Seeing that I live right in the city, 20 floors above Michigan Avenue, going to a pumpkin patch every fall is a big deal to my 4 1/2 year old. We drove by a vacant lot selling pumpkins on North Avenue on Saturday, which of course started the questions-“Mommy, when are we going to pick punkins (sic)? Can I get a reaaally big one?”
So, here are three pumpkin farms that friends have recommended to me: Bengston’s Pumpkin Fest in Homer Glen; Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm in Barrington; and Johansen’s Farms in Bolingbrook.
I have no financial interest in any of these farms, nor have I visited any of them. But would love your input.
Jerry Smith’s Pumpkin Farm in Kenosha is the best pumpkin patch. Great decorations for little ones, but they also have a corn maze, hayrides and a haunted bus for the older children. Well worth the drive!
Johansen’s Farm in Bolingbrook also has something for “kids” of all ages including a petting zoo, hayrides, cornmaze, moonjumps, pony rides, and a GREAT pie and donut shop. Don’t miss the berry peach pie which is sold by the slice (or bring home a whole pie.) The apple cider donuts are great with a warm drink. If you’re really adventurous, my FAVORITE pumpkin patch is just over the Michigan border in Harbor Country, Dinges Pumpkins. They truly have EVERYTHING including a Nascar race track for the kiddos. If you travel east from Dinges (one mile or so) there is a small pumpkin patch called Jaybird’s which sells nice sized pumpkins for $1.00!!!! Another 2 miles down the road, you’ll find a great apple orchard by the name of Williams Orchards. They do have trees loaded with Honeycrips~ YUM!
The Trinity United Methodist Church (the Home Alone church) at 1024 Lake Ave, Wilmette ALWAYS has pumpkins available this time of year- all sizes! Drive by you’ll see an orange display in their front yard.
Also, try
* Saturday, October 17, 2009
Corn Festival at Wagner Farm in Glenview – off of Lake and Wagner roads.
Farm activities, meet the animals, apple pressing and pick a pumpkin.
We love Sunny Acres Farm on North Avenue, West Chicago. It’s not just a pumpkin farm. There’s an area for the kids with a petting zoo, pony rides and a fun haunted house. There’s a store to purchase fall decorations and best of all there are lots and lots of pumpkins to choose from.
Host Familes and Au Pairs from the CHB and CHF clusters will meet there to have a fun time together and to find the BEST pumpkins for their house!