LIBERTYVILLE, IL — Heading out to a pumpkin patch around Libertyville 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 Libertyville. Here are a few options:
- Didier Farms, 16678 Aptakisic Road, Lincolnshire: Happy Times Pumpkin Fest offers plenty of pumpkins along with a corn maze, Animal Land Zoo, Pumpkin Playland, amusement rides, pony and camel rides and other family activities. The annual festival runs through Oct. 31.
- Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm, 13236 W. Townline Road, Waukegan: The farm's 2026 season runs through Oct. 31 and features pumpkins in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, along with hayrides, a corn maze and farm animals. Pumpkins are priced by size, with specialty varieties, gourds, mini pumpkins, straw bales and corn stalks also available.
- Tobie Family Farm, 22070 W. Peterson Road, Grayslake: This family-run farm offers pumpkins along with a corn maze, hayrides, barrel train rides and other activities. The farm has free admission, with visitors paying separately for select attractions.
- Patch 22, 15900 W. Kelly Road, Wadsworth: The family-run children's farm sells thousands of farm-grown pumpkins during October, including traditional and specialty varieties. Visitors can also find gourds, ornamental corn, straw bales and corn stalks. The farm is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in October.
- 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.
Libertyville residents can also check out Lambs Farm, 14245 W. Rockland Road, which will host its Fall on the Farm celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 10. The event includes Farmyard admission, miniature train and carousel rides, mini golf, crafts, games and other fall activities.
How To Carve A Jack-o'-Lantern
Keep in mind that carving and baking pumpkins aren't the same. The former are grown in fields 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 the items individually around the house, here's what you could use:
- Curved boning knife or serrated knife from the kitchen
- 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 the pumpkin when you put it back on. Another option is cutting the pumpkin from 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 way, it is easier to trace the design onto the pumpkin.
- Make the cuts: Cut out the design, getting the big pieces of pumpkin out first and cleaning up the edges later.
- Light it: Light the pumpkin with a battery-operated light or candle in a holder, place it in the pumpkin and step back and admire your work.