Fall 2026 Festival Schedule
Chicagoland Fall 2026 Pumpkin Season & Events Calendar
Key season opening dates, peak picking windows, Columbus Day holiday hours, and weekend festival schedules across the Chicago suburbs.
Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm Opening Day
Opening day of the 2026 season with value weekday ticket discounts ($19.99) and full unlimited access to all 14 mechanical rides.
Goebbert's Fall Festival & Animal Land Opens
The famous pumpkin-eating dinosaur begins crushing gourds for the 2026 season alongside Animal Land giraffe and exotic animal feeding.
Sonny Acres Spooktacular Festival Begins
Daytime carnival rides open daily. Weekend evening Haunted Barn and Haunted Wagon Rides start September 25.
Abbey Farms Pumpkin Daze Launch
Grand opening of the 40-acre fun park, 12-acre corn maze, craft beer garden, and live bluegrass music.
Siegel's Cottonwood Farm Mega Harvest Opens
First weekend of the 15-acre corn maze, zombie paintball shoot, and 35+ heritage farm attractions.
Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up Urban Lights Opening
Downtown Chicago's 2-acre light festival, corn maze, and outdoor cocktail bar opens for evening dates.
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day Special Hours
Full weekend-level entertainment across all Chicagoland pumpkin farms. Bengtson's operates full weekend hours (9:30 AM to 8:30 PM) with all 14 rides and live pig races.
Peak Pumpkin Harvest & Carving Weekend
The absolute peak weekend for widest pumpkin variety, giant prize gourds, white ghost pumpkins, and fresh cider.
Suburban Farm Season Finale
Final Sunday for Goebbert's, Sonny Acres, and Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up 2026 operations.
Bengtson's Extended Season Finale
Final Sunday of the longest-running pumpkin farm festival in Illinois, operating a full week after Halloween with all 14 rides, live pig races, and warm apple cider donuts.
Fall Season Calendar FAQs
Essential facts, ticket details, and seasonal planning questions answered for Fall 2026.
October 16 to 18, 2026 is the peak harvest weekend across Chicagoland, with the widest pumpkin variety, giant prize gourds, white ghost pumpkins and fresh cider. It is also the busiest weekend of the season, so arrive at opening if you go then.