Several Apple Orchards Opening Over Labor Day Weekend in Chicago Area

It may be hard to believe, but apple picking season has already arrived for some Chicago-area orchards, while many more are planning to open over the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

Some of these locations are simple, no-frills orchards that offer just apples and some other produce to pick — and perhaps, some apple cider doughnuts for sale — while others offer fall activities and plenty of them (we are talking corn mazes, wagon rides, petting zoos, pumpkin bowling, duck races and much, much more).

Patch has compiled a list of some of the best apple orchards in the Chicago suburbs and when those orchards will be opening.

McHenry County

Royal Oak Farm Orchard

The orchard opened on Aug. 19 and will remain open through Nov. 19.

Address: 15908 Hebron Road, Harvard, IL

Details: You can venture out to pick-your-own apples or pumpkins at Royal Oak Farm, or visit the Apple Barn or Harvest Barn for fresh picked apples, melons, pre-picked peaches, pumpkins, squash, apple cider and apple cider slushees. The orchard has over 16,000 apple trees and over 30 varieties of apples with new varieties being planted each spring and also grows late summer Sugar Cube Melons as well as pumpkins, giant pumpkins, gourds and winter squash. For crop updates, visit the Royal Oak crop website.
The bakery sells fresh apple cider donuts and other items and you can get a fresh meal at the Country Kitchen Restaurant.
The orchard also boasts the country’s only apple tree maze, Amaze 'N Apples, where you can wander through 1.5 miles of trails with nine varieties of apples. The entertainment area has no admission fee and has open hay rides on Friday and Saturday nights. Each guest can purchase entertainment tokens for rides on the train, carousel, hay ride or orchard gour rides.

Hours of Operation: Through Oct. 31, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. From November 1 through November 19, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: No admission or parking fees but added costs for some attractions.

Phone: 815-648-4141

More information via the Royal Oak Farm Orchard website

All Seasons Apple Orchard

All Seasons will open for the season on Sept. 3 and will be open daily, rain or shine, through Oct. 30.

Address: 14510 IL Route 176, Woodstock

Details: Upon arrival at All Seasons, you’ll head to the orchard by hayride, past the corn maze, pumpkin patch and barnyard play area. Inside the apple orchard you’ll be surrounded by over 10,000 apple trees. Barnyard activities available on the weekends and holidays include: a corn maze, petting zoo, bunny village, rat roller, giant swings, spider web, mini zip line, tire mountain, pumpkin checkers, pumpkin bowling, pedal karts, jumping pillow, goat bridge, tube slide, sand box, wagon ride, corn box, corn hole, giant rocker, duck races, country classroom, bee observation, cow train, magic shows, pig races and bouncy houses. The apple cannons, pumpkin cannons and pony rides are available for an additional fee. There are also activities available during the week (see here for more details). The pumpkin patch opens at the end of September.

Each year over 10 acres at All Seasons is transformed into a corn maze with over three miles of pathways and a lookout bridge. The corn maze has two paths: a shorter one for youngsters, and a more challenging one for the maze enthusiast. Admission to the corn maze is included in the barnyard admission.

All Seasons also has a bakery, with apple cider doughnuts; country kitchen and country concession, which serves up food; and farm market, where you can buy fresh pressed apple cider, pre-picked apples and more

Hours of Operation for apple orchard and barnyard: Weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends and holidays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More information on hours of operation can be found on All Seasons’ website.

Admission Costs: More information on the All Seasons’ website

Phone: (815) 338-5637

More via the All Seasons websitePrairie Sky Orchard

Prairie Sky Orchard

Prairie Sky Orchard will be opening on Sept. 3 for the fall season.

• Address: 4914 N. Union Road, Union
• Details: This apple orchard has a variety of apples to pick and also has pre-picked apples and other produce, including Asian pears and pumpkins and squash. The store sells fresh apple cider donuts, a variety of pies, raw honey and more. The Koffee Kiosk, which opened in 2015, is a great place to coffee, lunch, and a fresh piece of apple pie.
• More information on the you-pick crop can be found on Prairie Sky’s website
• Hours of Operation: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
• Admission: Free admission and parking
• Phone: 815-923-4834

More information via the Prairie Sky Orchard website

More Than Delicious Orchard

• More Than Delicious Orchard opens for the 2016 season on Sept. 10.

