Shorewood-Area Halloween 2020: Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes

SHOREWOOD, IL — Coronavirus has taken its toll on Illinois, canceling events and postponing sports, graduations and even weddings, but there’s one thing it hasn’t taken from us: Fall fun.

From pumpkin patches to apple orchards to corn mazes and fall events, there’s plenty to keep us busy as the weather turns cool and crisp.

Here’s a roundup of the places in and around Shorewood where you can pick a pumpkin, gather up fall apples, wind your way through a corn maze or attend a safe and socially distanced fall event.

Pumpkin patches, corn mazes near Shorewood:

Heap's Giant Pumpkin Farm

• Address: 4853 U.S. Highway 52, Minooka
• Season: Sept. 12 to Oct. 31; open Columbus Day
• Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily
• Attractions: Pumpkin patch, Heap's Home Cookin', bean maze, Milo's Castle, Heap's Giant Corn Maze, Heaps O-Fun Barn, farm animals and more. Haunted corn maze, flashlight maze and moonlight hayrides are closed for 2020.
• Pumpkins, produce and more: Catch a hayride out to the 25-acre pumpkin patch full of 90 different varieties of pumpkins, gourds and squash.
• Cost: Daytime tickets to the barnyard on a weekday is $6 per person (ages 3 and up) and weekend admission is $8 per person. Admission fee not required for pre-picked pumpkins and squash, mums and plants, corn stalks, straw, general store and concession stand.

More via Heap's Giant Pumpkin Farm.

BRONKBERRY FARMS

Address: 18061 South Bronk Road, Plainfield, near the Joliet intersection of Theodore Street, close to Shorewood.

Season: mid-April until Oct. 31.

Hours of operation: Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays.

Attractions: General store with canned goods, local honey, homemade pies, gifts, metal yard art, windchimes, bird houses and garden tools. Farm animals including chickens and goats. Hayrack rides, U-pick pumpkin patch, gourds, caramel apples, huge selection of mums including hanging mums.

Fall Fest Event: Bronkberry Farms Fall Fest goes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 10-11. The two-day event includes craft fair, food vendors, face painting, balloon twirling, hayrack rides at $3 per person, pumpkin painting which is the cost of pumpkin plus $2 and costume contests held at 10 a.m. noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Cost: Call Bronkberry Farms about admission fees and other questions. It's phone number is 815-436-6967.

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Dollinger Family Farm

• 7420 E. Hansel Road, Channahon
• Season: Sept. 14 to Oct. 30
• Hours of operation: Farm is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Attractions: Pumpkins, corn maze, barn animals, bee barn, playground, corn pit, 4-acre corn maze, miniature train ride, hayrides, face painting and more. Check out the calendar for a list of special events including a visit by Big Run Wolf Ranch, birds of prey exhibit, reptiles, chainsaw sculpting and more.
• 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.

Siegel's Cottonwood Farm

17250 Weber Road, Lockport

• Season: Sept. 26 to Oct. 31
• Hours of operation: Country store: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Pumpkin Fest: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday to Sunday.
• 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: $19.95 on site/$16.95 online Friday to Sunday and Columbus Day. Weekend all-inclusive pass (Saturday/Sunday and Columbus Day) $27.95, must be purchased online. Free admission for military, police and fire with ID. ATMs available.

• 2020 Fall Foliage Peak Map: When Leaves Are Best In Illinois
• Fall Fun Amid COVID-19: Illinois Apple Orchards, Fall Fests Reopen

Bengtson's

• Address: 13341 W. 151st. Street, Homer Glen
• Season: Sept. 25 to Nov. 2
• Hours of operation: Hours vary. More information is available on 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, fun 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 $13.99 to $25.99 depending on the day and time.

More fall fun:

• Halloween 2020: Submit Your Haunt For Patch's Tour o' Scary Yards
• 2020 Fall Foliage Peak Map: When Leaves Are Best In Illinois
• Fall Fun Amid COVID-19: Illinois Apple Orchards, Fall Fests Reopen