Best Family Fun Farms in Chicago: Northern Suburbs
1. Wagner Historic Farms – Glenview, Illinois
Wagner Farms is a wonderful farm operated by a park district located in Glenview, Illinois. It is free to the public and open year-round, and is one of the oldest operating dairy farms in Illinois! You will find horses, cows, and goats roaming the grounds outside, and inside, you will find a wonderful working play barn complete with a pioneer wagon, general store, and corn silo for kids to climb. Your little ones can pretend to shop in the little town or sell produce from a covered wagon.
They also offer art classes, year-round events, farm tours, live music, pumpkin patching, and more. There is a gift shop on site but no formal restaurant or dining area, so don't forget to bring a picnic!
2. Lamb's Farm – Libertyville
Lambs Farm is home to over 300 animals. In addition to the animals, you’ll find a barrel train, rides, animal feeding opportunities, and a discovery center. There’s also a petting zoo, horse and camel rides. One particularly unique feature: miniature golf is also included in your admission fee!
Photo of Joubert Farm by Ryan Dickey, via Flickr 2.0
Favorite farms providing family entertainment in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.
3. Enjoy Pioneer Farm – Hampshire, Illinois
At Enjoy Pioneer Farm, your little ones can learn how a real farm works, take care of goats, ducks and little lambs, see how chickens produce eggs and how a real farm produces food for the community. You can buy fresh eggs and meat from the farm, and brave parents can even rent little animals to take home!
During the fall months, explore the corn maze and collect corn. There's also a pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin lantern, and piles of hay and straw are available to take home for fall display (in a Pinterest-worthy way).
4. Joubert Farm – South Barrington, Illinois
Joubert Farm is the perfect place to enjoy a farm on the Northwest Side. This activity-packed farm features miles of gardens, inflatable houses, rides, corn mazes, pig races, interactive exhibits, games, and more. You can purchase flowers, produce, pumpkins, and trees grown on the farm. In the fall, pick pumpkins and apples or run through the sprawling corn maze.
During the summer months, the farmers market is open daily. During the busy season (late summer and fall), allow some time to wait in line for games and food. Attractions vary by season, so check the website for available activities when planning your visit.
Blackberry Farm features a carousel, rides and animals! Photo courtesy of Blackberry Farm
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5. Blackberry Farms – Aurora, Illinois
Blackberry Farms is more like an agricultural theme park. Admission includes unlimited rides on pedal tractors, paddle boats, a train, a carousel, a hay wagon, and most importantly, the miniature horses. Another great thing about it is that little ones can experience all sorts of farm equipment and vehicles on land and in the water. Whether the kids prefer the train or the miniature horses, they can ride as much as they like throughout the day. This is a great deal if you plan on riding something more than once; we all know how easy it is to burn through ride tickets!
At the Discovery Barn, kids can learn about baby animals, pigs, goats, and chickens. Plan to come to Blackberry Farms hungry, as while you can bring snacks, there are plenty of dining options here from healthy fresh fruit to (unhealthy but delicious) baked goods and carnival-style snacks.
6. Double J Riding Club – Counterside, Illinois
Double J Horse Riding Club is a great place for young animal lovers. Through outdoor adventure lessons and Tiny Animal Adventure sessions, kids get hands-on experience with horses and other animals. Kids can feed the animals, learn about proper animal diets, habitats, and more. Budding farmers will learn how to care for animals on the farm, and there are even mud kitchens to cook meals and learn about animal cleaning and hygiene.
For young riders, there are horseback riding courses, lessons, and a show team. The best part? There's something special here all year round: join Santa on horseback, learn gardening basics in the spring, carve pumpkins in the fall, and more. Check the website for upcoming festivals and events.
Image provided by Children's Farm
Favorite Family Farms in the Southern Suburbs
7. Odyssey Farm – Tinley Park, Illinois
Odyssey Farm boasts 110 acres of fun. You’ll find a bounce house, a zoo, duck races, horse-drawn carriage rides, and pony rides. In addition to picking fresh vegetables and farm-grown pumpkins, kids can ride the fun cow train, fly on a zip line, or jump through the fun jumps in the summer. In the fall, there’s a corn box to play in, a pumpkin house, and a hay pyramid. The inflatable kids’ area features a carousel, bouncy houses, and a basketball toss.
Parents will appreciate that there are different age-specific areas and activities at this farm, and be sure to bring a big appetite for delicious homemade snacks too!
8. Children's Farm – Palos Park, Illinois
The Children’s Farm at Palos Park is open Friday through Sunday year-round. Here kids can learn about life on a real, working farm, sustainable agriculture, animal care, and more. Through the farm’s egg incubation program, you can even bring home the farm with an egg to hatch (just remember, these are real, live eggs you signed up for!).
Watch the tractors in action, ride in a horse-drawn wagon, visit the new horse barn, or pet a live animal. You can pick pumpkins and other vegetables, experience one of the seasonal festivals (check the website for upcoming events), or go horseback riding.
Farms Worth the Drive From Chicago
9. Apple Holler – Sturtevant, Wisconsin
Just across the border from Illinois is the delicious Apple Holler orchards. In addition to apples, you can pick peaches, pears, and pumpkins on the farm. You’ll also find adorable rides and animals, live entertainment, and interactive areas for kids. No matter the season, there are family-friendly events and activities to do year-round. From sleigh rides to flower festivals, there’s always something to do (or eat) in Apple Holler. Is there anything better than a hot apple cider donut? Lines and wait times tend to be longer during the late summer and fall.
Visit their website for the latest harvest calendars so you can be sure to get the fruits or vegetables you're looking for. You can spend a weekend there by staying in Kenosha or Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
10. Harvest Time Farm Garden – Lowell, Indiana
Harvest Tyme Farm Park is, as the name suggests, a working farm and an interactive park all in one. Located in Northwest Indiana, visitors will find rides, animals, a petting zoo, and plenty of outdoor fun. For little farmers, pumpkins are available in the fall, and hand-cut flowers are available in the summer.
The farm offers all the fun activities for festivals and summer entertainment. There is also a light show in the winter. A favorite activity is taking older children on a carousel ride and bringing home fresh spring flowers or sunflowers from the farm.
