Families selecting orange pumpkins in a field at a Chicagoland farm on an October afternoon

Every Year in Chicagoland

Chicagoland Pumpkin Farms Worth the Drive This October

Ten pumpkin farms open for October around Chicago. Find prices, hours, and what each offers—from free patches to rides and corn mazes.

By HellginOctober 8, 20269 min read

You know the Saturday. The kids are already in costume, somebody wants apple cider donuts, and everyone wants a real pumpkin patch instead of a stack of pumpkins outside the grocery store. Ten farms around Chicago are still open this month. They're in the northwest suburbs, in Kane and DuPage counties, and down in Will County. Some are full ride parks and some are quieter barnyards, and one of them lets you walk into the patch for free. Below is each farm, what it charges, and when it closes for the season. Prices and hours were current as of Oct. 7.

The farms worth the drive

Northwest - Goebbert's, South Barrington (40 W. Higgins Road): the closer Goebbert's, with an animal area that includes a giraffe. It's open every day through Nov. 1. - Goebbert's, Pingree Grove (42W813 Reinking Road): a wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch and 35 acres of apple trees. - Richardson Adventure Farm, Spring Grove (909 English Prairie Road): a 28-acre corn maze that the farm calls the world's largest. It's open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. - All Seasons Orchard, Woodstock (14510 Illinois Route 176): a lower-priced barnyard day with a corn maze and u-pick apples. - Happy Times Pumpkin Fest at Didier Farms, Lincolnshire (16678 Aptakisic Road): no admission charge, and you buy tickets for the attractions you want.

West - Kuipers Family Farm, Maple Park (1N318 Watson Road): a full Kane County day that's celebrating its 25th fall this year. - Sonny Acres Farm, West Chicago (29W310 North Ave.): the closest farm on this list for many readers. The pumpkins are already picked, and it has haunted nights.

Southwest - Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm, Homer Glen (13341 W. 151st St.): a ride park that has run a fall festival since 1981. - Siegel's Cottonwood Farm, Lockport (17250 Weber Road): open every day, with a hayride out to the pumpkin field. - Johansen Farms, Bolingbrook (710 W. Boughton Road): the patch is free to walk, and the children's zoo is a separate ticket.

What the ticket covers

These farms charge in three ways.

One price for the rides and the grounds. Bengtson's, Richardson, both Goebbert's farms, Siegel's and the Kuipers FunFarm all work this way. On October weekends, Bengtson's charges $38.99, Richardson charges $32 for ages 13 and up, Pingree Grove charges $30, and South Barrington charges $27 at the gate. Patch lists South Barrington weekend tickets at $24 online. Siegel's weekend tickets run $29.95, according to Patch.

A free gate, with tickets for rides. Didier charges $1 per attraction ticket, and each attraction takes more than one. Johansen's patch and market are free, and only the zoo has a charge.

The pumpkin is almost always extra. At Bengtson's, Richardson and Pingree Grove, you pay separately for the pumpkin you take home. Plan on paying for food separately too.

Most of these farms let children 2 and under in free. Bengtson's is the exception: only children 1 year or under get in free, and everyone else pays the same price. At Johansen, the free age is 23 months and younger. Parking is free at Bengtson's, Richardson, All Seasons, Kuipers, Sonny Acres and Johansen.

Northwest of the city

South Barrington Goebbert's is open every day, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., through Nov. 1. Admission is $20 on weekdays. Its Animal Land has a giraffe, camels, kangaroos, llamas and zebras. The grounds also have a corn-stalk maze, pig races, a duck derby, a jumping pillow and a dinosaur that "eats" pumpkins. Gem mining, pony rides and camel rides cost extra. You can shop the market without a wristband, but everyone 3 and older needs one for the activities. The market stays open into late November, so you can come back for Thanksgiving pie pumpkins.

Pingree Grove Goebbert's is the second family location. It opened in 1985, and its orchard was planted in 2017. The wagon ride to the patch and the apple trees is included. You pay at the market for what you pick, and the farm grows 18 apple varieties. This location also has a giraffe barn. Patch lists the hours as 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. On Fridays there's live music from 5 to 7 p.m. through Oct. 30. The season ends Oct. 31. October weekend tickets are $30, and the farm's ticket page has the weekday price. Outside food is not allowed.

