Best Chicago-Area Pumpkin Patches 2019

ILLINOIS — It's that time of year again. Pumpkin patches and fall festivals are already open and in full swing and it's not even October. We've compiled a list of some of our favorite pumpkin patches that offer up great fall attractions for the whole family below.

Sonny Acres Farm in West Chicago

• Address: 29W310 North Ave. in West Chicago
• Season's opening/closing date: Fall festival is Sept. 14 to Nov. 3
• Attractions: A giant swing, haunted hayride, pony wheel ride, fun house and camel ride. Activities include a haunted barn, dizzy zone, day hayride, petting zoo and more.
• Pumpkins and more: There are plenty of pumpkins and gourds for your selection. The harvest barn has a variety of squash, gourds and more.
• Hours of operation (in October): 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Sunday
• Cost: Check the Sonny Acres' website for more information

More information via the Sonny Acres' website or by calling 630-239-1230

Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm

• Address: 13236 W. Town Line Road in Waukegan
• Season's opening date: Sept. 21
• Pumpkins and more: Yes, you can pick your own pumpkin, but there is also a corn maze (designed in the shape of a horse), farm animals to visit and hayrides.
• Hours of operation: Kroll's is open from noon to 8 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, from noon 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.
• Cost: There is no general admission or parking fee at the farm but some activities do cost money. Pumpkins are priced between $2 and $15. Bring cash as no credit cards are accepted. There is also an ATM at the farm.

More information via Kroll's website or by calling 847-662-5733

Didier Farms

• Address: 16678 W. Aptakisic Road in Lincolnshire
• Season opening/closing date: Didier Farms Pumpkinfest will open on Sept. 21 and close for the season at 4 p.m. Oct. 31
• Pumpkinfest Activities, Farmstand: Didier Farms' Pumpkinfest is open to kids off all ages and includes pig races, silly string asylum (it's like a paintball experience but open to all ages), an animal land zoo and a parakeet exhibit where you can feed the birds. There are also hayrides, a corn maze, camel rides, a kiddie carousel, ferris wheel, pumpkin playland and gem mining activity. Didier Farms also has a farmstand where fresh vegetables and more can be purchased.
• Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
• Cost: There is no admission fee. Tickets are available for purchase at $1 per ticket. Most attractions can be enjoyed for under five tickets. The hayride/corn maze (package deal only) is $5.

More via Didier Farms website or be calling 847-634-3291.

Goebbert's Farm and Garden Center - South Barrington

• Address: 40 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington
• Season opening: Fall festival opens on Sept. 14
• Animal Land and Little Farmers Play Land and More: Activities include a giraffe barn, pumpkin-eating dino, pig racing, pony rides, camel rides, wagon ride, little farmer's play yard, corn stalk maze, pumpkin eating dinosaur, the pumpkin tunnel, climbing trucks and cut outs, corn box, corn hole game, ring toss game and more. Goebbert's also has its Red Barn Cafe & Bakery for some tasty treats, including Apple Cider Donuts and Pumpkin cookies.
• Pumpkins and produce: Goebbert's has a large display of pumpkins to choose from in the free area of its farm. Goebbert’s grows over 200 acres of fresh vegetables.
• Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (no tickets sold after 5:30 p.m.)
• Cost: There is free parking and no general admission cost. Prices vary for admission to the Animal Land and Little Farmer's Playland. Tickets include wagon rides and cost $16.99 on the weekends and Columbus Day and $12.99 Monday through Friday. There is an additional charge for some activities at Goebbert's.

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

Goebbert's Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard - Pingree Grove/Hampshire

• Address: 42W813 Reinking Road, Pingree Grove
• Season opening date: Sept. 13
• Attractions: Haunted house, kiddie play land, straw maze, singing chickens, a pumpkin-eating dinosaur, pedla carts, animal land with a giraffe barn and pig family, pig family, pumpkin cannon and more.
• Pumpkins and produce: Besides pumpkins, Goebbert's has farm fresh squash, potatoes, apples and gourds to name a few. Also, there are homemade caramel apples, freshly popped kettle corn, apple cider and so much more. In addition to the delicious foods, you can find a variety of crafts and gifts for your home or a special gift. Goebbert's doesn't offer apple picking as its own activity, but guests can choose to pay for apple bags and pick apples in addition to their Fall Festival admission.
• Hours of operation: Goebbert's fall festival is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, U-Pick is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
• Cost: There is free parking. General admission tickets cost $12.99 per person Monday through Friday; $16.99 per person Saturdays, Sundays, Labor Day and Columbus Day. $11.99 for seniors get in for $11.99, free for kids age 2 and younger.

