Romeoville Fall Fun: Pumpkin Patches, Spooky Stories

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Halloween is almost upon us in Romeoville, 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 Romeoville.

Heap's Giant Pumpkin Farm

• Address: 4853 U.S. Highway 52, Minooka
• Season: Sept. 12 to Oct. 31; open Columbus Day
• Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily
• Attractions: Pumpkin patch, Heap's 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 hayride 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 and plants, corn stalks, straw, general store and concession stand.

More via Heap's Giant Pumpkin Farm.

Johansen's Farm

• Address: 710 W. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook
• Season: Sept. 18 to Nov. 1.
• Hours of operation: Hours vary; check the website on zoo opening dates.
• Attractions: Attractions include holding a baby chick, miniature golf, pony rides, hayrides, train rides, airslides, corn maze, pumpkin bouncer and more.
• Pumpkins, produce and more: There is free parking and no charge to visit the pumpkin patch and open market area. There is a pie house and bakery, fall decor and autumn treat shop.
• Cost: Admission price includes all animals, rides and activities. Admission is $9.95 per person on weekdays, $14.95 per person on the weekend and Columbus Day. Free for kids ages 23 months and younger; $1 discount for seniors on weekdays and $3 discount for seniors on weekends and Columbus Day. Free for anyone with a military ID, active or veteran.

More via Johansen's Farms website.

Heap's Giant Pumpkin 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 through Thursday. Pumpkin Fest: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday through 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. Statesville 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 through 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.

Bengtson's

• Address: 13341 W. 151st St., Homer Glen
• Season: Sept. 25 to Nov. 2
• Hours of operation: Hours vary. More information is available on Bengston's website. No weekday admission for 2020.
• Attractions: Tractor Town, Happy Swing, chicken truck, mega slide, cow coaster, free selfie booth, gemstone and arrow head mining, pony rides, petting zoo, haunted barn, fun barn, pumpkins and more.
• Pumpkins, produce and more: You can pick the perfect pumpkin, take home some of Bengtson's specialty products, enjoy an apple cider doughnut and several other delectable treats.
• Cost: Admission ranges from $13.99 to $25.99, depending on the day and time. See the website for more details. Military (active duty or retired) are admitted free with ID. Pony rides an additional $6.

More via the Bengston's website.

Konow's Corn Maze

• Address: 16849 S Cedar Road, Homer Glen
• Season: Sept. 19 to Oct. 30
• Hours of operation: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Closed on Tuesdays.
• Attractions: Konow's has two corn mazes — one with 3.4 miles of twists and turns. and a 0.4-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-foot social distancing is in effect on the grounds.
• Cost: $10 per person on Monday through Friday and $12 per person 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.

Dollinger Family Farm

• Address: 7420 E. Hansel Road, Channahon
• Season: Sept. 14 to Oct. 30
• Hours of operation: Farm is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Attractions: Pumpkins, corn maze, barn animals, bee barn, playground, corn pit, 4-acre corn maze, miniature train ride, hayrides, face painting and more. Check out the calendar for a list of special events including a visit by Big Run Wolf Ranch, birds of prey exhibit, reptiles, chainsaw sculpting and more.
• Pumpkins, produce and more: Come and find your perfect pumpkin for carving, decorating or making a pie. There is also a wide variety of gourds, squash, corn shocks, straw bales, mums and mini pumpkins.
• Cost: Free admission and parking. Pumpkins vary from 75 cents to $25. Corn maze is $4 per person.

More via the Dollinger Farms 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.