The arrival of autumn is pretty much an If You Give a Mouse a Cookie situation: If the temperature drops, you’re going to want a new sweater to go with it. If you get a new sweater, you’re going to want to see a fresh, jolly pumpkin hanging out on your front stoop. (And so on.) We’re here to help you out on that last bit with this round-up of the 10 best pumpkin patches near Chicago (think: just a short drive away). Snip the tags off that sweater, hit the road, and get ready to take some seriously seasonal selfies.
The 10 Best Pumpkin Patches Near Chicago
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Published Sep 23, 2021
Goebbert's Farm - Pingree Grove/Facebook
1. Goebbert's Pumpkin Patch And Apple Orchard
As if pumpkin patches weren’t cute enough on their own, Goebbert’s really ups the ante with a giant pumpkin perched high upon a farm silo, a “pumpkin-eating dinosaur” sculpture, pig races, and a choir of singing chickens. (Seriously!) Depending upon when you go during the season, you may catch the tail end of the farm’s fresh produce and floral offerings, but make sure you high-tail it to the apple cider doughnuts first. (Priorities.)
42W813 Reinking Road, Pingree Grove, IL; 847-464-5952 or goebbertspumpkinpatch.com
2. Lindberg Pumpkin Patch
Lindberg Pumpkin Patch has re-opened, and we’re ready to brush up on their new COVID-era policies and get in line for a pony ride. But the animal encounters don’t stop there, as a petting zoo of goats, sheep, chickens, and an extra-fluffy alpaca lets you get up close and personal, especially if you buy some feed to share. After a spin through the corn maze, whose layout changes every year, it’s time for the main event: picking your favorite pumpkins from the 50 different varieties grown on the premises.
3178 IL Route 173, Caledonia, IL; 815-765-2587 or lindbergpumpkinpatch.com
The Pumpkin Wagon/Facebook
3. The Pumpkin Wagon
The Pumpkin Wagon isn’t just a vehicle, or even just a state of mind. Instead, it’s a family farm in Elgin that’s devoted to all the joys of autumn. While this spot is less activity-focused than some others on our list, it’s a treasure trove of fall’s greatest hits. Pumpkins? They’ve got 30 varieties of them. Hay bales? Check. Decorative broom corn and shocks? You bet. Start clearing out your trunk now; you’re going to need room to bring back all these seasonal goodies.
12N860 US Highway 20, Elgin, IL; thepumpkinwagon.com
The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival/Facebook
4. Highwood Pumpkin Fest
OK, so this isn’t a pumpkin patch, but it is a fabulously elaborate weekend devoted to all things decorative gourd, so we’d be remiss not to include it here. Join the Highwood Pumpkin Fest from October 8 to 10 as it celebrates its 10th year of live music, carnival rides, costume contests (including one for the best-dressed pet!), and, of course, pumpkins as far as the eye can see. Pro tip: Visit in the evening when you can admire all the jack-o-lanterns when they’re all lit up.
Downtown Highwood, IL; 847-668-1213 or highwoodpumpkinfest.com
Harvest Tyme/Facebook
5. Harvest Tyme Family Farm
Skedaddle over the Indiana border to Harvest Tyme Family Farm, whose summertime flower-picking and butterfly sanctuary attractions shift to full-on fall feelings this month. After finding your way out of the giant corn maze, reward yourself with a spin on family-friendly amusement park rides (think: a teeny-tiny roller coaster) or some friendly competition around the corn cannons. (Those targets can be surprisingly tricky to hit.) And, of course, don’t forget to grab some pumpkins before you go home.
17904 Grant St. Lowell, IN; 219-440-2FUN or harvesttymefun.com
6. County Line Orchard
Here’s another gem in northwest Indiana: County Line Orchard, where the bakery almost steals the show from the plentiful pumpkins you came for. In addition to apple cider doughnuts—a classic—you may also find yourself scooping up apple turnovers, apple pies, and other treats made with fruits from the on-site orchard. If you have a moment to spare from reveling in your sugar rush, try waving hello to the hives in the bee yurt or wandering through the corn maze, which features a new and elaborate theme every year.
200 S. County Line Rd. Hobart, IN; 219-947-4477 or countylineorchard.com
Odyssey Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maize/Facebook
7. Odyssey Fun Farm
We’re counting down the days until Odyssey Fun Farm opens for the season at the end of the month. Who among us can patiently wait for a festive hay ride, or for a trip on the impossibly adorable (and appropriately Holstein-patterned) Cow Train? Take a family photo in front of the towering Pumpkin House before devoting yourselves to a walk through the tricky corn maze, and then let the kids lead the way through the smaller hay bale maze, which was designed with children in mind.
18900 Oak Park Ave. Tinley Park, IL; 708-429-3800 or odysseyfunfarm.com
8. Bengston’s Pumpkin Farm
Bengston’s Pumpkin Farm in Homer Glen has cornered the market in adorable attractions. Case in point: the Barnyard Dance Cow Coaster, a kid-friendly ride that glides through pastures (and, yes, a barn) as riders spin in bovine-themed cars. Continue the fun by cheering for racing pigs or careening down the 90-foot fun slide, and don’t forget to pick your favorites from heaps upon heaps of pumpkins, decorative gourds, and other autumnal regalia on your way out.
13341 West 151st Street Homer Glen, IL; (708) 301-3276 or pumpkinfarm.com
Didier Farms/Facebook
9. Didier Farms
Didier Farms in Lincolnshire really leans into the fall spirit by declaring the end of September and all of October “Pumpkinfest.” As you’d expect, you’ll find hay rides and crafts for the kids during this time, but you may be surprised that camel rides are also among your options. Not all of the humps are left to the camels, though: plenty of round, juicy pumpkins are ready to go home with you, including varieties with speckles, unusual colors and other eye-catching characteristics.
16678 W. Aptakisic Rd., Lincolnshire, IL; 847) 634-3291 or didierfarms.com
Abbey Farms
10. Abbey Farms
Abbey Farms in Aurora, a non-profit farm that benefits actual monks, offers two very special treats for grown-ups: wines and ales made in-house. But even without the adult beverages, the sheer amount of activities during the farm’s Pumpkin Daze will make your head spin. In addition to the largest corn maze in Kane County, Abbey Farms invites visitors to soar over zip lines, play grain bin basketball, make new friends in a petting zoo and beyond. After all that activity, you’ll definitely need to regain your strength with a piece of pie or a pulled pork sandwich at the on-site cafe.
2855 Hart Rd Aurora, IL; (630) 966-7775 or abbeyfarms.org
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