Address: 9905 Thompson Road in Woodstock

Hours of Operation: Open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Days and hours may change due to weather or the current status of the ripe crop, so those planning a visit to the orchard or encouraged to first check the orchard’s website or Facebook page.

Admission: No admission costs

Phone: 815-575-9650

More information via the More Than Delicious Orchard website

Lang’s Orchard

• Lang’s Orchard will open on Sept. 10 for the fall season.

Address: 17411 Secor Road, Woodstock
Hours of Operation: Open Saturday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on Thursday and Friday.
Details: The orchard offers a variety of apples for picking and a store where you can pick up fruit spreads and salsas, apple butter and more.
Admission: No admission cost
Phone: 815-568-7547

More information via Lang’s website

Woodstock Country Orchard

• Woodstock Country Orchard opens on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. for the fall season.

Address: 17015 Garden Valley Road, Woodstock
Details: The apple orchard offers a variety of apples in a peaceful, country setting with “no carnival extravaganza.” There is also apple cider, donuts, raspberries, maple syrup and honey available for sale.
Hours of operation: Open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays
Admission: No admission costs
Phone: 815-923-4359

Lake County

Heinz Orchard

The “no-frills” orchard, which offers purely apple-picking fun in a country atmosphere, will announce its opening date the first week of September. Check the Heinz Orchard Facebook page for more updates.

Address: 1050 Crest Road, Green Oaks, IL 60048

Hours of Operation: The orchard has not yet released its 2016 hours of operation. Check the orchard’s website for updates.

Admission: No admission costs

Phone: 847-770-3449

More via the Heinz Orchard website

DeKalb County

Jonamac Orchard

• Jonamac Orchard opened on Aug. 24 for the fall 2016 season. Visitors can come in and get some apple donuts but apple picking and activities will not start until Labor Day weekend.

Address: 9412 Shabbona Road in Malta

Details: You can pick-your-own apples and your own pumpkins at Jonamac’s Orchard.There are hayrides, apple cart concessions stand, campfire sites that you can rent, a jumping pillow, barnyard play area, corn maze, apple cannons and launcher, pumpkin howitzer (when the pumpkin patch is open), and a petting zoo. Stock up on apple donuts, pies, fresh baked breads, apple pizzas and apple wines in the country store.

Hours of Operation and pricing: Visit the Jonamac’s Orchard website for details.

Phone: (815) 825-2158

More via the Jonamac Orchard website

Kuipers Family Farm

• Kuipers Family Farm opened for the fall season on Aug. 20.

Address: 1N318 Watson Road, Maple Park

Hours of Operation: Open on Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission: Information on pricing is available here.

Phone: (815) 827-5200, apple information line is extension 1

More via Kuipers Family Farm website

Honey Hill Orchards

• Honey Hill Orchards is now open for early season picking hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Address: 11783 Waterman Road in Waterman

Details: Those visiting Honey Hill Orchard can pick their own apples, raspberries and pumpkins. There is a bakery, the Apple Barn Country Store and the Feeding Trough, where you can enjoy an apple cider doughut, piece of pie or a pulled pork barbecue sandwich. Family activities include a farm petting zoo, where visitors can check out the horses, goats, pigs, rabbits, chickens and turkeys and a straw maze and climbing the straw pyramid. The Feeding Trough and farm petting zoo are not open during early season picking hours.

Photo credit: Honey Hill Orchard website

Hours of Operation: Early season picking hours are Aug. 23 through early September from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. From early September through Oct. 31, Honey Hill Orchard is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Admission: No admission costs

Phone: 815-264-3337

More information via Honey Hill Orchard

Plank Road Apple Orchard

Plank Road Apple Orchard is opening Sept. 3 for the fall season.

