The Ultimate Guide To Seasonal Activities In Illinois: Pumpkin Patches, Christmas Lights, Sunflower Fields, And More
Illinois is a state filled with midwestern charm, and you can find something fun to do any time of the year. Spring and summer are a great time for visiting a water park, taking a float trip, or making a splash at a tubing park. It is a time for spending time outdoors, visiting a tulip field, or watching monarch butterflies and hummingbirds. When the first chill starts to come into the air, our thoughts soon turn to cider mills, fall foliage hikes, and visits to a pumpkin patch. Winter is an excellent time for an old-fashioned Illinois sleigh ride or holiday drive-thru. Let’s explore some of the great adventures that Illinois has to offer throughout the entire year.
Visit This Dreamy Sunflower Farm In Illinois
Sunflowers are a summer delight that seem to make the season last just a little longer, and the M & D Farms and Garden Center offers a cut-your-own sunflower field that will brighten any day. They also have bedding flats, perennials, and many other plants available throughout the year, including in the springtime. This beautiful field of sunflowers also offers various beautiful blooms in red, white, orange, and a wide range of other colors. A trip to M & D Farms in Homer Glen is an excellent activity for your entire family, so be sure to put it into your plans soon.
The Most Epic Fall Festival In Illinois
If you are a fan of fall, and you are looking for something fun to do, you will want to consider the Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival. It is usually held the first weekend in October and is filled with fall fun, food, and pumpkin everything. Pumpkin fans will delight in the largest jack-o-lantern display in the world, kids can trick-or-treat throughout the grounds, and there is a 5K run. The main event occurs when the jack-o-lanterns are stacked on top of each other to break the world record. The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival in Highwood is fun for everyone, and you get free admission if you bring a pre-carved jack-o-lantern, so put this one on your calendar.
The Best All-Day Fall Hike In Illinois
For those who love long fall hikes and opportunities for some fabulous fall foliage photography, Fall Creek Gorge Nature Preserve is the perfect place. When the fall colors are putting on their show, the gorge turns into a magical scene. You can take an easy one-mile hike to the waterfalls that offers breathtaking views every step of the way. The path runs along a river, so you can enjoy the soothing sounds of the water. You could even make a full day trip of it and bring along a picnic! Fall is the best time of the year to enjoy this waterfall, so be sure to put Fall Creek Gorge Nature Preserve near Williamsport on your fall bucket list.
The Most Charming Pumpkin Patches In Illinois
Fall is time for pumpkin patches, hayrides, and delicious fall treats like cider and donuts. What is even better than a pumpkin patch is a pumpkin patch hayride or train ride. Every year, the Roth Pumpkin Patch transforms into a fall Wonderland that is the perfect weekend getaway for the family. The Roth Pumpkin Patch has been in the family for five generations, and every year, they transform it into a magical playground for children. Kids can take a trackless train ride through the farm, milk a wooden cow, enjoy a combine turbo-slide, and wander through the straw maze. Goodies are also available as well as gifts in the shop. Roth’s Pumpkin Patch Train Ride in Morton is one that you will want to put on your schedule starting in early September.
Picture-Perfect Apple Orchards In Illinois
When you think of fall, one of the first things that comes to mind is cider and donuts. In Illinois, you can find an apple orchard in almost any part of the state, but we know that only the best will do. There are many great choices, but if we had to pick our favorite, we would choose Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch because they offer much more for the younger members of the family. Of course, they have delicious apple cider from their cider mill, and they also have a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, rope maze, obstacle course, and pony rides. When you are planning your fall activities, you will want to be sure to include Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch in Champaign on the list.
Get Lost In These Awesome Illinois Corn Mazes
If you are a fan of corn mazes, you are in luck because Illinois has the largest corn maze in the world. The Richardson Corn Maze offers 28 acres and about 10 miles of paths. It is one of the most popular corn maze destinations in the state, and they are known for their unique designs. Throughout the maze, you can enjoy games, observation bridges, and numerous interconnected labyrinths. You can also enjoy events like pig races, wagon rides, giant slides, a zip line, and a petting zoo. This fall, you will want to take the kids to the Richardson Corn Maze in Spring Grove for some apple cider, donuts, and family fun.
The Illinois Halloween Towns That Will Terrify And Delight You
If you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary for your Halloween activities, you will find few other attractions like the late-night Haunted Flea Market in Wheaton. This free market takes place for only one night from 3:00 PM until midnight. People come in costumes, and you will meet many delightful characters along the way. There is also a costume contest and all the treasures you expect to find at a flea market. Sometimes, actors from horror films and television shows make a special guest appearance. Be sure to check out the Haunted Flea Market website and Facebook page to find out this year's date and time for the Haunted Flea Market.
The Most Magical Christmas Village In Illinois
There is nothing like visiting an enchanting Christmas village to get you in the holiday spirit. The Bethalto Christmas Village is a favorite for locals and visitors alike. You can either enjoy the scenery as you stroll along a half-mile paved pathway, or you can drive by and enjoy it from the comfort of your car. The village contains glass cottages that are decorated with Christmas scenes that everyone will enjoy. Every one of them is whimsical and will be sure to make children of all ages smile, and there are plenty of holiday photo opportunities. This holiday season, be sure to visit the Bethalto Christmas Village for a special treat.
The One-Of-A-Kind Christmas Train In Illinois
Everyone loves the classic Christmas film, The Polar Express. Every year at Chicago's Union Station, children can ride on Illinois' very own Polar Express and take a magical, mystical journey to the North Pole. This Christmas train ride takes you on a one-hour trip through Chicago as you enjoy the soundtrack from the motion picture, sing-alongs of your favorite Christmas carols, a live reading of the story, and cookies served by dancing chefs. You will want to book your ride on the Polar Express at Union Station in Chicago by visiting the Union Station ticketing website.
Must-Visit Spots To View Christmas Lights In Illinois
Illinois loves Christmas lights, and you will not come up short-handed if you are looking for a show to put you in the mood for the holiday season. We think one that you should explore is the Zoolights display at Lincoln Park Zoo. This spectacular display lights up the entire zoo. You can also enjoy free crafts, events, and plenty of holiday cheer, plus ice sculptures, warm spiced wine, and plenty of other activities to put you in the holiday spirit. Make sure to take some time out of your busy holiday preparations to enjoy the Lincoln Park Zoo Zoolights.
