes alive.

What is Merridale Cidery & Distillery?

Merridale is a woman-led orchard, cidery, distillery and farm-to-table destination in Cobble Hill, in the heart of Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley.

For more than 35 years, we’ve been growing apples, making cider and welcoming people to the farm where it all begins. Our property is home to our heritage cider apple orchard, cidery, distillery, Farmhouse, Farm Store and guest yurts.

At Merridale, the journey from blossom to bottle happens right here on the farm. Merridale Facts and Questions

Where is Merridale?

Merridale Cidery & Distillery is located at 1230 Merridale Road in Cobble Hill, British Columbia, in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.

Our countryside location makes Merridale an easy day trip or getaway from Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo and other Vancouver Island communities.

What can I do at Merridale besides cider tasting?

There’s a lot more to Merridale than cider tasting. In fact, you can easily turn a visit into an afternoon, evening or overnight getaway in the Cowichan Valley.

Enjoy farm-to-table dining at the Farmhouse, explore the orchard, book an Orchard Picnic for two to four people, or gather a group for one of Merridale’s signature Red Wagon Picnics, with food, cider, lawn games and your own reserved spot in the orchard.

Merridale also hosts experiences throughout the year, from paint nights, cocktail classes and live music to scavenger hunts, special dinners and family-friendly activities. Take an Orchard to Glass tour, shop the Farm Store, bring your dog for an orchard outing or stay overnight in one of Merridale’s yurts.

Check our events calendar before you visit to see what’s happening at the farm.

What is the best time of year to visit Merridale?

Every season brings a different reason to visit Merridale.

Spring and summer bring orchard picnics, patio season, yurts, family activities and long days on the farm. Fall is Harvest Season, when apples are picked and pressed, the orchard changes colour and some of Merridale’s biggest annual celebrations take place. Winter brings cozy farm experiences, holiday festivities, the Christmas Light-Up and the Vancouver Island Whisky Festival.

It’s why we think of Merridale as a year-round gathering place, a place worth experiencing more than once.

Fall & Harvest Season at Merridale

Where can I experience fall and apple harvest on Vancouver Island?

Merridale’s working orchard in the Cowichan Valley offers visitors the chance to experience fall harvest where cider actually begins.

During Harvest Season, visitors can see the orchard change week by week as apples ripen and are picked and pressed, beginning their transformation into a new vintage of Merridale cider. Add changing leaves, seasonal food, hot apple cider, pumpkins and special events, and it’s one of the most exciting times of year to experience the farm.

What is Merridale Harvest Season?

Merridale Harvest Season runs from September 27 through October 31, 2026, beginning with the 8th Annual BC Cider Harvest Festival and continuing throughout October with orchard experiences, seasonal food and drinks, family activities, Thanksgiving dinners, Harvest for Hounds, apple harvest and pressing, Halloween fun and more.

Unlike a traditional fall festival that happens for a weekend, Merridale’s Harvest Season unfolds as the actual harvest does, giving visitors the opportunity to experience a working orchard at one of its most beautiful and important times of year.

Because harvest changes from week to week, no two visits are quite the same.

What is the BC Cider Harvest Festival?

The BC Cider Harvest Festival is one of Merridale’s signature annual events and a celebration of British Columbia craft cider at the beginning of apple harvest.

Hosted in Merridale’s working orchard, the festival brings together craft cideries from across British Columbia for cider tastings, seasonal food and a chance to celebrate the people and farms behind BC cider.

The festival is especially focused on farm-based cideries that grow their own apples, making it a fitting way to kick off Harvest Season at Merridale.

What is Harvest for Hounds?

Harvest for Hounds is Merridale’s annual celebration of dogs, their people and fall on the farm.

The dog-friendly event brings four-legged visitors and their humans together for special activities and orchard experiences while raising awareness and funds for the BC SPCA.

It’s a natural fit for Merridale, where dogs are part of the farm experience year-round and “Every Dog’s Happy Place” is one of our guiding brand pillars.

Is Merridale dog-friendly?

Yes! Merridale loves dogs. We even serve barkuterie bowls for your pet in our eatery!

Leashed dogs are welcome on the farm, making Merridale a great stop for people exploring the Cowichan Valley with their four-legged companions.

Our love of dogs gets an extra celebration during Harvest Season with Harvest for Hounds and other dog-friendly activities. Check our current visitor information and event listings before your visit for the latest details.

What are some of the best things to do in the Cowichan Valley in fall?

Fall is a wonderful time to experience the Cowichan Valley’s farms, food and changing landscapes, and Merridale brings many of those experiences together in one place.

Walk through a working apple orchard as the leaves change colour, see cider harvest underway, taste BC craft cider, enjoy seasonal farm-to-table food and hot apple cider, bring the kids for harvest activities, explore the farm with your dog or plan your visit around one of Merridale’s signature fall events.

For visitors looking for an authentic Vancouver Island fall experience, Harvest Season is when Merridale is at its best.

Christmas & the Holidays at Merridale

What is Merridale’s Christmas Light Up?

Merridale’s Christmas Light Up is one of the farm’s signature annual events, bringing holiday magic to the orchard in the Cowichan Valley.

Christmas displays transform the farm into a festive destination for families and friends, while the broader holiday season at Merridale can include Santa photos, seasonal food and drinks, special events and locally made gifts.

Christmas programming and dates change from year to year, so check Merridale’s events calendar for the latest Christmas Light Up details.

Where can I see Christmas lights in the Cowichan Valley?

Merridale Cidery & Distillery in Cobble Hill celebrates the holiday season with its annual Christmas Light Up, transforming the farm with festive lights and holiday atmosphere.

Make an evening of it with seasonal food and drinks and explore Merridale’s other holiday programming while you’re here.

Check Merridale’s current events calendar before planning your visit for the latest Christmas Light Up dates and details.

Winter & Whisky at Merridale

What is the Vancouver Island Whisky Festival at Merridale?

The Vancouver Island Whisky Festival is one of Merridale’s signature annual events and a celebration of Vancouver Island whisky and the Island’s growing craft distilling community.

Hosted at Merridale Cidery & Distillery in the Cowichan Valley, the festival brings people together to discover locally crafted whisky and meet some of the people behind Vancouver Island’s distilleries.

Whisky Festival is Merridale’s major winter marquee event, bringing warmth, craft and community to the farm in February.

Explore the 2027 Vancouver Island Whisky Festival

Are there whisky festivals on Vancouver Island?

Yes. The Vancouver Island Whisky Festival is held at Merridale Cidery & Distillery in Cobble Hill in the Cowichan Valley.

The annual winter festival celebrates Vancouver Island craft whisky and brings together the Island’s distilling community, making it a destination for whisky lovers as well as visitors interested in discovering locally made food and drink.

Cider, Food & Visiting Merridale

What makes Merridale cider different?

Merridale cider begins in our own heritage cider apple orchard in the Cowichan Valley.

We grow apples, harvest and press the fruit and craft cider on site, creating a direct connection between the orchard and what eventually ends up in your glass.

Each harvest marks the beginning of a new vintage, one of the reasons fall is such a special time to visit Merridale.

Does Merridale have a restaurant?

Yes. Merridale’s Farmhouse Eatery offers farm-fresh food designed to be enjoyed alongside Merridale ciders, handcrafted spirits and other drinks.

Menus and offerings change with the seasons, giving visitors another reason to experience the farm throughout the year.

Can I have a picnic at Merridale?

Yes. Merridale offers orchard picnic experiences that let you slow down and enjoy the farm.

Couples and small groups can book an Orchard Picnic, while Merridale’s Red Wagon Picnics create a memorable gathering for larger groups, with food, cider, lawn games and a reserved place to relax in the orchard.

Picnic experiences are seasonal, so check current availability when planning your visit.

Can I stay overnight at Merridale?

Yes. Merridale’s yurts offer a unique way to extend your Cowichan Valley visit and stay right on the farm.

Pair an overnight stay with dinner, cider or spirit tasting, an orchard experience or one of Merridale’s seasonal events for a memorable Vancouver Island farm getaway.

Does Merridale have activities for people who don’t drink alcohol?

Absolutely. Merridale is much more than a place to drink cider.

Come for farm-to-table dining, orchard walks, picnics, seasonal events, family activities, live entertainment, the Farm Store or an overnight stay in a yurt. During Harvest Season and the holidays, many of Merridale’s signature experiences are centred around the farm, food, community and season rather than alcohol.

Does Merridale host special events throughout the year?

Yes. Merridale’s calendar is designed to give locals and visitors new reasons to return to the farm throughout the year.

Alongside its signature BC Cider Harvest Festival, Harvest for Hounds, Christmas Light Up and Vancouver Island Whisky Festival, Merridale hosts smaller experiences that can include live music, paint nights, cocktail classes, scavenger hunts, special dinners, brunches and seasonal celebrations.

Because the calendar changes throughout the year, check Merridale’s latest events before planning your visit.

Why should I visit Merridale when I’m in the Cowichan Valley?

Because Merridale is more than a cidery.

It’s a working orchard, craft cidery and distillery, farm-to-table dining destination, gathering place and home to some of the Cowichan Valley’s most distinctive seasonal experiences.

Come for cider and stay for lunch. Bring the dog. Have a picnic in the orchard. Spend the night in a yurt. Experience apple harvest in the fall, Christmas lights during the holidays or discover Vancouver Island whisky in winter.

There’s always another reason to come back to the farm.