The leaves are changing, the air is getting crisp, and fall is almost here! There’s no better way to celebrate the season than with visits to the countryside for fresh-picked apples and pumpkins, thrilling haunted houses, and cozy hayrides and campfires. 

Bucketlisters is here to help you make the most of fall with our list of the best farms, pumpkin patches, and festivals in Chicago. Get your flannel ready and get exploring!

Welcome Fall at Rosemont’s Family Fall Fest

Bring the whole family to welcome fall with a day of fun at Rosemont’s annual Family Fall Fest, hosted on Saturday, September 18. The event will feature festive free activities, including a bounce house, a petting zoo, face painting, pumpkins, balloon sculptors, and more. There will also be live music from the kid-friendly “ScribbleMonster” band to get you grooving. 

Where: Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont IL
For more information on Rosemont Fall Fest.

EXPLORE MORE:
The Best Places to See Fall Colors in Chicago
The Best Farms, Pumpkins Patches, and Fall Festivals in and Around Chicago

Celebrate creativity at Arts in the Dark’s Halloween parades

Arts in the Dark is an organization that celebrates the artistry of Halloween, and you won’t want to miss their not one, but two killer Halloween parades! The Upside Down Halloween Parade is a reverse parade that serves as the start of Chicago’s “Halloweek” of celebrations on October 22nd. At this unique event, visitors walk down a designated path to discover a series of performances by various arts groups stationed along the route.

On October 29th, the 8th Annual Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade will close the city’s week of celebrations with a traditional parade featuring one-of-a-kind floats, puppets, and other performances. 

Where: 
Upside Down Halloween Parade: Washington Park, Corner of E. 60th Street and S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago, IL 60637
Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade: State Street (moving from Lake towards Van Buren), Chicago, IL 60602
For more information on Arts in the Dark.

Pick pumpkins or enjoy a campfire at County Line Orchard

Head to County Line Orchard for your fix of fall activities. The orchard offers U-pick apples, pumpkins, and sunflowers–tractor ride included! While you’re there, check out the corn maze or take the kiddos on the Moo Choo tractor train.

On Friday and Saturday evenings, groups of up to 30 people can book a campfire & hayride experience to spend a festive fall evening around a crackling fire. You can also catch live music during the Orchard’s Barnyard Jams series, featuring a rotating lineup of bands playing each weekend. 

Where: 200 S. County Line Rd, Hobart, IN 46342
For more information on County Line Orchard.

Jonamac Orchard

Jonamac Orchard is open seven days a week for apple picking and has special fall-themed events throughout the season. Check out Fall Festival Days every Saturday and Sunday from August 27th through October 30th, where the whole family can enjoy attractions like a bubble barn, corn cribs, a petting zoo, a play tractor, a straw bale pile, and more.

Wander through the corn maze (haunted on Friday and Saturday nights), grab a gourd from the pumpkin patch, and don't forget to snag a caramel apple and a cup of cider before you head out!

Where:19412 Shabbona Rd, Malta, IL
For more information on Jonamac Orchard.

Pick-your-own apples at Apple Holler

Escape to the countryside for a quintessential fall outing at Apple Holler farm, where you can head into the orchard to pick your choice of 30+ varieties of apples. Stop in the farm store for fresh homemade treats like apple cider donuts and caramel apples, or hit up the Biergarten, serving up Wisconsin brews including a hard cider made with apples straight from the farm.

You can even take a horse-drawn carriage tour around the property to learn about farm life and finish with a campfire complete with s’mores and fresh apple cider.  

Where: 5006 South Sylvania Ave, Sturtevant, WI 53177
For more information on Apple Holler.

History Tours and Haunted Hayrides at Blackberry Farm

Enjoy a day trip to Blackberry Farm, a living history museum that features several exhibits on pioneer life, plus activities including pony rides and paddle boating. On weekends during October, stop by the farm for Pumpkin Weekends or their popular Haunted Hayrides, complete with a bonfire and s’mores. 

Where: 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora, IL 60506
For more information on Blackberry Farm.

