Your go-to list for pumpkin patches near Chicago

There is arguably nothing more iconic about fall than the pumpkin. Illinoisans have even more reason to celebrate it, too: Illinois farmers grow more ornamental and canning-type pumpkins than any other state. Many of these pumpkin farms are family owned, like 96% of all Illinois farms. That means whether you picked the pumpkin yourself at the patch, or grabbed it from the store, it likely started on an Illinois family farm.

So if you’re itching for a trip out to a pumpkin patch this fall, we’ve got you covered with this go-to list for pumpkin patches near Chicago. There are a dozen patches to choose from in the surrounding area – and there’s no reason you can’t visit more than one! Check out this list – compliments of Cook County Farm Bureau – and use this farm products locator to find other locally grown products near you. (Note: Some pumpkin patches may be operating at reduced hours due to COVID-19 circumstances. Be sure to check their websites for up-to-date hours of business.)

PUMPKIN PATCHES NEAR CHICAGO

DeLair’s CornStalk Farm | Orland Park | Facebook page
Forest View Farms | Tinley Park | Website
Goebbert’s Farm & Garden Center | South Barrington | Website
M&D Farms | Homer Glen | Facebook page
McCarthy Farms | Orland Park | Facebook page
Puckerville Farms | Lemont | Website
Santa Fe Landscaping & Nursery Inc | Monee | Website
Smits Farms | Chicago Heights | Website
VanDerGriends Farm Stand | Lansing | Facebook page
Zeldenrust Farm Market | Chicago Heights | Website
The Children’s Farm | Palos Park | Website
Heap’s Giant Pumpkin Farm | Minooka | Website

So you’ve got your jack-o-lanterns and other decorative pumpkins taken care of. Now let’s dig into some pumpkin foods! More than 90% of the nation’s canning pumpkins grow in Illinois. In Morton, a town just southeast of Peoria, 82% of the world’s pumpkin is canned – earning it the self-claimed label of “Pumpkin Capital of the World.” Learn from Illinois pumpkin farmer Mikaya Huggins about the different kinds of pumpkins for eating, plus how to pick out the best pumpkins for carving.

It’s safe to say Illinois farmers know a thing or two about pumpkins – including how to eat them! Try this festive recipe for Mini Pumpkin Pie Jack-o-Lanterns.

INGREDIENTS

1 package (15 ounces) refrigerated pie crusts, at room temperature
1 large egg
1 cup LIBBY’s 100% pure pumpkin
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2/3 cup (5 fluid-ounce can) NESTLE CARNATION Evaporated Lowfat 2% milk
2 tablespoons COFFEE-MATE natural bliss vanilla flavor all-natural coffee creamer
½ cup NESTLE TOLL HOUSE semi-sweet chocolate morsels, divided

DIRECTIONS

PREHEAT oven to 350° F.
UNROLL pie crust on a floured surface. Cut out 24 pumpkins from crust using a 3-inch pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter or 3-inch round cookie cutter. You may need to gather scraps into a ball, roll with a rolling pin and cut pumpkins. Gently press pumpkins into mini muffin tins.
BEAT egg in a large bowl. Stir in pumpkin, sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Gradually stir in evaporated milk and Coffee-mate natural bliss Creamer.
SPOON about 1 tablespoon filling into each mold.
BAKE for 16 to 18 minutes or until filling is slightly puffed and set.
COOL in molds for 1 hour; refrigerate for 2 hours.
TO DECORATE: Use 2 chocolate morsels for eyes. For the mouth, place remaining morsels in small, heavy-duty resealable plastic bag. Microwave on HIGH (100%) power for 20 seconds; knead until smooth. If needed, warm for a few more seconds. Snip tiny corner from bag and squeeze to drizzle onto mini pies.