Fall is officially here, and we’re thrilled to present our hand-picked 2023 list of the top ten fall foodie destinations in Illinois. Imagine it—rows upon rows of ripe, juicy apples waiting to be plucked, scenic hayrides, farm stands overflowing with harvest delights, spooky season experiences, and the most indulgent fall cravings you can imagine. Apple orchards & fall excursions aren’t just for fall-themed fun; they’re also a haven for food enthusiasts, like us!
We are so excited to share our hand-selected list of the top 10 Illinois Foodies destinations to visit this fall!
From mouthwatering pies to homemade donuts, spiced cider, and more these orchards and festivals offer a delicious array of seasonal treats. Join us on this crisp and flavorful journey through Illinois, where your taste buds are in for a treat!
Without further ado, allow us to introduce our very top fall orchard destination for you…
#1 – Rader Family Farms | Normal, IL
Imagine a place where you can enjoy apple cider slushies, caramel apple slushy shakes, pumpkin donuts, kettle corn, iced coffee, candy apples, lattes & more… all while strolling through pumpkin patches, petting farm animals, enjoying hay rides, navigating through 10 acres of corn maze or enjoying their new mega-slide. These are just a few highlights of Rader Family Farms!
Trust us when we say that you DO NOT want to miss out on a visit to Rader Family Farms this fall—they’re our top pick for a reason! Experience fall magic & family fun nestled right in the heart of McLean County. Rader Family Farms is located at 1312 Ropp Rd. in Normal, IL & their last day for the 2023 season is Oct. 29th!
Next up, this fan favorite orchard in Stark County has been a family tradition for over 75 years!
#2 – Tanner’s Orchard | Speer, IL
Tanners Orchard is well known for local favorites, such as apple-picking, wagon rides and their famous fresh-baked apple cider donuts. The orchard sports over 11,000 trees and 17 varieties of apples. They grow over 20 acres of pumpkins along with various other fruits and vegetables.
Since 1947, four generations of the Tanner family have welcomed foodies to an amazing country farm experience. At Tanners Orchard you’ll find a family atmosphere where fun is the order of the day. Join their family today and start your own family tradition at Tanner’s Orchard located at 740 State Route 40 in Speer, IL
Next up, this family farm in Lockport, Illinois has been operating for over a century!
#3 – Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm | Lockport, IL
Welcome to Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm! The Siegel family has been farming the same land since 1909—it’s a 4th generation working family farm. Each season, there’s so many fun ways for you to enjoy visiting the farm and spending time out in the fresh country air.
This fall, enjoy the family tradition that’s been going on for over 100 years at Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm and experience an unforgettable Pumpkin Fest with over 35 attractions! Enjoy 13 different food and beverage vendors, 10 Acre Super Mario Bros Cornfield Maze, U-Pick Pumpkin Field, Cottonwood Railroad, Mia & Miley’s Mountain Slide, Zach’s Farm Animals, Mia & Miley’s Web, Bubba & Jax’s Straw Mountain, Games, and so much more!
Siegel’s is open daily until October 29th at 17250 Weber Rd. Lockport, IL.
Our next must-visit destination is the home of the giant pumpkin!
#4 – Heap’s Giant Pumpkin Farm | Minooka, IL
Get in the fall spirit at Heap’s Giant Pumpkin Farm! You can catch a hayride on their 25-acre pumpkin patch full of 90 different varieties of pumpkins, gourds, squash, and—yep, you guessed it—GIANT pumpkins!
Nothing says fall quite like home cooking! You can savor the taste of the season at Papa Heap’s Grill, available on weekends on the farm. Come hungry, because food will be served hot off the grill! Papa Heap’s specialty is his famous pork burgers! Not to mention the pumpkin cookies, apple cider donuts, caramel apples, & more!
So much fun is waiting for you at Heap’s Farm, like their U-Pick Pumpkin Patch, Hayrides, Corn Maze, Heaps O’ Fun Straw Barn, Giant Farm Slide, Train Station Playground, Milo’s Castle & Pirate Ship Playground, Tire Mountain Playground, and so much more!
Stop by Heap’s Giant Pumpkin Farm located at 4853 US-52 in Minooka, IL!
Our 5th stop on this fall tour of the Land of Lincoln has an exciting specialty… MUMS!
#5 – Mariah’s Mums & More | Clinton, IL
Nestled in the heart of Central Illinois corn & soybean fields is Mariah’s Mums & More near Clinton, IL! In their 15th season, Mariah’s is known for growing the MOST varieties of fall mums in all of Illinois, but they also offer 6 months of vertical strawberry picking, in addition to u-cut flowers, vegetables, sweet corn, u-pick pumpkins and a farm market stocked with their lineup of jams, salsas, & sauces.
On the weekends, their Taste of the Farm food concession offers a variety of fruit cider slushies, floats, ice cream sundaes, iced lattes, fresh made donuts, and kettle corn! They even host a variety of fantastic events & experiences from May until early October. Be sure to catch some exciting activities at the end of their 2023 season like the U-Pick Pumpkin Field opening on September 23-24, Hometown Heroes Day on the 30th, Wind Down Wednesday on October 4th, and Flannels & Fun Weekend Oct. 7-9!