Visit the animals during Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest

The fall fun doesn’t stop at Lincoln Park Zoo’s Fall Fest, running every weekend from September 30th – October 30th. The zoo is always free to visit the animals, and during the fall festival, visitors can buy tickets for experiences including the Ferris Wheel, Pumpkin Walk, Harvest Maze, and more.

Check out the Haunted History Tours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in October to learn about the zoo’s haunted history as a former cemetery, or enjoy the park after dark at the Adult's Night Out Howl-O-Ween event on October 27. 

Where: 2400 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
For more information about Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest.

Family fun at Harvest Tyme Family Farm

Head to Harvest Tyme Family Farm for their Fall Festival, running every weekend from September 24th – October 30th. At the farm, you’ll find a pumpkin patch, corn mazes, a hayride, a petting zoo, amusement rides, plus a dino-themed corn maze with a lookout bridge that gives you an amazing view of the whole maze (a great photo-op spot).

Don’t miss the farm’s Pumpkin Glow Trail, a glow-in-the-dark pumpkin experience featuring over 1,000 jack-o-lanterns and lighted displays. 

Where: 17904 Grant St, Lowell, IN 46356
For more information on Harvest Tyme Farm.

Take a Haunted Wagon ride at Sonny Acres Farm

Sonny Acres is a family-owned farm that has hosted a Fall Festival with fun for the whole family for decades. In addition to a classic pumpkin patch, the farm has a variety of attractions, including a petting zoo, a giant jumping pillow, a rollercoaster, and a train that winds around the property.

Thrillseekers won’t want to miss their Haunted Barn and Haunted Wagon Ride experience, opening on September 30th. Don’t forget to stop at their Farm Fresh Store to find seasonal produce, sweet treats, and country home decor. 

Where: 29W310 North Ave., West Chicago, IL
For more information on Sonny Acres Farm.

Visit the Jerry Smith Pumpkin Farm to find a jack-o-lantern

If you’re looking to pick the perfect pumpkin to carve, head to the pick-your-own pumpkin patch at Jerry Smith farm. Once you’ve picked out your gourd, take some time to explore the farm and you’ll find a display of over two dozen hand-painted pumpkins, plus several activities including a petting zoo, giant bounce pad, a 6-acre corn maze, hayrides, and a tire mountain.

If you’re in the mood for a scare, check out the Dr. Destruction’s Haunted Manor event, open from September 17th – October 30th. Don’t skip the farm’s famous frosted cookies! 

Where: 7150 18th Street (Highway L) Kenosha, WI 53144
For more information on Jerry Smith Pumpkin Farm.

Have a corn-y day out at Odyssey Fun Farm

Odyssey Fun Farm is all about corn-y fun, in the best way. They’ve got a bunch of corn-themed fall activities, including a themed corn maze and a corn “sandbox”, plus other fall fun including a climbable hay mountain, hay rides, pumpkin picking, and attractions like ziplining and a pillow jump. You won’t want to miss their corn cannon, which lets you use high-powered air cannons to shoot corn at targets! 

Where: 18900 Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park, IL 60477
For more information on Odyssey Fun Farm.

Check out the installations at Navy Pier

Take a stroll down Navy Pier to find the annual Pier Pumpkin Lights pop-up display, featuring a series of installations with intricately carved pumpkins and lighted jack-o-lanterns. 

Where: 600 E. Grand Ave, Chicago IL 60611
For more information on Navy Pier's Pumpkin Lights.

Spend a day at Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm & Fall Festival

Experience an action-packed day of fall fun at Bengton’s Pumpkin Farm. In addition to a pumpkin patch, the farm has 13 rides and attractions including roller coasters, swings, and trains, plus a haunted barn, petting zoo, and even pig races. The farm serves up tasty treats including apple cider donuts, sweet corn, BBQ, and kettle corn. Definitely don’t forget to check out the crowd-favorite Pumpkin Chucker, to watch pumpkins catapult through the air at high speed. 

Where: 13341 West 151st St., Homer Glen, IL
For more information on Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm.