Area farms the places to go for those still needing pumpkins - and autumnal fun
A pumpkin seeker finds a worthy specimen at Siegel's Cottonwood Farm in Lockport, while a freshly harvested batch is brought in for visitors at Goebbert's Pumpkin Patch in Pingree Grove. These family-friendly sites are among several in the area with pumpkins to sell and plenty of amusements for all to enjoy these days leading up to Halloween. (photos provided)
What? Halloween is next week?! Fret not, jack-o-latecomers. Pumpkin hunting sites are still open throughout the area, most of them through Oct. 31, and they have lots of other amusements to offer to make it worth the excursion. So pack up the family and head to the suburban hinterlands in search of the orange orbs that will make the seasonal decor complete.
The 40-acre pick-your-own pumpkin patch at Abbey Farms, 2855 Hart Road, Aurora, is open through Sunday, Oct. 27. Other attractions include a large corn maze that offers nighttime hours, corn cannons and human hamster balls, the tractor tire mountain, hayrides, a weekend petting zoo and a craft beer tent on Saturday and Sunday.
Abbey Farms is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission is $15 on weekends and holidays, $11 on weekdays, $6.99 for seniors and military.
Visit https://www.abbeyfarms.org or call (630) 966-7775.
Check out Pumpkin Fest at Bengtson's, 13341 W. 151st St., Homer Glen through Sunday, Nov. 3, for selecting the perfect pumpkin. While there visitors can also enjoy features like Tractor Town, Happy Swing, chicken truck, mega slide, cow coaster, free selfie booth, gemstone and arrow head mining, pony rides, a petting zoo and the haunted barn.
Bengtson's is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. Admission ranges from $11.99 to $22.99 depending on the day and time. Active-duty and retired military are admitted free with ID.
Visit https://www.pumpkinfarm.com or call (708) 301-3276.
Goebbert's Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard, 42W813 Reinking Road, Pingree Grove, is holding its Fall Festival through Oct. 31. In addition to pumpkin picking, families can enjoy the haunted house, kiddie play land, straw maze, singing chickens, a pumpkin-eating dinosaur, pedal carts, animal land with a giraffe barn and pig family and pumpkin cannon. Pony and camel rides and shooting gallery attractions have a small fee.
Goebbert's is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $12.99 weekdays and $16.99 weekends, $11.99 for seniors, free for kids age 2 and younger.
Visit https://www.goebbertspumpkinpatch.com or call (847) 464-5952.
Johansen's Farm, 710 W. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook, has a pumpkin patch that's open until Oct. 31. More than 500 animals, from steers and miniature ponies to little lambs and baby chicks, will delight families at the Children's Zoo. The Fall Festival includes attractions such as a giant inflatable obstacle course, miniature golf, pony rides, hayrides, train rides, airslides, corn maze, pumpkin bouncer.
Johansen's Farm is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $9.95 per person on weekdays, $14.95 Saturday and Sunday; seniors pay $9/$12; and kids 23 months and younger and anyone with a military ID are free.
Visit https://www.johansenfarms.com or call (630) 759-8711.
Konow's Corn Maze, 16849 S. Cedar Road, Homer Glen, has plenty of pumpkins, but the name declares its claim to fame. Two corn mazes actually await visitors through Thursday, Oct. 31 - one with 3.4 miles of twists and turns and a .4-mile kids' maze. Konow's also has an animal barn, fun rides, and indoor activities, including a massive corn pit, a western town, putting green, weekend face painting, evening campfires and a shooting gallery.
Konow's Corn Maze is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission is $10 per person weekdays, $12 on Saturday and Sunday. Ages 2 and younger and active military and veterans with a military ID get in free.
Visit https://www.konowscornmaze.com or call (708) 301-8845.
Siegel's Cottonwood Farm, 17250 Weber Road, Lockport, has an authentic pumpkin patch, accessible by hayrack ride, for families to pick selections right off the vine through Oct. 31. The Pumpkin Fest features a barnyard playland, duck waddle races, Ghost Town Railroad, farm animals, the famous 12-acre Spookley corn maze and more.
Siegel's Cottonwood Farm's Pumpkin Fest is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission is $11.95 weekdays ($9.99 after school hours) and $18.95 weekends. Kids 2 and younger are free.
Visit https://www.ourpumpkinfarm.com or call (800) 304-3276.
