Arts & Entertainment

Your Guide to Chicago-Area Apple Orchards

Hey Lemont, where do you like to go to pick apples? We've got a great list and a map for you.

DeKalb County

Honey Hill Orchards
Hours of Operation: Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: 11747 Waterman Rd, Waterman, IL 60556
Details: More information on the pick-your-own crop is available on the Honey Hill website: http://www.honeyhillorchard.com/Harvest_Update.html
Other Activities: There is a petting zoo and a straw maze. The bakery sells cider donuts, pies, caramel apples and more.
Other Items: Raspberries, pumpkins

Plank Road Apple Orchard

Address: 50w737 Plank Rd Sycamore, IL 60178
Details: Call for more information: (815) 899-4020

Jonamac Orchard

Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Sunday
Address: 9412 Shabbona Rd Malta, IL 60150
Admission: Free
Details: Pick-your-own apples will be available starting Labor Day weekend August 31, September 1, and 2. Pick-your-own prices for 2013 are: $13 for 1/2 peck bag (5 lbs), $26 for 1 peck (10 lbs) There are no admission fees for the pick your own orchard, the orchard requests visitors purchase picking bags from the store or apple hut before entering the orchard to pick.
Other Activities: Jonamac has a corn maze that will be open through Oct. 27 and a haunted corn maze open Oct. 2 through Oct. 26. A jumping pillow, slides, duck races, a petting zoo and apple launchers and cannons. A variety of special events will also be held during the fall months and can be viewed on Jonamac's calendar: http://jonamacorchard.com/events/.

Kuipers Family Farm
Hours of Operation: Through October, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. In November and December, the orchard is open Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: 1N318 Watson Rd, Maple Park, IL 60151
Admission: Admission to the apple orchard is $9 a person and includes a 1/4 peck bag of apples and a hay ride to the grove.
Details: You can buy apples at the Orchard Shop or pick-your-own. The orchard's website has information on apples available and when is the best time to pick. The apple information line at (815) 827-5200 Ext. 1 also has weekly updates on apples available. Besides apple picking, there are plenty of other activities to entertain the family at Kuipers.
Other Activities: Kuipers has a corn maze available Sept. 21 through Oct 31. There is also a pumpkin farm activity area open Sept. 21 through Oct. 31. Admission to the pumpkin farm activity area starts at $8.75 per person on weekdays and $11.75 on weekends and holidays (children two and under are free and seniors are $5). Some of the activities include: Duck Races, Tractor Tire Mountain, Box-O-Kernels, Woodland Walk, Peddle Tractor Derby, Haunted Forest, Haywagon Ride, Farm Animals, Chalkhouse and more. There will be Pig Races and The Cowboy Randy Roping Show available on the weekends.
Other Crops/Produce/Trees: Pick-your-own pumpkin field available Sept. 21 through Oct. 31 and cut-your-own Christmas trees


Lake County

Heinz Orchard
Hours of Operation: Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Address: 1050 Crest Road, Green Oaks, IL 60048
Admission: Free
Details: If you are looking for a "no-frills" apple orchard, and the closest one to the city, Heinz Orchard is your place. The orchard welcomes families to bring their own strollers and wagons into their orchard. The orchard does not offer any extras, such as, corn mazes, hay rides or food and drink but instead specializes in "pure apple picking fun in a beautiful surrounding," according to the orchard's website. Information on the type of apples currently available can be found on the orchard's website.


McHenry County

All Seasons Apple Orchard
Hours of Operation: Weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Weekends and Holidays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 4510 IL Route 176, Woodstock, IL
Details: This apple orchard offers 12 varieties of apples and pears. The orchard offers pick-your-own Honeycrisp apples and Asian pears and provides updates on its website on which apples are currently available.
Other Activities: A corn maze offers 3 miles of pathways and a lookout bridge and there is also a shorter maze. The pumpkin patch opens at the end of September.
Other Crops/Produce/Trees: Pumpkins, pears

Prairie Sky Orchard
Hours of Operation: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Address: 4914 N Union Rd, Union, IL 60180
Details: More information on the you-pick crop can be found on Prairie Sky's website: http://www.prairieskyorchard.com/products/
Other Activities: Prairie Sky also sells apple cider, apple cider donuts, frozen pies and more.
Other Crops/Produce/Trees: Asian pears

Royal Oak Farm Orchard
Hours of Operation: Closed on Sundays. Sept. 2-Oct. 14: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Wednesday; 9:30 a.m. to Sunset, Thursday through Saturday Oct. 15-Oct. 31, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday; Nov. 1 through Nov. 16, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Address: 15908 Hebron Road, Harvard, IL 
Details: The orchard has 29 varieties of apples. For crop updates, visit the Royal Oak crop web page: http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.com/Crops.htm
Other Activities: The entertainment area has no admission fee and open hay rides on Friday and Saturday nights. Each guest can purchase entertainment tokens for $2.50 per toke, which is good for the train, carousel, hay ride or orchard tour rides. Royal Oak also has a market/bakery and country restaurant.
Other Crops/Produce/Trees: Raspberries, pumpkins, giant pumpkins, gourds and squash.

