10 Pumpkin Patches, Fall Fests Worth Checking Out This Fall

It may not feel like it – with temps still nearing 80 for portions of the Chicago area – but fall is upon us. And that means there are pumpkins to be picked and fall festivals underway across the suburbs. We've turned to past Patch articles as well as other local media and online sources to compile our below list of some the best local pumpkin patches to check out this fall season.

Let us know in the comments section if there is one we have missed.

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Sonny Acres Farm

• 29W310 North Ave. in West Chicago

Sonny Acres Farm fall festival opened for the fall season on Sept. 23. Activities include a giant slide, pony wheel ride, rock climbing wall, fun house and camel ride. Other attractions include a haunted barn, dizzy zone, spook shed, kiddie koral, petting zoo, day hayride and a photo booth. Food is available for purchase and there are various stores/shops. Not all rides and attractions are open during the week and tickets need to be purchased (at $1 a pop) for many activities.

More information and hours of operation via Sonny Acres Farm website.

Kroll’s Fall Harvest Farm

• 13236 Townline Road in Waukegan

Opening day was Sept. 16. The farm includes a corn maze, hayrides, farm animals and tons of pumpkins available to be picked. Kroll's is open from 12 to 8 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, from 12 to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. There is no general admission or parking fee at the farm but some activities do cost money. Bring cash as no credit cards are accepted. There is also an ATM at the farm.

More information available on Kroll's website.

Didier Farms

• 6678 Aptakisic Road in Lincolnshire

Didier Farms Pumpkinfest opened on Sept. 23. There is no admission fee, and tickets are needed for activities and ride. Most rides and activities cost three tickets, except for the hayride and corn maze, which are $5. There are also pig races, an animal zoo land, sunshine crafts, pumpkin playland and more. The farm is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

More via Didier Farms website.

Goebbert's Farm and Garden Center - South Barrington

• 40 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington

While the popular pumpkin patch will officially opened for the fall season on Sept. 23, Goebbert's in South Barrington will be hosting a fall festival preview starting on Saturday, Sept. 16 and continuing through Sept. 22. A limited number of activities will be available for visitors from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on those days, including the Little Farmer's Play Yard, $8 per person; a free wagon ride for everyone 3 years and older; pony rides, $6; haunted house, $6; and jumping pillow, $6. The Red Barn Cafe & Bakery will be open with a limited menu. This preview is only at the South Barrington location.

All fall activities opened for the season on Sept. 23, including 50 different animals, giraffe barn, corn stalk maze, pumpkin eating dinosaur, pig races, pumpkin tunnel, climbing trucks and cut outs, corn box , Charlotte's Web, corn hole game, weekend magic shows, duck derby and straw pyramid.

For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit Goebbert's website.

Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch - Hampshire

• 42W813 Reinking Road, Hampshire

Goebbert's is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the fall season. The farm's fall festival, and all of the activities that come along with the festival, opened on Sept. 23. Goebbert's has a petting zoo, with its exotic animals arriving on Sept. 16. There is a mama pig and her piglets to see and also llamas, goats, cows and baby chicks. Exotic animals such as giraffes, tiger cubs and kangaroos will also be at the farm. In addition, there is pig racing, camel rides, pony rides, wagon rides, a haunted house, a pumpkin-eating dinosaur, corn stalk maze and a shooting gallery, with paintball targets and ball blasters, in Goebbert's Wild West Town. And, of course, there are pumpkins. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., visitors can ride the "pumpkin express," which is a half-mile tour that heads along Reinking Road.

For more information, and to buy tickets to Goebbert's, visit Goebbert's website.

Stade’s Farm and Market

• 3709 Miller Road, McHenry

Beginning Saturday, September 9, Farmtractions Theme Park will be open weekends only. The theme park includes a petting zoo, corn maze, giant slides, hayrides, and a large variety of unique attractions. The fall festival Shades of Autumn is a harvest time extravaganza featuring 30-plus farm-related attractions, pumpkin picking, great food and more. Stade's 13th Annual Car and Truck show will be held Sept. 16 and 17. A U-Pick apple orchard is also open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More information via Stade's website.

All Seasons Orchard

All Seasons Orchard is an apple orchard, pumpkin patch and corn maze located in Woodstock. Check out this year's "Super Mario" corn maze:

Some of the activities in the barnyard include a petting zoo, bunny village, rat roller, giant swings, spider web, mini zip line, tire mountain, pumpkin checkers, pumpkin bowling, pedal carts and more.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

More information via All Seasons website

Royal Oak Farm Orchard

• 15908 Hebron Road in Harvard

The farm includes u-pick apples, pumpkins and gourds, a petting zoo, entertainment area, rides, country store, apple barn, harvest barn, nursery and more. Royal Oak is open for the fall season through Oct. 31. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Limited hours will be available for U-pick options for Nov. 1 through Nov. 13.

More via Royal Oak Farm Orchard website.

Richardson Adventure Farm

• 909 English Prairie Road Spring Grove

This Illinois farm has a history of amazing mazes. This year, Richardson Adventure Farm's corn maze pays tribute to 2016 World Series champs, the Chicago Cubs. The 28-acre maze — proclaimed by the farm as the world's largest and most intricate — opened Sept. 2. Along with the maze, there's plenty of fall fun to be had at the adventure farm, including a pumpkin patch, pig races, picnic areas, a campfire site, giant slides, a 50-foot observation tower, wagon rides and ORBiting, which allows guests to take a ride down a hill inside a giant, 11-foot ball.

The farm is open Wednesday through Sunday through Oct. 29, including Columbus Day. Most activities are included in the admission fee, which is $16 for guests age 13 and older and $13 for patrons ages 4 to 12. Admission is free for those age 3 and younger. Farm hours are from 3 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. Columbus Day hours for Oct. 9 are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Last admission is two hours before closing. Friendly dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

Abbey Farms

• 850 Butterfield Road in Aurora

Pumpkin Daze, which opened for the fall season on Sept. 23, offers a variety of fun outdoor activities for the family. Abbey Farms claims it has the area’s largest corn maze and other attractions such as corn cannons and human hamster balls, the tractor tire mountain, hayrides, weekend petting zoo and more. There is also a large pick-your-own pumpkin patch. General admission on the weekends is $14.99 and includes most activities (but does not include the Human Hamster Balls, Corn Cannon, and Bouncing Cow Train) and those 2 years old and younger are free. Weekday admission is $10.99 per person. There is also a night corn maze from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and admission is $7.99. The jumping pillow, pedal go-karts, mega drop slide and tractor tire hill stay open until close. Beer tent admission is $19.99 and includes admission to the farm and one beer ticket.

Hours of operation are as follows:

• Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Beer Tent opens at noon
• Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Beer Tent opens at noon
• Monday and Tuesday: Park is closed, but seasonal store is open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

More via Abbey Farms website.

For more suburban pumpkin farms and fall festivals worth checking out this season, visit the Daily Herald's 11 local pumpkin patches worth a visit this fall article. Red Tricycle's Ultimate Guide to Pumpkin Patches includes great options in the suburbs AND city of Chicago.

Image via Flickr user nicgep114