• Address: 50w737 Plank Rd Sycamore, IL 60178
• Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday
• Phone number: (815) 899-4020

More via the Plank Road Apple Orchard Facebook page

Boone County

Edwards Apple Orchard

• Edwards Apple Orchard will open for the fall season on Friday, Aug. 26.

Address: 7061 Centerville Road, Poplar Grove, IL 61065

Hours of Operation: In September and October, the orchard is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. In November, the orchard is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Details: A family-owned apple orchard with a mission of providing a farm experience to families. The farm offers crisp apples, warm apple cider donuts and freshly pressed apple cider.

Phone: 815-765-2234

For more information: edwardsappleorchard.net

Will County

Apples on Oak

Apples on Oak opened on Aug. 20 and 21 but will not be open the week, or weekend, of Aug. 22. The orchard is planning to re-open over Labor Day weekend. Check the website for updates.

• Address: 16146 W. Oak Avenue, Lockport
• Hours of operation: Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Details: Apples on Oak is a small you-pick orchard. Apples typically ripen in August and September and due to high demand, are usually gone by early October.
• Phone: (815) 726-0386

For more information: http://www.applesonoak.com/app...

Garden Patch Farms and Orchard

The Garden Patch and pick-your-own crops are open for a variety of crops now but fall festivities begin on Sept. 3.

• Address: 14158 W. 159th St. in Homer Glen
• Details: In addition to the Garden Patch’s Farm Stand, which sells produce grown in the fields, Garden Patch Farms is a playground for visitors that like to pick all of their own produce. In season, the Garden Patch offers a variety of items to pick. Check the Garden Patch’s website to find out what crops are currently available for picking.
• Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Open through Oct. 31
• Admission: $5 entrance fee to enter fields for picking. It’s $6 if you use a credit or debit card.
• Phone: 708-301-7720

More information via the Garden Patch website

Kendall County

Knutson Harvest

Open throughout the summer and fall for a variety of you-pick crops. A limited quantity of apples are currently available. Check the orchard’s website for more info.

• Address: 13550 Townhouse Road, Newark
• Details: Knutson's Country Harvest boasts many acres of peach, apple, and pear trees, along with several of those acres being planted in blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and Aronia Berries. In addition, visitors to the Knutson Country Harvest can visit our country store and bring the fun home with some of our delicious seasonal favorites like raw honey, bakery items, jams, jellies, pies, pickles, salsas, relishes, frozen fruits and ice cream toppings
• Phone: 815-695-5905

For more information: http://www.knutsonsharvest.com/ or check for updates on the Knuntson Harvest Facebook page.

Wisconsin

Harvest Times Orchard

• Harvest Times Orchard is opening on Aug. 27 for the fall season.

Address: 36116 128th St., Twin Lakes, WI

Details: Besides pick-your-own apples, there is a doughnut shop, brat shop, country smoke house, cider barn and overlook deck at the orchard. More information is available on Harvest Times Orchard’s website.

Hours of Operation: Apple picking is open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Visit Harvest Times’ website for more information on hours of operation for other services.

Phone: 262-877-4831

For more information: http://www.myharvesttime.com/

Indiana

County Line Orchard

• County Line Orchard will open on Aug. 31 for the fall season.

Address: 200 S County Line Road, Hobart, IN

Details: There is a you-pick apple orchard, orchard store, kitchen, grill and a variety of activities. The corn maze opens for the fall season on Sept. 3. The Kid’s Farm, which opens on Aug. 31, has a variety of fun activities: including the Moo Choo Ride, which is powered by Farmall Cub Tractors that pull “barrel” cars on a trip through and around the orchard. There are barn animals; a “Chickville,”where baby chicks hatch daily; a mini maze;a toddler play area; and more. You can rent out space for group campfires and also book group hayrides.

Hours of Operation: You pick is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Oct. 31. There are different hours of operation for a variety of activities and the store/kitchen. Visit County Line Orchard’s website for more info.

Phone: 219-947-4477

For more information: http://www.countylineorchard.com