More information via Goebbert's website.

Stade's Farm & Market

• Address: 3709 Miller Road, McHenry
• Season opening date: Stade's fall farmtractions theme park and Shades of Autumn Fall Festival opened Sept. 7
• Attractions: Stade's offers its Shades of Autumn Fall Festival, which includes a petting zoo, mazes, the pumpkin barrel train, carousel, trikes for tykes, hamster run, authentic semi-truck slide, apple cannons, tractor left, strawberry swirl swing ride, barrel train, ferris wheel, climbing web, duck races, giant jumping pillow and much more. Stade's also has a weekly worship service at 10 a.m. on Sunday where an inspiring message, worship music, apple cider donuts and coffee are provided.
• Pumpkins and produce: Stade's offers U-Pick raspberries, apples, pumpkins, green beans, tomatoes and sugar snap peas. U-Pick hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stade's market has in-season fruits and vegetables, freshly baked pies and Apple Cider Donuts, salsa, spices, gluten-free items, soup mixes, eggs, honey, gift items and much more.
• Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in September, as well as Columbus Day and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October
• Cost: General admission is free, parking is free. General admission is $15 for ages 3 to 64 years old, 64 and older are $10. Free for kids age 2 and younger.

More information via Stade's website.

Kuiper's Family Farm

• Address: 1N318 Watson Road in Maple Park
• Season opening date: The pumpkin farm opens on Sept. 21.
• Hours of operation: Monday though Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Attractions: Corn mazes, tractor train, pig races, jumping pillow, haunted forest, tractor tire mountain, mountain slide, duck races and more.
• Pumpkins and produce: Pumpkins available Sept. Sept. 21; Honey Crisp apples availbale while they last starting Sept. 14, Jonathan apples Sept. 15.
• Cost: $15.99 weekdays excluding Columbus Day. $17.99 weekends and Columbus Day. Pumpkin included with cost of admission. $10.99 for seniors and military with ID.

More via Kuiper's Family Farm website or by calling 815-827-5200.

Richardson Adventure Farm

• Address: 909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove
• Season opening date: Sept. 7
• Hours of operation: 3 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 14. On Friday the 13th and Saturday, Sept. 14, the Adventure Farm Grounds and corn maze are open until midnight for Full Moon Weekend. The maze is also open until midnight on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11 and 12.
• Attractions: The 28-acre maze —which the farm touts as the world's largest — opened Sept. 7. This year's theme celebrates the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 – the first time man walked on the moon. Along with the maze, there's a 700-foot zip line and 50-foot observation tour; ORBiting, which involves riding in side a giant 11-foot ball; live pig races; jumping pillows; giant slides, pedal carts and wagon rides; and campfires.
• Pumpkins and produce: The farm has pick-your-own pumpkins
• Cost: Prices vary by event. Check the farm's website.

More information via Richardson Adventure Farm's website.

Abbey Farms

• Address: 2855 Hart Road in Aurora
• Season opening: Pumpkin Daze is from Sept. 21 to Oct. 27
• Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and the park is closed but store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. Late-night corn maze and Movies in the Park 6 to 10 p.m. Saturdays.
• Attractions: A large corn maze that offers nighttime hours, corn cannons and human hamster balls, the tractor tire mountain, hayrides, weekend petting zoo, craft beer tent on Saturday and Sunday, and more.
• Pumpkins and produce: Abbey Farms has a 40-acre pick-your-own pumpkin farm
• Cost: General admission tickets cost $15 each on weekends and holidays, and $11 each on weekdays and are available online or walk-up. $8 Saturday night admission after 8 p.m. $6.99 for home field heroes, military, seniors.

More via Abbey Farms website.

Siegel's Cottonwood Farm

• Address: 17250 Weber Road, Lockport
• Season opening: Sept. 28 to Oct. 31
• Hours of operation: Garden Center, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Pumpkin Fest: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
• Attractions: Hayrack rides, barnyard playland, duck waddle races, Ghost Town Railroad, farm animals, the famous 12-acre Spookley corn maze and more. First Responders Appreciation Weekend is Sept. 28 and 29; all active police, firefighter or paramedic, along with their spouse and children, get free admission.
• Pumpkins, produce and more: Siegel's has a real pumpkin field that families can take a hayrack ride out to and pick a pumpkin right off the vine.
• Cost: Weekdays (excluding Columbus Day) $11.99; Weekdays After School Special (excluding Columbus Day) $9.99; Weekends (Sat, Sun) and Columbus Day $18.95 ; Weekends All Inclusive Pass (Sat, Sun) and Columbus Day $26.95.

