Autumn, the most beautiful time of the year, is right around the corner. Prepare yourselves for apple picking, pumpkin carving and getting lost in a corn maze.

There are hayrides to ride, animals to pet and pigs to watch race. Get ready to enjoy September and October to the fullest. Here’s a guide to some area corn mazes, apple orchards and pumpkin patches. Call or check the farm’s website or Facebook page for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 procedures, including mask-wearing.

Aurora

Pumpkin Daze at Abbey Farms: Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday and Columbus Day Sept. 18-Oct. 31. 2855 Hart Road. Admission: $14 online/$18 at the gate weekdays; $18 online/$22 at the gate weekends. 630-966-7775; abbeyfarms.org.

A craft beer and wine tent opens at noon on weekends. Attractions include Kane County’s largest corn maze, hay wagon rides, a you-pick pumpkin patch, farm store with specialty items and lots of kids’ activities.

Bolingbrook

Johansen Farms Children’s Zoo and Fall Festival: Hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. most days Sept. 15-Oct. 31; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekends in October and Columbus Day. 710 W. Boughton Road. Admission: $12.95 weekdays, $17.95 weekends and Columbus Day for kids over 2 and adults; $9.95 weekdays, $15.95 weekends and Columbus Day for seniors 62 and over. 630-759-8711; johansenfarms.com.

There’s a pumpkin patch, open market area, inflatables, hayrides, mini golf and barnyard animals.

Channahon

Dollinger Family Farm: Hours are 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. daily Sept. 13-Oct. 30. 7502 E. Hansel Road. Admission: free, some activities have a fee. Tickets available for purchase online for corn maze, face painting and train rides. 815-467-4698; dollingerfarms.com.

There’s a four-acre corn maze, pumpkin patch, farm animals, bee barn and play areas. Hay rides and train rides available on the weekends.

Crest Hill

Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm: Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily Sept. 25-Oct. 31. 17250 S. Weber Road. Admission: $19.95 online; $24.95 if purchased on-site; $31.95 all-inclusive pass weekends if purchased online. Children 2 and under free. Military and veterans, police and firefighter personnel free with active ID. Grandparents free weekdays with paid grandchild admission. 800-304-3276; ourpumpkinfarm.com.

There is a giant corn maze open on weekends and Columbus Day only, two-acre Spookley the Square Pumpkin maze and several kids’ activities. Some activities run weekends only.

Geneva

Windy Acres Farmstand Fall Fest: Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily Sept. 18-Oct. 31. 37W446 Fabyan Parkway. Admission: $15 weekdays; $17 weekends. $2 less for seniors 65 and older. Kids 2 and under free. Veterans and active military personnel are free with ID. 630-232-6429; windyacres farmstand.com/fall-fest.

Attractions include a corn maze, petting zoo, tractor rides, zip lines and jumping pillow. A beer garden is open on weekends.

Green Oaks

Heinz Apple Orchard: Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily; opens Sept. 17. 1050 Crest Road. Apples will cost $10 for a half-peck bag and $20 for a peck. 847-770-3449; heinzorchard.com.

There will be a small crop this year and customers are urged to visit the orchard’s website or Facebook page for up-to-date information on hours and dates.

Homer Glen

Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm: Hours vary; open Sept. 17-Oct. 31. 13341 W. 151st St. Admission: $16.99-$29.99; see website for details. Veterans or military personnel with ID is free. Kids ages 1 and under free. Pony rides cost $6. 708-301-3276; pumpkinfarm.com.

This popular farm offers many rides, pumpkins, a giant swing, playground, haunted barn, petting zoo, pig races and more.

Konow’s Corn Maze: Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, and Columbus Day; 2-8 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays Sept. 18-Oct. 30. Closed Tuesdays. 16849 S. Cedar

Road. Admission: $12 weekdays, $15 weekends, 2 and under free. $15 on Columbus Day. Active military personnel and veterans free with military ID. 708-301-8845; konowscornmaze.com.

Look for a giant corn maze as well as a kiddie corn maze, jumping pillow, hayrides, animal barn and more. They have live music, pony rides and a magician on the weekends.

