GRAYSLAKE, IL — Heading out to a pumpkin patch around Grayslake to pick the best or biggest pumpkin isn't just about finding the perfect Halloween jack-o'-lantern.
It's one of those fall traditions that gets people outside, into the fields and together with family and friends — with a little fresh air, a little dirt and, ideally, a pumpkin worth hauling home.
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Many pumpkin patches and farms make a day of it, with hayrides, corn mazes, animals, games for the kids and other seasonal activities. Picking up a pumpkin at a local farm also supports the farmers who planted, tended and harvested the crop.
Whether you plan to carve a jack-o'-lantern or just add some festive flair to your stoop, there are plenty of places to find a pumpkin near Grayslake. Here are a few options:
- Tobie Family Farm, 22082 W. Peterson Road, Grayslake: The local pumpkin farm's 2026 season runs Sept. 18 through Oct. 31. In addition to pumpkins, visitors can check out a corn maze, hayrides, barrel train rides and a bounce house. The farm is open from 1 to 7 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.
- Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm, 13236 W. Townline Road, Waukegan: Kroll's fall season runs through Oct. 31 and features pumpkins, a corn maze, hayrides and farm animals. Pumpkins come in a range of sizes, colors and varieties and are priced by size. Weekend admission includes the corn maze, hayride and animal area, while weekday admission to the farm is free with activities priced separately.
- Patch 22, 15900 W. Kelly Road, Wadsworth: This family-run children's farm offers pumpkins and seasonal goods during the fall along with its farm animals and other kid-friendly activities.
- Stade's Farm & Market, 3709 Miller Road, McHenry: Stade's offers a 30-acre pumpkin patch along with its Shades of Autumn Fall Festival. The festival runs through Nov. 1 and features more than 50 farm-themed attractions, including a corn maze, hayrides, petting zoo and giant slides.
- Didier Farms, 16678 Aptakisic Road, Lincolnshire: Happy Times Pumpkin Fest runs through Oct. 31 and features pumpkins, a corn maze, Animal Land Zoo, Pumpkin Playland, amusement rides, pony and camel rides, fall treats and other family activities. Admission and parking are free, with attractions requiring $1 tickets. The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through Sundays and is closed Tuesdays.
- Jerry Smith Farm, 7150 18th St., Kenosha, Wisconsin: A short trip across the state line brings visitors to Jerry Smith Farm, where Fall on the Farm features more than 40 varieties of pumpkins along with a six-acre corn maze, hayrides, petting zoo, bounce pads and other family activities. The farm is also known for its elaborate hand-painted pumpkin displays. The 2026 fall season runs through Nov. 1.
How To Carve A Jack-o'-Lantern
Keep in mind that carving and baking pumpkins aren't the same. The former are grown to be large, more vibrantly colored and relatively hollow. The watery flesh doesn't have the same flavor as baking pumpkins, which tend to be smaller, have thicker, harder-to-carve walls and sweeter flesh. For those, you'll probably need to head to the grocery store.
Pumpkins for carving should appear sturdy and clean. Remember, this is the pumpkin that will be front and center on the porch for the Halloween season.
Pumpkin carving kits will go a long way in getting what you need. They typically include saws, a scooper, a drill and multiple patterns. If you're looking for items individually around the house, here's what you could use:
- Curved boning knife or serrated kitchen knife
- Ice cream scoop or scraper
- Paper
- Pencil or pen
- Candle or battery-operated light
- Lighter
Steps
- Cut it: If cutting from the top of the pumpkin, make sure to do it on an inward angle so the top won't drop inside when you put it back on. Another option is cutting an opening in the bottom, which can help prevent the sides from caving in later.
- Gut it: Use an ice cream scoop or your hands to remove all the seeds and other debris from inside the pumpkin. Do a thorough cleaning and make sure nothing is left sticking to the sides.
- Trace it: Draw your design on a piece of paper before putting it on the pumpkin itself. That makes it easier to trace the design onto the pumpkin.
- Make the cuts: Cut out the design, removing the larger pieces first before cleaning up the edges.
- Light it: Place a battery-operated light or a candle in a holder inside the pumpkin, then step back and admire your work.