Families visited Blackberry Farm in Aurora on Monday, when the Fox Valley Park District's Pumpkin Weekends festival opened on the Columbus Day holiday instead of its usual weekend-only schedule.
The annual celebration, which normally runs Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through October 25, made an exception this week because of the holiday, according to the Chicago Tribune. Admission runs a flat $11 per guest age 1 and older, a uniform rate that applies to every visitor during Pumpkin Weekends regardless of residency, according to the Fox Valley Park District. That is a shift from the park's core summer season, when residents of Aurora, North Aurora, Montgomery and Sugar Grove get a $3 discount on standard admission.
Nikki Katris brought her own children out Monday because schools were closed, and she described the farm as quiet, relaxed and well suited to her kids' age group, per the Tribune's reporting. That sense of unhurried exploration is by design, according to facility manager Abby Oldenburg, who said Pumpkin Weekends lets families enjoy fall at their own pace without feeling rushed through activities.
Pumpkin Weekends at Blackberry Farm
Pumpkin Weekends is an annual fall celebration at Blackberry Farm.
That kind of turnout tracks with Blackberry Farm's broader popularity. The 54-acre site on Aurora's far west side, located at 100 S. Barnes Road, draws roughly 120,000 visitors over its core summer season running from May through late September, according to Glancer Magazine. The Daily Herald describes the farm as having a pioneer-era focus.
What Comes With Admission
Pumpkin Weekends admission includes access to the park's rides and attractions, including a replica steam-engine train, hay wagons, a carousel and ponies, per the Tribune's account. Families can also plan around themed single-day additions, including a Trick-or-Treat day scheduled for October 17 that's included with regular admission.
Beyond the rides, the grounds include five museums, including a Carriage House and an Early Streets museum, according to a Cvent listing of the venue.
Blackberry Farm's Park District
Blackberry Farm is part of the Fox Valley Park District.
The park district also offers season passes.