Lincolnshire

Didier Farms Pumpkinfest: Hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily Sept. 18-Oct. 31. Closes for season at 4 p.m. Oct. 31. 16678 W. Aptakisic Road. Admission is free; all activities and rides have fees. Tickets, $1. Thursday wristband special $15 2-6 p.m. 847-634-3291; didierfarms.com.

Attractions include a pumpkin playland, kiddie rides and Animal Land Zoo with pig races. Hayrides will not be running this year.

Malta

Jonamac Orchard: Fall Festival and corn maze hours are 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 31; and 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Columbus Day. Pick-your-own apples and pumpkins hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. The pumpkin patch will open for you-pick in mid-September. 19412 Shabbona Road. Admission: activities $6; corn maze $6. You-pick apple picking costs $15 for a half-peck. Pumpkins are $10 for three for $20. Entrance to barn yard play area, as well as pumpkin patch and apple orchard, is free Mondays-Thursdays; must have wristband Fridays-Sundays and Columbus Day. 815-825-2158; jonamacorchard.com.

New this year is a corn crib play barn. Other activities includes wagon rides, petting zoo and jumping pillow. Haunted corn maze from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in October. Cost is $15 and tickets are available online.

Maple Park

Kuipers Family Farm: Fall fest hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays Sept. 18-Oct. 31. The farm closes at 4 p.m. Oct. 31. 1N318 Watson Road. Admission: $24.99 weekends and Columbus Day; $21.99 weekdays; $16.99 weekends for seniors 65 and older and military with ID and $14.99 weekdays. Children 2 and under free. Online $2 cheaper. Jumping pillow $4 extra on weekends and Columbus Day. Admission to the apple orchard is $12.99 per person and includes a quarter-peck bag of apples. Apple picking is done mostly on weekends in October; see website for ripening dates. 815-827-5200; kuipersfamilyfarm.com.

Admission includes a free pumpkin for all paying customers. There is a corn maze, haunted forest and scream shed, pig races, petting zoo, hay wagon rides, playground and more.

McHenry

Stade’s Farm and Market: Shades of Autumn Fall Festival runs from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends in September beginning Sept. 11, and then 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 31. The apple orchard is open for you-pick from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Pumpkin picking is from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekends and Columbus Day to Oct. 31. 3709 W. Miller Road. Admission: Fall Fest prices are $18 in September and Fridays in October and $20 for weekends in October. $10 for ages 65 and over. $10 minimum apple purchase per person for apple picking. Pumpkins cost $8. 815-675-6396; stadesfarmandmar ket.com.

There is a petting zoo, pumpkin cannon and children’s activities.

Minooka

Heap’s Giant Pumpkin Farm: Hours are 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. daily Sept. 25-Oct. 31. Farm closes at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 31. 4853 Route 52. Admission: free, activities cost extra. 815-651-7288; heapsgiantpumpkinfarm.com.

The corn maze and pumpkin patch are open daily; hayrides to the pumpkin patch are on weekends and Thursdays and Fridays in October. Other attractions include a playground, fun barn and bean maze.

Oswego

Keller’s Farmstand: Fall fest hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends only and Columbus Day Sept. 11-Oct. 30. The apple orchard is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends through October. 2500 Johnson Road. Admission: fall fest tickets are $13, kids 4 and under free. Must reserve tickets online. Before heading to the orchard for you-pick apples, everyone must purchase an apple bag at least 30 minutes prior to closing time to allow enough time for picking. Bag prices are $8-$32. 630-219-8194; kellers farmstand.com/fall.

There is a pumpkin patch with pumpkins available for you-pick from early fall through October as well as a 10-acre corn maze and many other fall-friendly activities.

Pingree Grove

Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm and Apple Orchard: Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Oct. 31. 42W813 Reinking Road. Admission: $17 weekdays and $20 weekends and Columbus Day; $12 seniors daily and free for 2 and under. Some activities cost extra. 847-464-5952; pumpkinfarms.com.

Apples will be available for you-pick and purchase. There are many children’s activities, including a haunted house, jumping pillow and pig races.

Plano

Woody’s Orchard: Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays in September and Labor Day and Columbus Day through Oct. 3223 Creek Road. Admission to the Play Yard is $10 per person; 2 and under free; $5 senior discount. Admission to the orchard is $8 for ages 4 and older (includes a quarter-peck bag of apples). Saturdays and Sundays train rides cost $3; $5 for all-day ride pass. 630-247-9300; woodysorchard.com.

