Frankfort Fall Fun: Pumpkin Patches, Spooky Stories

FRANKFORT, IL — Halloween is almost upon us in Frankfort, and there’s still time to get in some seasonal fun. Even in the time of coronavirus, the Chicago area’s pumpkin patches are open — and there’s still time to scare up some fun with Patch’s tour of spooky yard haunts and tales of local lore.

Here’s a list of some of our favorite pumpkin patches 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.

And if pumpkin patches aren’t enough to get you into the Halloween spirit, check out Patch’s tour of haunted yards

• Patch 202 Guide to Chicagoland’s Best Halloween Yards - Part 1
• Patch 2020 Guide To Chicagoland's Best Halloween Yards - Part 2

And while you’re at it, read through Patch’s roundup of urban legends and vote for the scariest — from Resurrection Mary to the Demon Barber of Palos.

More fall fun:

• 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, be sure to share it with readers in the comments section.