Evanston-Area Halloween 2020: Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes

Jonah Meadows
Updated ·4 min read

EVANSTON, IL — Coronavirus has taken its toll on Illinois, canceling events and postponing sports, graduations and even weddings, but there's one thing it hasn't taken from us: Fall fun.

From pumpkin patches to apple orchards to corn mazes and fall events, there's plenty to keep us busy as the weather turns cool and crisp.

Here's a roundup of the places around Evanston where you can pick a pumpkin, gather up fall apples, wind your way through a corn maze or attend a safe and socially distanced fall event.

Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes Around Evanston

Pumpkin Patch: Jack's Pumpkin Patch Pop-Up
Address: 1465 N. Elson Ave., Chicago
Season ends: Nov. 1
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Phone: 312-850-8188
Attractions: While all carnival games, pig races and pumpkin carving activities have been cancelled, visitors can come to Goose Island to visit the closest cornfield to downtown Chicago and pick a pumpkin or enjoy the autumn weather.
Pricing: Tickets start at $25, visits are limited to 90 minutes and there are no food or beverages available for purchase.
Website: https://jackspumpkinpopup.com/

Pumpkin Patch: Didier Farms
Address: 16678 W. Aptakisic Rd., Lincolnshire
Season ends: Oct. 31
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Phone: 847-634-3291
Attractions: Pumpkinfest offers hayrides, pony rides, camel rides, kiddie rides, craft area, and have an animal land to explore.
Pricing: No admission fee. Tickets can be purchased for rides and activities.
Website: https://didierfarms.com/

Pumpkin Patch: Goebbert's Farm and Garden Center - South Barrington
Address: 40. W. Higgins Road, South Barrington
Season ends: Oct. 31
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, last entry at 5 p.m.
Phone: 847-428-6727
Attractions: Pumpkin-eating dinosaur, giraffe barn, pumpkin-eating dino, pig racing, pony rides, camel rides, wagon ride, little farmer's play yard, corn stalk maze, pumpkin tunnel, climbing trucks, corn hole game, ring toss game and more.
Pricing: $16.99 for fall festival on weekends, free on weekdays with fees for some activities
Website: https://www.goebbertsgardencenter.com/

Pumpkin Patch: Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm
Address: 13236 W. Townline Road, Waukegan
Season ends: Nov. 1
Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (Monday), Noon-8 p.m. (Tuesday, Wednesday), 10 a.m-8 p.m. (Thursday), 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (Friday, Saturday) and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (Sunday)
Phone: 847-662-5733
Attractions: Maze and hayride.
Pricing: $7 adults, $5 children (12 and under), Free (2 and under) for maze; $4 per person for hayride, Free (2 and under); $1-$50 for pumpkins, priced by size. Weekends during timed entry for all guests = $10 per person includes hayride, corn maze and animal area.
Website: https://www.krollsfarm.com/

Pumpkin Patch: Patch 22
Address: 15900 Kelly Road, Wadsworth
Season ends: Oct. 31
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday
Phone: 847-336-0120
Attractions: Hayrides, pony rides, hayloft, petting zoo
Pricing: $10 per car, more for some activities
Website: https://patch22.biz/pumpkinsfall.html

Halloween Events In Evanston

Starlight Movies in the Park
A free outdoor screening of the 1993 film "Hocus Pocus," starring Bette Midler, is planned for 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 24 in Leahy Park at Lincoln Street and Ridge Avenue.

Pumpkin Workshops
One River Art School at 1033 Davis St. is hosting pumpkin-themed events on Oct. 24 for kids in pre-kindergarten to 5th grade. A Halloween storytime art event is planned for children aged 3 to 8 on Oct. 25, and an all-ages sugar skull workshop is scheduled for the afternoon of Oct. 31.

It's the Great Pumpkin Compost
The 5th annual pumpkin composting event is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 7 in the Civic Center parking lot at 2100 Ridge Ave. The free "drive-up, drop-off" offers a chance to keep used pumpkins out of landfills by composting them instead.

Evanston Trick-or-Treating Hours
Evanston city staff have declared trick-or-treating hours are between 4 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.

"Unfortunately, COVID-19 isn't going to take a break on Halloween," Ike Ogbo, the city's health director, said in a statement. "Therefore, it's critical that all residents remain vigilant about following public health directives and continue to exercise good judgment while participating in holiday celebrations and festivities, like trick-or-treat."

Groups should keep apart from one another, avoid homemade items and consider leaving candy on the porch or otherwise avoiding close contact with visitors. Public health experts suggest hanging treats from a clothesline for trick-or-treaters to grab or using chalk to mark an area sufficiently distant from the front door to hand out candy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against wearing a costume mask over a protective cloth face mask due to the potential breathing risk. Wearing a Halloween-themed cloth face covering is preferred, according the guidelines.

More fall fun:

If we missed your favorite pumpkin patch or Halloween event, be sure to share it with readers in the replies below.

This article originally appeared on the Evanston Patch