Richardson Adventure Farm goes late. It's closed Monday through Wednesday. It's open Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. This year's maze honors America's 250th birthday with signers of the Declaration, a Betsy Ross flag and an eagle. Admission covers the maze, a 50-foot observation tower, the train, the wagon ride, the carousel, pig races and the slides. The zip line is $17 per rider. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome.

All Seasons Orchard has barnyard admission starting at $9. That includes a 6-acre corn maze with a Dolly Parton theme. An apple bag starts at $12, and a combo ticket starts at $19. Pre-picked pumpkins at the Pumpkin Station don't require admission. The farm is closed Tuesdays.

Didier Farms is closed Tuesdays and otherwise open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A donut shop opened there this year. Patch says the horse-drawn wagon rides are weekends only.

West: Maple Park and West Chicago

Kuipers is the bigger trip west. You don't need a ticket to visit the Orchard Shop. The Pumpkin FunFarm and the U-Pic orchard are sold separately. The FunFarm starts at $19.99 and has more than 30 activities, including a corn maze, a jumping pillow and a corn box. Weekend apple picking is $14.99, and a weekend bundle of both starts at $35.99. Buying online adds a fee. Pig races, live music and a bar run on weekends.

Be careful about apples this year. In mid-September, general manager Joe Kuipers told Shaw Local that a warm spring brought the apples in early. He said anyone who wanted to pick should come before Oct. 1. The farm was still selling orchard tickets on Oct. 7, so check the orchard page the morning you go. The shop keeps selling apples after picking ends. In October, Kuipers is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays.

Sonny Acres is the closer, easier stop. Its pumpkins are already picked and set out in the patch. It's closed Mondays. It's open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. The farm's page gives two answers on admission. One section says weekends cost $10, with kids 12 and under free and a ride ticket included. Another section says admission is free and rides cost extra. Check before you go. The haunted hayride and haunted barn run on select nights through Oct. 30. Dogs aren't allowed during Fall Fest.

Southwest: Homer Glen, Lockport and Bolingbrook

Bengtson's has the highest October weekend price on this list, $38.99. Fridays are $26.99, and Monday through Thursday is $23.99. The ticket includes unlimited rides, among them 14 mechanical rides. The mining sluice, food and pumpkins cost extra. The farm is cashless: at the gate you pay with a U.S. credit or debit card or a phone wallet. There are no refunds or rain checks for bad weather. Pets aren't allowed, except service animals. Active-duty military and veterans get in free with one guest if they buy in person with ID. Daily hours vary, so check the farm's site for the day you plan to go.

Siegel's Cottonwood Farm is open every day, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., through Nov. 1. Patch counts 49 attractions there, including a corn maze, slides and a corn box. Tickets range from $19.95 on weekdays to $41.95 for a weekend all-inclusive pass. Patch says military members, veterans, police officers and firefighters get in free with ID.

Johansen Farms is the place for families who only want a pumpkin. You can walk the patch, the market and the pie house for free. The children's zoo is $18.95 on October weekdays and $26.95 on weekends. It includes hayrides, the train, a corn maze and mini golf. Seniors 62 and older pay $15.95 on weekdays and $23.95 on weekends. Pets aren't allowed.

The rest of this October

Once you've picked a farm, check the calendar. Monday, Oct. 12 (Columbus Day) is treated like a weekend day at several farms. Bengtson's charges $38.99 that day, Johansen's zoo charges $26.95, and South Barrington charges its weekend gate price of $27. Kuipers opens an hour early that day, and Sonny Acres opens even though it's usually closed Mondays.

Last days come up fast. Sonny Acres closes Oct. 30. Pingree Grove, Didier and Johansen close Oct. 31, which is Halloween and a Saturday this year. South Barrington, Richardson, All Seasons, Kuipers and Siegel's close Nov. 1. Bengtson's stays open through Nov. 8, and it drops to $31.99 on its last weekend.

Weekdays are the cheaper days almost everywhere. If you want apples, Kuipers may already be winding down. If you want to bring the dog, Richardson is the one farm here that says leashed dogs are welcome. Sonny Acres, Bengtson's and Johansen don't allow pets.

Sources (30)

Photo by HoBoTrails12AM on Pixabay.