Mariah’s Mums & More is nestled just 8 miles east of Clinton off of Rt. 10. Just enter “Triple M Farm: Mariah’s Mums & More, LLC” into your maps app!
Now we want to paint a picture of what fall truly tastes like. Imagine biting into the warmth of a freshly baked homemade apple cider donuts…
#6 – Keller’s Farmstand | Oswego, IL
Keller’s Farmstand is the place to go for all your favorite flavors of fall! With a legacy spanning over five generations, visit Keller’s Farmstand for its fall festivities happening all the way until October 29th!
At Keller’s Farmstand, pick from over 60 apple varieties, conquer an 8-acre corn maze, pick pumpkins from the patch, get professional pumpkin carving, check out the animal barn, get your face painted, take a wagon ride, enjoy the kid’s mega play area… not to mention all their delicious fall treats!
Indulge in rich and creamy fudge, apple cider slushies, sweet corn, gourmet kettle corn, and so much more! It’s a foodie experience you really can’t miss!
Keller’s Farmstand is located at 2500 Johnson Rd. in Oswego, IL!
Get ready for the Reader’s Digest BEST place to pick apples in Illinois!
#7 – Royal Oak Farms | Harvard, IL
Join the apple-picking party at Royal Oak Farm Orchard, voted the best place to pick apples in Illinois by Reader’s Digest and ranked one of the top 16 ciders in the country by Tasting Table with its freshly pressed homemade cider!
Pick from 30 different apple varieties grown on over 20,000 trees—with apples ripening all the way into October & the Pumpkin Patch opening at the end of September!
Enjoy train rides, barrel trains, and carousel rides on the weekend, as well as plenty of other fall activities. Plus, you can bring the family for FREE fun in the children’s area, playground and petting zoo included. So what are you waiting for? Apple picking and bakery treats await at Royal Oak Farm Orchard located just 15 minutes South of Lake Geneva, at 15908 Hebron Rd. in Harvard, IL!
This next destination was just named by USA Today as one of the top 20 in the country!
#8 – All Seasons Orchard | Woodstock, IL
All Seasons Orchard is an apple orchard & foodie experience that makes the perfect family outing just north of Chicago in historic Woodstock, IL in McHenry County.
With more than 15,000 trees, All Seasons Orchard is one of the largest orchards in northern Illinois! You can enjoy apple picking, exploring thousands of sunflowers, navigating the Woodstock Willie-themed corn maze, pony rides, picking pumpkins, petting zoo & new attractions like their giant indoor corn box, ropes course, Bee Lines, Barnyard Ball Zone, and Orchard Express train. Plus, if you’re lucky, you just might bump into their new mascot, Oodles!
One of their biggest draws is the delicious food offerings, including seasonal favorites like their freshly pressed apple cider, hand dipped caramel apples, pumpkin squares, breads, and kettle corn made on-site at the farm! Yummy creations made with their renowned apple cider donuts, including the donut sandwich, donut sundae & the brand new Cider Cyclone are a true foodie delight!
Stop by All Seasons Orchard at 14510 IL Route 176 in Woodstock, IL this fall!
Next up we’re highlighting a fun fan-fave foodie experience at Six Flags Great America with a German twist!
#9 – Oktoberfest at Six Flags | Gurnee, IL
This fall, enjoy the mouthwatering tastes of Oktoberfest at Six Flags Great America!
Taking place on select days through October 29, there’s so much deliciousness to taste! From Bavarian Bites to Munich Munchies, Pretzelhaus Delights to Guten Tag Goodies and more, your taste buds will be on a delightful journey!
Oktoberfest takes place at Six Flags Great America in Glencoe, IL out on the Yukon BBQ Pit Patio on Saturdays & Sundays from 12pm–8pm and Thursdays & Fridays from 6pm–10pm! Check the calendar at the link below for available dates!
Last (but certainly not least) is a fun fall family festival you won’t want to miss!
#10 – Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns | Glencoe, IL
Monstrous vibes meet crisp fall evenings at Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns, where artist-carved pumpkins light your way through the Garden after dark. You’ll find costumed entertainers and live carving demos along the paved path, as well as seasonal light fare and drinks!
This special experience is available on select dates only! Enjoy a thrilling Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns on October 11–15 & 18–22 from 6:30–10:30pm (Last entry at 10pm!)
The Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns takes place at the Chicago Botanic Gardens! Visit the link below for more information and to get your tickets!
We sincerely hope this master list comes in handy as you plan ahead for your fall foodie excursions and scope out ideas for a spontaneous festive experience this autumn! To stay up-to-date on all things Illinois Foodies, sign up for our newsletter and be the first to know about the top foodie experiences and destinations in Illinois!
— Illinois Foodies Team
Illinois Foodies 