Fall is upon us, and that means beautiful fall colors in the trees, harvest festivals, apple cider, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and all kinds of treats and festivities. Illinois in the fall is a wonderful time and so many events and traditions bring us all together. If you’re looking for the best events, activities, and more for this fall, we’ll show you the best of them in this ultimate guide to fall attractions and activities in Illinois.

Illinois Fall Foliage: Where To Go In Illinois For Fall Foliage

Illinois is covered in beautiful forests and farmland and during autumn they burst with various hues of gold, rust, red, and brown. Illinois fall foliage is so lovely and some places are especially spectacular. In the northern part of the state, the colors will peak around mid-October and the southern part will see them in late October and early November. Let’s check out the best places to see fall foliage in Illinois.

Chicago Botanic Garden

Location: Chicago, IL.

Wow Factor: The displays are so diverse that you'll get to see what fall colors look like all over Illinois.

Need To Know: There is an admission fee ranging from $13.95 to $22.95 but the experience is well worth it.

There’s something about the symmetry and the swaths of color that make the Chicago Botanic Garden such an incredible sight during the fall. It’s already such a lovely place to stroll any time of year, but the bright colors make it something truly special. It’s also a great place to enjoy some peace and quiet and enjoy some natural beauty in the middle of such a busy city.

Starved Rock State Park

Location: Oglesby, IL.

Wow Factor: You can explore 2,630 acres on 13 miles of trails through 18 canyons.

Need To Know: There is no entrance fee, however, during peak times there is a parking fee per vehicle of $5 for non-residents and $1 for residents.

There’s nothing like exploring Starved Rock State Park with its stunning canyons and waterfalls. During the fall it’s nothing but breathtaking. The canyons and waterfalls create such a mesmerizing landscape. Taking a hike among the trees will really inspire a love of nature and the amazing colors it can create.

Ferne Clyffe State Park

Location: Goreville, IL.

Wow Factor: This has been recognized as one of the most outstanding natural scenic spots for a century.

Need To Know: This is within the Shawnee National Forest which requires an ePass or National Forest Day Pass if any facilities are being used.

Illinoisans tend to agree that Ferne Clyffe State Park is one of the most naturally beautiful areas in the state. Ferne Clyffe Waterfall is one of the most popular hikes and Ferne Clyffe Lake is simply idyllic. Make this a bucket list destination for your fall adventures this year.

Pere Marquette State Park

Location: Grafton, IL.

Wow Factor: This is the largest state park in Illinois and it spans 8,050 acres.

Need To Know: No fee required and there are equestrian trails, so this is one of the few places you can enjoy fall colors on horseback.

Pere Marquette State Park is such a wonderfully beautiful place and it becomes like a fairytale wonderland when in the fall. Since 1931 when the park was established, people have flocked from all over the state to take in the fall colors here. There are several well-marked trails that make for the perfect autumn stroll.

Best Pumpkin Patches In Illinois

Every autumn, families in Illinois love to get together to visit rural pumpkin patches on farms all over the state to get a taste of old-fashioned fun and homemade treats. There’s something so wholesome about the experience. Let us introduce you to the best pumpkin patches in Illinois:

Goebbert's Farm

Location: Barrington, IL.

Wow Factor: There are about 30 activities and attractions at this farm, making it among the best in the state.

Need To Know: The fall festivities begin September 7 and run through October 31, 2024.

Goebbert’s Farm is an absolute blast during the fall season. There are so many fun things to do. Interactive tractors, pig races, a pumpkin house, a Kidstruction Zone, a cow train, a corn maze, a straw maze, wagon rides, a magic show…the list goes on. If you’re looking for a very full day of fun, this is the place to go.

The Great Pumpkin Patch

Location: Arthur, IL.

Wow Factor: This is in the middle of Amish country and you're likely to see horses and buggies traveling around.

Need To Know: The Great Pumpkin Patch gets underway from September 13 to October 31, 2024.

Enjoying fall festivities in the heart of Amish country adds so much old-fashioned charm. The Great Pumpkin Patch, which takes place on a farm called The 200 Acres, has over 300 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and squash and has so many pumpkin-based baked goods to sate your sweet tooth. There are some gorgeous gardens to explore as well.

Pumpkin Daze at Abbey Farms

Location: Aurora, IL.

Wow Factor: Abbey Farms focuses on the adults as well as the kids. Craft beer and wine are available on select dates.

Need To Know: Pumpkin Daze runs from September 21 to October 27.

You’ll have the time of your life at Pumpkin Daze. Abbey Farms has a huge host of activities available for all ages including a petting zoo, a corn maze, zip lines, go-karts, a corn cannon, a combine slide, a Megadrop Slide, tractor rides, hay wagon rides, and a whole lot more in store. You’ll want to come back more than once to do it all.

Best Fall Festivals In Illinois

Illinois is chock full of fall events to make the season a ton of fun. Illinois fall festivals include harvest festivals, food festivals, Oktoberfests, and quaint and charming small-town festivals of all kinds. Get ready for some amazing times at the best fall festivals in Illinois:

Morton Pumpkin Festival

Location: Morton, IL.

