Sip apple cider. Set up your scarecrow. Take a bumbling hayride. Get lost in a corn maze. Fall calls for fun family festivals that celebrate the best of the season. From apple mania in Lincoln Square to a Native American harvest pow wow in Naperville, we have you covered for the best places to get an awesome taste of autumn. Read on to find out why you’ll fall for these festivals.
Cornucopia Fall Fest at Eugene Field
This isn’t your typical day at the park, but rather one filled with pony rides, pumpkins, a petting zoo, plenty of bouncy toys and arts & crafts vendors. If tummies start rumbling, don’t worry! Food trucks will be rolling by throughout the day.
Sep. 12; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. & 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Free
5100 N. Ridgeway Ave., Albany Park
Online: eugenefieldpac.com
Lincoln Square Ravenswood Apple Fest
Apples stand as everyone’s favorite fall fruit, and this 34th annual Lincoln Square festival celebrates them all, from Akanes to Zestas. Dozens of vendors will be selling apples in all shapes and forms — apple cider, candy apples, apple pie, apple strudel — as well as handcrafted items. There is also a kid zone full of children’s activities and live music throughout the day at the Leland Avenue Kid Zone.
Oct. 2 & 3; 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Cost: $5 suggested donation
Lincoln Ave., between Lawrence & Eastwood, Lincoln Square
Online: lincolnsquare.org
Harvest Festival at North Park Village Nature Center
This beloved forest in the city celebrates the harvest by focusing on the animals that begin to prepare for the long winter ahead after gathering their fall goodies. Do nature-centric crafts, stroll the farmers market, watch the scarecrow building contest, listen to storytellers and jam out to live music. If you’re looking for a slice of peace, the nature preserve offers trails that wind through woodland, wetland, prairie and savanna.
Oct. 12 & 13; 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Cost: Free
NPV, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd., North Side
Online: chicagoparkdistrict.com
Kick-Off to Oktoberfest
Pack a picnic and head to Heritage Farm for a traditional German Biergarten complete with German music, pretzels, refreshments, local craft beer and soda.
Sep. 4; 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Cost: $5/person
201 S. Plum Grove Rd., Schaumburg
Online: parkfun.com
Shades of Autumn Festival
You’ll definitely need more than one weekend to visit the Shades of Autumn Fall Festival. Bring the fam as many times as you want because it’s pretty much going on all fall long. Take a little drive for more than 25 family-friendly attractions. Of course, you have the traditional hayrides, pumpkin picking and petting zoo. But, the little ones are also going to be wowed by the famous pumpkin cannon, hamster track, semi-truck slide, trikes for tikes, scrumptious apple cider donuts and so much more.
Sep. 7-Oct. 27; Sat. & Sun. in Sep., Fri-Sun. in Oct.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Open Columbus Day
Cost: $15/ages 3-64, $10/ages 65 & up, free for ages 2 & under
Stade’s Farm & Market, 3709 W. Miller Rd., McHenry
Online: stadesfarmandmarket.com
Harvest Bonfire at Heritage Farm
Help celebrate our fall harvest time by taking a wagon ride through Spring Valley’s Heritage Farm, and roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire.
Sep. 14; 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
Cost: $7/person; free for ages 3 & under
201 S. Plum Grove Rd., Schaumburg
Online: parkfun.com
Harvest Pow Wow at Naper Settlement
Gain insight into the Native American heritage as you celebrate the harvest with dancing, cultural demonstrations, children’s games, craft and food vendors and more.
Sep. 21 & 22; Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. & Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $12/adult, $7/ages 3-12, free for ages 3 & under
Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville
Online: harvestpowwow.com
photo: Long Grove Apple Festival
Long Grove Apple Festival
Expect bushels of fun at Historic Downtown Long Grove’s 26th annual Apple Festival. Take in the beautiful fall outdoor ambiance of the charming village and participate in the many activities offered, including free live music, apple pie-eating contests and more.
Sep. 21-23; Fri., noon-11 p.m., Sat., 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun., 10 p.m.-6 p.m.
Cost: $5/person; free for ages 12 & under
308 Old McHenry Rd., Long Grove
Online: visitlonggrove.com
Homewood Fall Fest
Homewood is getting geared up for their favorite fall time fest. From scrumptious cuisine prepared by local eateries to horse-drawn wagons, and pumpkin patches to pony rides, there’s something for the whole family to sink their teeth into.
Sep. 28; 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Cost: Free
Martin Ave., from Hickory to Ridge Roads, Homewood
Online: village.homewood.il.us
Fall Fest at Rehm Park & Oak Park Conservatory
Horse-drawn hayrides, games and a pumpkin patch make this festival one of the best in the near west ‘burbs. Kids can hop aboard the hand-cranked Rehm Trains, enjoy yummy fall favorites from local food vendors or take part in a Fall Scavenger Hunt, which invites families to explore fall landscapes by looking for items outdoors.
Sep. 29; 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Cost: Free
Rehm Park, 515 Garfield St., Oak Park
Online: pdop.org
Harvest Days at Garfield Farm
Head back to the 1840’s at the Garfield Farm & Tavern Museum’s Harvest Days. This only historically intact Illinois prairie farmstead and former teamsters’ inn now serves as a family-friendly 1840s living history farm and inn museum. Learn more about the farm’s harvesting days in the 19th century via demonstrations of farm and household skills, period music and old fashioned treats.
Oct. 6; 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: $6/adults; $3/ages 12 & under
Garfield Farm, Illinois 38/Garfield Rd., LaFox
Online: garfieldfarm.org
St. Charles Scarecrow Fest
Over 50 handcrafted scarecrows compete for the best in show at this unique fall fest. You can even make a scarecrow of your very own to protect and defend your garden. The arts and crafts show, petting zoo and carnival extend the fun, making for a full day of autumn merriment.
Oct. 11-13; Fri. & Sat., 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: Free
Route 64 & the Fox River, St. Charles
Online: scarecrowfest.com
Fall Festival at Cantigny Park
Roam this 500-acre park as it puts on its very best fall colors. At the annual Fall Festival, you’ll enjoy music, games, hayrides, a petting zoo and more. Stop by Bertie’s, the coffee shop adjacent to the onsite First Division military history museum for a taste of autumn with a cup of hot cider or hot chocolate.
Oct. 12; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: Free with $5/car parking
Cantigny Park, 1 S. 151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton
Online: cantigny.org
— Maria Chambers & Amy Bizzarri
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