Frankfort-Area Halloween 2020: Pumpkin Patches, Events

FRANKFORT, 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 Frankfort 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 Frankfort:

Heap's Giant Pumpkin Farm

• Address: 4853 US Highway 52, Minooka
• Season: Sept. 12-Oct. 31; open Columbus Day
• Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily
• Attractions: Pumpkin patch, Heaps' 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 hay ride 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 nad plants, corn stalks, straw, general store and concession stand.

More via Heap's Giant Pumpkin Farm.

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 Bengtson's website. No weekday admission for 2020.
• 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. See the website for more details. Military (active duty or retired) are admitted free with ID. Pony rides an additional $6.

More via the Bengtson's website.

Konow's Corn Maze

• Address: 16849 S Cedar Road, Homer Glen
• Season: Sept. 19-Oct. 30
• Hours of operation: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Closed on Tuesdays.
• 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, hayrides, two corn pits, two jumping pillows, a western town, putting green, weekend face painting, evening campfires and a shooting gallery. Masks must be worn on all rides and 6-feet social distancing is in effect on the grounds.
• Cost: $10 per person on Monday through Friday and $12 per person on Saturday, Sunday and Columbus Day. $13 admission on Charity Day (Oct. 4). 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.

Fall events in Frankfort:

• Pumpkin Carving Virtual Contest: The Frankfort Park District is hosting a virtual contest for pumpkin carving. You can take a photo of your pumpkin and send it to info@frankfortparks.org by Oct. 30.
• Scarecrow Building Contest: Head out to the Founders Community Center, 140 Oak St., to vote for your favorite scarecrow design. Voting will run from Oct. 9 - Oct. 31, and you can vote at the community center office or on the park district's Facebook.
• Howl-A-Woof: Bring your dog to this event, which includes a costume competition, bone yard hunt and trick-or-treating. Gates will open at 9:50 a.m. Oct. 17 at Bark Park at Commissioners Park,

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

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