Wow Factor: Morton, Illinois grows so many pumpkins that it's known as The Pumpkin Capital of the World. It supplies 85% of the world’s canned pumpkin!

Need To Know: The Morton Pumpkin Festival takes place from September 11 to September 14, 2024.

The Morton Pumpkin Festival is one of the biggest events of the year. It’s been going on since 1967 and now draws about 70,000 guests each year. Enjoy pumpkin pancakes, burn them off in the 10K race, experience thrilling carnival rides, and enjoy tons of live music and entertainment. If you ever bought canned pumpkin, it almost surely came from here!

Arthur Cheese Festival

Location: Arthur, IL.

Wow Factor: This festival has its own take on the Olympic sport of curling...cheese curling!

Need To Know: The Arthur Cheese Festival will take place on August 31 and September 2 and 3, 2024.

Anyone who has been to Illinois will know that dairy farming is a huge industry here. We figured we might as well make a festival about it. The Arthur Cheese Festival is a lovely small-town festival in Amish country where you can take part in cheese curling, enjoy local live music, enjoy a parade, watch the Rat and Cheese Race, and snack on free cheese samples. It’s a relaxing and welcoming event that fosters a warm, community feel that you will adore.

St. Mary’s Oktoberfest

Location: Alton, IL.

Wow Factor: This is considered the most authentic Oktoberfest in Illinois.

Need To Know: St. Mary's Oktoberfest will be from October 4 to October 6, 2024.

St. Mary’s Oktoberfest really brings out German cuisine and culture like no other event in Illinois. Enjoy steins full of Paulaner beer, fill up on bratwurst and sauerkraut, enjoy traditional German song and dance, and enjoy some contemporary things as well like live bands, fun kids’ activities, and bring home your very own St.Mary’s Oktoberfest glass stein

Murphysboro Apple Festival

Location: Murphysboro, IL.

Wow Factor: As of this year, the Murphysboro Apple Festival will have been going on for 73 years!

Need To Know: The Murphysboro Apple Festival will run from September 11 to September 14, 2024.

The Murphysboro Apple Festival is as American as apple pie, and there’s lots of it! While the town is small, the attendance is huge, often reaching over 45,000 attendees which is several times the town’s population. You’ll have carnival rides, the Appletime Golf Classic, a fiddle & banjo contest, an apple blossom contest, a cornhole tournament, and way more. Come and have massive fun in a small town.

Free & Cheap Illinois Fall Activities

If you like wandering through colorful forests, snacking on pumpkin-laden treats, and attending some of the biggest festivals in the state and are wondering “What are some other fall activities near me?” then get ready to have some fun that won’t break the bank. These options are either free or quite inexpensive and will take you to some of the best places to visit in Illinois in the fall.

Walk Through A Corn Maze

Location: Various farms in Illinois.

Wow Factor: The largest corn maze in the world is right here in Illinois!

Need To Know: Prices vary, so please check with individual locations for hours and pricing.

Illinois has no shortage of corn farms and therefore an abundance of corn mazes. There are corn mazes in Illinois of every shape and size so you’re sure to find one to fit your budget and schedule. It’s a lot of fun to wander these and enjoy the various attractions, activities, and foods that surround them. One shouldn’t let the fall season pass by without exploring one of these fun maize mazes.

Take a day trip to Galena

Location: Galena, IL.

Wow Factor: Galena has tons of Victorian homes and over 125 independently-owned businesses in its downtown area.

Need To Know: The Galena Depot serves as a visitor center for local information.

The charming and historic town of Galena is the perfect destination for a fall day trip. There are gorgeous Victorian homes throughout the town and it is filled with trees that burst with color in the fall. The vibrant downtown area has tons of quaint shops and delicious cafes and the populace is so friendly and welcoming. Make sure to stroll the bridge that covers the river.

Windsor Harvest Picnic

Location: Windsor, IL.

Wow Factor: This is the longest running festival in Illinois. This year is its 126th year!

Need To Know: The Windsor Harvest Picnic is free and takes place August 15 to August 17, 2024.

Come take part in the 126th annual Windsor Harvest Picnic. Tons of live music, home-cooking including a fried fish cookout, a 5K run, a parade, a tractor pull, a carnival, and a lot more await you this year. This year’s headliners will be The Bellamy Boys. What a great way to spend a fall weekend in Illinois.

Sycamore Pumpkin Festival

Location: Sycamore, IL.

Wow Factor: The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival has been going on since 1956 and spans the entire downtown area.

Need To Know: The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival is free to attend will run from October 23 to October 27, 2024.

The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival is one of the most whimsical and celebratory free festivals in Illinois. There’s a display of hundreds of decorated pumpkins which are so creative and fun. A carnival will take place with big carnival rides. There is so much fun to be had. This year’s theme is “Pumpkins Around the World”.

This ultimate guide to fall attractions and activities in Illinois should give you a great start on finding fun things to do this fall. Enjoy the fall foliage, pumpkin patches, festivals, and other events and be sure to let us know all about your experiences in the comments. If you’d like to view the gorgeous fall colors from the comfort of your car, take this fall foliage road trip to see the best of it:

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/illinois/fall-foliage-trip-il/