New Lenox Fall Fun: Pumpkin Patches, Spooky Stories

NEW LENOX, IL — Halloween is almost upon us in New Lenox, 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 New Lenox.

Siegel's Cottonwood Farm

• Address: 17250 Weber Road, Lockport
• Season: Sept. 26 to Oct. 31
• Hours of operation: Country store: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Pumpkin Fest: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday to Sunday.
• Attractions: Giant checkers, and tic tac toe, straw mountain, the famous corn maze (this year's theme is "Peace on Earth"), Connect 4, Peter Pumpkin Show and more. Stateville Haunted House closed for 2020 due to COVID-19.
• Pumpkins, produce and more: Siegel's has a real pumpkin field that families can take a hayrack ride out to and pick a pumpkin right off the vine.
• Cost: $19.95 on site/$16.95 online Friday to Sunday and Columbus Day. Weekend all-inclusive pass (Saturday/Sunday and Columbus Day) $27.95, must be purchased online. Free admission for military, police and fire with ID. ATMs available.

More via Siegel's Cottonwood Farm website.

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.

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.