"There are three things I've learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin." - Linus from the Peanuts.
Fall is has begun, and this is the time when people go pumpkin crazy. Pumpkin picking might be one of the most popular activities of the season.
But where can you find a pumpkin in Lake County? Some may say, go to your local Starbucks so you can douse your soul with pumpkin spice.
Whether you're looking for a pumpkin to cut spooky Halloween shapes, give your dinner table some pizzazz with the enormous orange fruit, complete your cornucopia or just have a family fun fall adventure, Lake County has got you covered.
Here are some events, festivals and locations to view some fresh carve work and/or pick up your family pumpkin in Lake County.
Peruse Lake County farmers markets as many remain open through the fall season. You can pick your pick pumpkin, carve in the face of Jack and pop in a lantern.
You haven’t lived unless you’ve been to Didier Farms Pumpkin Fest. The farm-favorite features hayrides, pony rides, camel rides, kiddie rides, an exotic petting zoo, a parakeet exhibit, a corn maze and pig races (only on the weekend). The Lincolnshire farm’s doors are open until Halloween night. Don’t forget to visit Grandma D’s Bake Shop for scrumptious pies, cookies, fudge, homemade apple cider, kettle corn and pumpkin donuts.
Have you come to sing pumpkin carols? Because the Spring Grove land of Richardson has got plenty. Richardson’s Adventure Farm & Corn Maze is known for having the world’s most massive corn maze. The Spring Grove area spans 33 acres of land and is equipped with 11 miles of trails. Richardson Farm celebrates the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and NASA landing on the moon in 1969. Besides the renowned maze, the Adventure Farm features another five mazes, a zip line, a pumpkin patch, ORBiting rides (a ride inside a giant 11-football), live pig races, a wooded picnic area, free campfires, pedal carts, pedal trikes, a goat farm, a corn cabin and wagon rides.
How many jumbo orange fruits can everyone carve in one sitting? You’ll find out in mid-October, two weeks before National Pumpkin Day. When you finish designing, the jack-o-lanterns will be displayed on the pumpkin wall. The event also features various artisan food vendors.
A post shared by ?Rea Gosiengfiao-Pino ? (@smileyrea_gosien) on
This festival has pumpkins stacked to the sky. Get into the spirit with your friend Jack while holding a lantern and journey to Highwood for the Great Pumpkin Festival. Once again, the festival will be jam-packed with daily events, a variety of food and drink vendors, a carnival, live tunes, hayrides, pony rides, pumpkin carving, massive pumpkin displays, nightly pumpkin lightings, a parade, Superhero 5K/10K and so much more.
Ready for an evening of headless horseman staring at you with multiple different expressions? Chicago Botanic Garden is hosting Night of 1,000 Jack-o-Lanterns the weekend before Halloween. These hand-carved pumpkins will light up the Glencoe Garden with LED lights along the paved pathway starting at the Esplanade. Along the way, encounter entertaining characters, view the ghostly trains in the Model Railroad Garden: Landmarks of America, and indulge in seasonal eats and drinks like apple doughnuts, cider and ale. You can't buy these pumpkins, but you sure can get a few grammable snaps from this display.
Stop! It’s pumpkin time! This Grayslake Park District orange fruit holiday features games, a costume contest, a giant slide, hayrides, moonwalks and more. Preregistration is $8, while the walk-in/day of event admission is $13.
This event is the marquee fall festival in Antioch. The night has their treat the streets Halloween where the downtown area gives these youngsters something good to eat. The fest follows at 2 p.m. with hayrides, fare and drink vendors, games, a bounce house, wiener races, a pumpkin roll and costume contest.
What’s all the hoopla in Deerfield? This pre-Halloween social at Jewett Park Community Center features inflatable rides, lucrative giveaways, a zombie apocalypse trail game, a pumpkin patch, carnival games, a haywagon trip, live entertainment and so much more.
If you are an Ebenezer Scrooge during the fall season, here's where the quick route (and less adventurous way) in picking up your pumpkin in Lake County,
