Best Chicago-Area Pumpkin Patches 2018

It's that time of year again. Pumpkin patches and fall festivals are already open and in full swing and its 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.

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Sonny Acres Farm in West Chicago

• Address: 29W310 North Ave. in West Chicago
• Season's opening/closing date: Sept. 22 to Halloween
• Attractions: A giant slide, haunted wagon ride, 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, Indian corn and more. There are a variety of apples and a display of Halloween, harvest time, and Thanksgiving decorations.
• Hours of operation (in October): 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Thursdayand 10 a.m. to 9:30
• Cost: Check the Sonny Acres' website for more information

More information via the Sonny Acres' website or by calling 630-231-3859

Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm

• Address: 13236 W. Town Line Road in Waukegan
• Season's opening date: Sept. 15
• 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 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.
• Cost: 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 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. 22 and close for the season on 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.

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. 15
• Animal Land and Little Farmers Play Land and More: Activities include a giraffe barn, 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
• Cost: There is free parking and no general admission cost. Prices very for admission to the Animal Land and Little Farmer's Playland. Tickets cost $15 on the weekends and Columbus Day and $12 on 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 - Hampshire

• Address: 42W813 Reinking Road, Hampshire
• Season opening date: Sept. 15
• Attractions: Goebbert's has a full petting farm with farm animals to pet and feed. There is a pig and piglets, llamas, goats, cows and baby chicks as well as some exotic animals, including a giraffe and kangaroos. There is a Bunny town where the bunnies hang out and Goat Mountain where the goats play. Other attractions include pony rides, camel rides, pig racing, haunted house, corn stalk maze, a munchkin maze, large pumpkin slide and more.
• New This Year: The Goebbert's in Hampshire will be hosting a fall (and winter) lights show. The fall lights show is open Tuesdays through Sunday starting on Oct. 2.
• 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.
• 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 $15 per person on Saturday and Sunday and $12 on Monday through Friday. Some attractions cost more.

More information via Goebbert's website.

Stade's Farm Market

• Address: 3709 Miller Road, McHenry
• Season opening date: Stade's fall farmtractions theme park opens on Sept. 8
• 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.
• Cost: General admission is free, parking is free. General admission is $15 for ages 3 to 64 years old, 64 and older are $10.

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. 15.
• 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: You can pick apples and pumpkins whle at the farm or buy them in Stade's barn store.
• Cost: Monday through Wednesday, $11.99 per person, Thursday and Friday, $13.99 per person, $15.99 on weekends and holidays. 2 years old and under are free and seniors and those with military ID are $7.99

More via Kuiper's Family Farm website.

Richardson Adventure Farm

• Address: 909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove
• Season opening date: Sept. 1
• Hours of operation: 3 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 12 to 10 p.m. on Sunday. The corn maze will be open until midnight on Sept. 21 to 22 and Oct. 26 to 27.
• Attractions: The 28-acre maze —which the farm touts as the world's largest — opened Sept. 1. 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. MORE ON PATCH: Richardson Adventure Farm Reveals Corn Maze Design
• Pumpkins and produce: The farm has pick-your-own pumpkins
• Cost: Prices vary and more information is available here.

More information via Richardson Adventure Farm's website.

Abbey Farms

• Address: 850 Butterfield Road in Aurora
• 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.
• Attractions: A large corn maze that offers nighttime hours, corn cannons and human hamster balls, the tractor tire mountain, hayrides, weekend petting zoo and more. Abbey Farms has Saturday night movie night, where favorites such as the Addams Family, E.T., the Goonies, Monsters, Inc. and Hocus Pocus will be shown.
• Pumpkins and produce: Abbey Farms has a 40-acre pick-your-own pumpkin farm
• Cost: General admission tickets cost $14.99 each on weekends and $10.99 each on weekdays and are available online or walk-up. This one price includes access to most activities. A few attractions cost extra on the weekends.

More via Abbey Farms website.

Siegel's Cottonwood Farm

• Address: 17250 Weber Road, Lockport
• 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: Duck waddle race, mountain slide, giant pumpkin weigh off, ziplines, pumpkin drop and smash, Jason's tire mountain, Ghost Town railroad, pony and horse rides, farm animals, the spookley corn maze and more.
• 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.

More via Siegel's Cottonwood Farm website.

Bengtson's

• Address: 13341 W. 151st. Street, Homer Glen
• Hours of operation: Hours vary. More information is available on Bengston's website.
• Attractions: A cow coaster, tractor pulled hayrack rides, pony rides, barnyard animals and petting zoo, pumpkin chucker, haunted barn, pig races, flying frog ride, 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: General admission on Monday through Thursday in September as well as Wednesdays all season long is $9.99. Otherwise, admission ranges from $11.99 per person to $16.99 per person, depending on the day. The website has more details.

More via the Bengston's website.

Johansen's Farm

• Address: 710 W. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook
• 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.

More via Johansen's Farms website.

Heap's Pumpkin Farm

• Address: 4853 U.S. Highway 52, Minooka
• Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily
• Attractions: A haunted 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 Farms

• Address: 4853 US Highway 52, Minooka
• Hours of operation: 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.
• 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.

More via the Dollinger Farms website.

Konow's Corn Maze

• Address: 16849 S Cedar Road, Homer Glen
• 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, and a shooting gallery.

• Cost: $10 per person on Monday through Friday and $12 per person on Saturday and Sunday ($1 OFF if you bring a dog/cat food item for the local animal shelters). Ages 2 and younger are free. Active military and veterans are free when they show their military ID.
  

More via Konow's Corn Maze website.

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