Pine Acres Apples
Hours of Operation: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5p.m.
Address: 41W651 Powers Road, Huntley, IL
Admission: There is a $5 entrance fee for all vehicles. If the total apple purchase for this vehicle exceeds $35, a credit of $5 will be given on that purchase.
Details: Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Empire, Red Delicious and Granny Smith apple are available at this you-pick orchard.
Other Crops/Produce/Trees: Christmas tree cutting begins Nov. 29

More Than Delicious Orchard
Hours of Operation: Fridays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: 9905 Thompson Rd., Woodstock, IL 60098
Details: Information on the you-pick crop is available on the orchard's website: http://morethandelicious.com/schedule.htm
Other Activities: The orchard also sells cider donuts and honey.
Other Crops/Produce/Trees: Pears

Lang's Orchard

Hours of Operation: Saturday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Address: 17411 Secor Rd Woodstock, IL 60098
Details: More information on what apples are available can be found on Lang's website: http://www.langsorchard.com/html/varieties.html

Woodstock Country Orchard

Hours of Operation: Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Address: 17015 Garden Valley Rd Woodstock, IL 60098
Details: Country Orchard is expecting a bountiful crop of apples this fall. Check out the orchard's website for updates on what type of apples are available.


Boone County

Edwards Apple Orchard
Hours of Operation: Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 7601 Centerville Road, Poplar Grove, IL 61065
Details: A family-owned apple orchard with a mission of providing a farm experience to families. The farm offers crisp apples, warm apple cider donuts and freshly pressed apple cider. The Apple Barn opens Aug. 23 this year, and we will remain open through the Sunday after Thanksgiving.


Will County

Apples on Oak
Hours of Operation: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: 16146 W Oak Ave, Joliet, IL 60441
Details: For more information on varieties of apples and picking times, visit the Apples on Oak website: http://www.applesonoak.com/applesonoak.html

Garden Patch Farms and Orchard
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Address: 14158 W 159th St Homer Glen, IL 60491
Admission: $5 per person to enter the you-pick fields
Details: More information on the you-pick crop can be found on the Garden Patch Farms website: http://www.gardenpatchfarms.com
Other Crops/Produce/Trees: Peach, plum, pear, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and all sorts of vegetables.


Kendall County

Knutson Harvest
Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday; 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday
Address: 13550 Townhouse Rd Newark, IL 60541
Details: More information on the you-pick crop is available on the Knutson website: http://knutsonsharvest.com/prod-fruit.html
Other Activities: Knutson's also sells homemade pies, jams, pickles, relishes and honey
Other Crops/Produce/Trees: Berries, vegetables, peaches


Indiana Orchard

County Line Orchard
Hours of Operation: UPick is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Address: 200 S County Line Rd, Hobart, IN 46342
Admission: Admission ranges from $1 to $10 a person
Details: The 2013 apple crop is expected to be fantastic at County Line Orchard. The apple orchard includes 40 acres of U-Pick apples and over 35 varieties of apples.
Other Activities: There is a corn maze and a kids farm area with a toddler play area, mini maze, chickville, and "Peter the Pumpkin Eating Dino." There is also a picnic area and outdoor music performances. The bakery sells apple spice and pumpkin spice donuts. The orchard also provides group camp fires and hay rides.
Other Crops/Produce/Trees: Pumpkins

Wisconsin Orchards

Harvest Times Orchard
Hours of Operation: Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: 36116 128th St., Twin Lakes, WI
Details: The orchard has pick-your-own apples, pumpkins and cherries. More information on what produce is available can be found on the website. There is also a donut shop and cider is made during September in the the cider barn.
Other Crops/Produce/Trees: Cherries, pumpkins

Apple Barn Orchard and Winery
Hours of Operation: The orchard is open Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. but there are no pick-your-own apples on week days.
Address: W6384 Sugar Creek Rd, Elkhorn, WI 53121
Details: More information on what apples are available can be found on Apple Barn's website: http://www.applebarnorchardandwinery.com/apples.html
Other Activities: The winery sells a variety of fruit wines and offers free sampling of the wines. There are also winery tours available.

Apple Holler

Hours of Operation: The orchard is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Sunday
Address: 5006 S Sylvania Ave Sturtevant, WI 53177
Details: The orchard has 30 varieties of apples and more information is available on Apple Holler's website: http://www.appleholler.com/what-to-do/orchard-farm
Other Activities: Apple Holler also offers its Red Barn Theatre performances, hay rides, sleigh rides and a gemstone mining experience. Hours of operation for the restaurant, bakery and shop through Oct. 31. are: Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

What is your favorite apple orchard in the area? Let us know in the comments section. 


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