There are 18 varieties of apples. Hayrides from the store to the orchard are included. There is a two-acre pumpkin field that features 15 varieties of pumpkins available for you-pick beginning at the end of September. Play Yard activities include spider web, giant slide, hamster rollers, jumping pad and cedar playhouses.

South Barrington

Goebbert’s Farm and Garden Center: Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; Sept. 11-Oct. 31. Farm closes at 3 p.m. Labor Day and Oct. 31. 40 W. Higgins Road. Admission: $17 weekdays and $20 weekends and Columbus Day ages 3 and up; some activities cost extra. 847-428-6727; goebbertsgardencenter.com.

Activities include Animal Land, giraffe barn, jumping pillow, haunted house, camel rides, pony rides and wagon rides.

Spring Grove

Richardson Adventure Farm: Hours are 3-9 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and from noon-9 p.m. Sundays Sept. 11-Nov. 7. Open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Columbus Day. 909 English Prairie Road. Admission: $18-$22 for people ages 13 and up, $15-$18 ages 3-12 and those 2 and under are free. Some activities cost extra. 815-675-9729; richardsonadventurefarm.com.

This farm offers a large corn maze as well as a pumpkin patch, zip line, wagon rides, Zorbing, petting zoo, pig races, jumping pillow, pedal carts and more. This year’s theme of the corn maze celebrates the farm’s 20th anniversary.

Tinley Park

Odyssey Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maize: Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 25-Oct. 31. Closed Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6. 18900 Oak Park Ave. Admission: $22 on weekdays/$24 weekends and Columbus Day. 708-429-3800; odysseyfunfarm.com.

Activities include a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, jumping pillow, hayrides, pony rides (weekends for $8) and more. Zip line and zombie paintball gallery cost extra. This year’s corn maze design celebrates the 50th anniversary of Pac-Man.

Waterman

Honey Hill Orchard: Hours are 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through Oct. 31. 11783 Waterman Road. Admission: free to enter the orchard. 815-264-3337; honeyhillorchard.com.

They have several varieties of apples for picking; check the website for exact ripening dates and costs.

Waukegan

Kroll’s Fall Harvest Farm: Hours vary Sept. 18-Nov. 1. Timed entry tickets are required for all guests on the weekends. 13236 W. Town Line Road. Admission: on weekdays, hayrides cost $4 per person; kids 2 and under free. Pumpkins cost $2-$15. Corn maze admission is $7 ages for 13 and older; $5 for ages 12 and under; free for ages 2 and under. Admission is $10 on weekends and Columbus Day for ages 3 and up and includes hayride, corn maze and animal area. 847-662-5733; krollsfarm.com.

In addition to the corn maze, there is a petting zoo, hayrides and fresh-made pumpkin doughnuts.

Woodstock

All Seasons Apple Orchard: Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends and Columbus Day, Aug. 28 to Oct. 31. 14510 Illinois Route 176. Admission: Combo tickets include barnyard pass and admission to the apple orchard and are $21 weekdays, $26 weekends and Columbus Day. Barnyard-only tickets are $12 weekdays, $17 weekends and Columbus Day. Apple-picking only tickets cost $11. Honeycrisp apples cost $4 extra. 815-338-5637; allseasonsorchard.com.

In addition to the pumpkin patch and apple orchard, there are many children’s activities like a petting zoo, jumping pillow, slide, giant swings and pig races. Some activities run weekends and holidays only. Some cost extra.

Homestead Orchard: Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon-4 p.m. Sundays through late October. 11802 Charles Road. $20 per peck of apples. 815-338-7443; homesteadorchard.net.

There are many varieties of apples available for you-pick; check the ripening chart on the website or call to see when your favorite variety will be ready. Minimum purchase is one peck for a family with children and two pecks for more than four adults.

Lang’s Orchard: Closed for the 2021 season. 17411 Secor Road. 815-568-7547; langsorchard.com.

Union

Prairie Sky Orchard: Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through late October. 4914 N. Union Road. Prices to be announced. 815-923-4834; prairieskyorchard.com.

You-pick quantities are limited; keep an eye on their Facebook page for up-to-date information on quantities.

Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.