More via Siegel's Cottonwood Farm website.

Bengtson's

• Address: 13341 W. 151st. Street, Homer Glen
• Season opening: Sept. 13 to Nov. 4
• Hours of operation: Hours vary. More information is available on Bengston's website.
• Attractions: Tractor Town, Happy Swing, chicken truck, mega slide, cow coaster, free selfie booth, gemstone and arrow head mining, pony rides, petting zoo, haunted barn, pumpkins and more.
• Pumpkins, produce and more: You can pick the perfect pumpkin, take home some of Bengtson's specialty products, enjoy an apple cider donut and several other delectable treats.
• Cost: Admission ranges from $11.99 to $22.99 depending on the day and time. See the website for more details. Military (active duty or retired) are admitted free with ID.

More via the Bengston's website.

Johansen's Farm

• Address: 710 W. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook
• Season opening: Sept. 14
• Hours of operation: The Children's Zoo & Fall Festival, and Open Market & Pumpkin Patch are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting on Sept. 14 through Oct. 31.
• Attractions: There are over 500 animals, including steers to miniature ponies to little lambs. During the fall, many of the animals at the farm often give birth, and a sow can have up to 12 piglets, so there is a good chance you and your kiddos could meet a cute baby animal or two. You can also hold a baby chick. Other attractions include a giant inflatable obstacle course, miniature golf, pony rides, hayrides, train rides, airslides, corn maze, pumpkin bouncer and more.
• Pumpkins, produce and more: There is free parking and no charge to visit the pumpkin patch and open market area.There is a piehouse and bakery, fall decor and autumn treat shop.
• Cost: Admission price includes all animals, rides and activities. Admission is $9.95 per person on the weekdays, $14.95 per person on the weekend and Columbus Day. Free for kids ages 23 months and younger; $9 for seniors on weekdays and $12 weekends and Columbus Day. Free for anyone with a military ID.

More via Johansen's Farms website.

Heap's Giant Pumpkin Farm

• Address: 4853 US Highway 52, Minooka
• Season opening: Sept. 7; open Halloween and Columbus Day
• Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily
• Attractions: A haunted, interactive corn maze, hay rides, heaps o' fun barn, farm animals, live entertainment, moonlight hayrides and more.
• Pumpkins, produce and more: Catch a hay ride out to our 25-acre pumpkin patch full of 90 different varieties of pumpkins, gourds and squash.
• Cost: Free admission to the farm and free parking. Daytime tickets to the barnyard on a weekday is $6 per person and weekend passes are $8 per person. There are additional charges

More via Heap's Giant Pumpkin Farm.

Dollinger Family Farm

• Address: 7420 E. Hansel Road, Channahon
• Season opening: Fall Frenzy is 3:30 to 6 p.m. Sept. 13; opening day is Monday, Sept. 16
• Hours of operation: Farm is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Attractions: Barn animals, bee barn, playground, corn pit, four-acre corn maze, miniature train ride, hay rides, face painting and more. Check out the calendar for a list of special events.
• Pumpkins, produce and more: Come and find your perfect pumpkin for carving, decorating or making a pie. There is also a wide variety of gourds, squash, corn shocks, straw bales, mums and mini pumpkins.
• Cost: Free admission and parking. Pumpkins vary from 75 cents to $25. Corn maze is $4 per person.

More via the Dollinger Farms website.

Konow's Corn Maze

• Address: 16849 S Cedar Road, Homer Glen
• Season opening: Sept. 21
• Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday
• Attractions: Konow's has two corn mazes--one with 3.4 miles of twists and turns and a .4-mile kids' corn maze. Konow's also has an animal barn, fun rides, and indoor activities, including a massive corn pit, a western town, putting green, weekend face painting, evening campfires and a shooting gallery.
• Cost: $10 per person on Monday through Friday and $12 per person on Saturday and Sunday. Ages 2 and younger get in free. Active military and veterans get in free when they show their military ID.

More via Konow's Corn Maze website.

More fall fun:

• Fall Foliage Peak Map 2019: When Autumn Leaves Are Best In Illinois
• Apple Orchards, Corn Mazes: Chicago-Area 2019 Guide

If we missed your favorite pumpkin patch, be sure to share it with readers in the comments section.