The autumn in the Midwest is unparalleled. When autumn arrives in Chicago, the leaves turn vibrant colors, the air becomes crisp, and people of all ages flock outdoors to enjoy the season. We hope that this list of Favorite Fall Activities for Families in Chicago and Illinois will inspire you to leave the house and get out there for some apple cider and apple donuts. These Chicago and Illinois autumn activities are not to be missed!

FAVORITE FALL ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES IN CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS

What to do in Chicago with kids this fall

pick APPLES AT AN apple orchard IN ILLINOIS

Apple picking at a nearby orchard is a seasonal tradition we look forward to every year. My family makes a yearly trip every single year in search of the tastiest apples. After 18 years, it is now an annual tradition for us to travel there because of the wide variety of apples they always have. Other apple orchards can be found across Chicago and its suburbs. PickYourOwn.org will help you locate an apple orchard in your area. Check out our blog post for information on Illinois apple orchards.

Drive around and see the colors of fall change IN ILLINOIS

If you want to be sure you see some color on your drive through autumn, consult a fall foliage map before you depart. The Great River Road along the state's western border, the Illinois River Road from Chicago to Lake Geneva, and the northern route to Door County, Wisconsin, are some of our favorite drives. If you time your trip correctly, you'll be treated to magnificent colors at each of these locations. Further afield? Check out these great autumn drives in the Midwest.

Do some hiking in Illinois this FALL

On a gorgeous fall day, Chicago's many parks, hiking trails, and Lake Michigan beaches are ideal for exploration. In particular, when the leaves begin to change colors, Starved Rock State Park near Utica, Illinois, is one of our favorite places to go hiking. The park's magnificent terrain is made up of over 18 canyons that were sculpted out by snow runoff and natural springs. Families may explore over thirteen miles of clearly marked trails, and it's the ideal day trip from Chicago.

Visits to Cave-in-Rock State Park and the Garden of the Gods wilderness area in southern Illinois' Shawnee National Forest are essential. A 55-foot wide cave with a view of the Ohio River called Cave-in-Rock is the ideal location for hiking, picnics, and fishing. The first tree-based, environmentally friendly zip line in Illinois, Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour, is the place for the adventurous. The course has three aerial suspension bridges, eight zip lines, and offers breathtaking up-close views of Illinois's fall colors.

Take a hot air balloon ride through Galena to observe the changing foliage from above.All year long, Galena On The Fly provides hot air balloon trips from sunrise to dusk. Families have a 360-degree view of three distinct states while they are in the air. Explore Galena's lovely shops, art galleries, and historical sights once you land.

GET LOST in A corn maze IN ILLINOIS

Richardson Adventure Farm, home to the largest corn maze in the world, is located about an hour and a half north of Chicago, close to the Wisconsin border. The farm is much more than just a maze. You may enjoy a fudge shop, train ride, and petting zoo, among other things. There are also gigantic slides, bounce pillows, ORB rides (imagine yourself inside a giant ball rolling down a hill), a zip line, and a fudge shop. Richardson's is a well-crafted work of art. Each year, much effort is put into the maze's design to guarantee that there are multiple ways out and no dead ends. A map has been provided for everyone, and there are checkpoints hidden throughout the maze. It may take a few hours to find them all, but there is a minimum requirement to receive a completion certificate. It is a wonderful opportunity for a family outing in autumn.

Visitors to Chicago can also find a ten-acre corn maze at Hardy's Reindeer Ranch in Rantoul (near Champaign). In addition to the hayrides, pedal cars, and reindeer tours, there is also a cannon that fires pumpkins. There really are reindeer in this area. An enjoyable day trip, for sure!

VISIT AN awesome fall POPUP or festivals in Illinois

Chicago and the rest of Illinois have plenty of things to do in the fall because it is festival season. Beginning in September and running until the end of October, Chicago hosts a plethora of autumnal activities. Among the most popular are:

Morton Arboretum's Autumn Color Festival:

The Morton Arboretum has many activities planned for the fall season. The month of October is packed with events like the Fall Color 5K and the Scarecrow Trail around Meadow Lake. Some of the fun things going on this season are the Fall Cider and Ale Festival, Boo Breakfast, Family Jack O'Lantern Hikes, and Meeting the Beekeeper.

Oktoberfest in Naperville:

Naper Settlement's Oktoberfest is the place to be if you're in Chicago and looking for a good time. Festivities include pumpkin-carving contests, live polka music, and pretzel-eating contests. It's the perfect time to break out your best dirndl and lederhosen for a traditional German Oktoberfest! Prost!

The Biggest Pumpkin Party in Highwood:

For the tenth year in a row, Highwood has held the Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival, a competition for the best pumpkin festival in the world. In an effort to raise money for Make-A-Wish Illinois, organizers plan to light up more pumpkins than anyone else at once this Halloween. There are also carnival rides, live performances, and cuisine available during this event. The big pumpkin lighting on Sunday night is always a good time.

The Night of a Thousand Pumpkins:

Fabulous fall fun in Chicago may be had at the Chicago Botanic Gardens in neighboring Glencoe. The Botanic Gardens display their finest jack-o'-lanterns from Wednesday through Sunday for two consecutive weekends in October. Over a thousand intricately carved pumpkins, a boo-tanic trail, live entertainment, and seasonal beverages await visitors.

Check out the Enjoy Illinois page for more great celebrations happening all throughout the state.

VISIT a pumpkin patch near Chicago

Illinois grows more pumpkins than any other state, so there are pumpkin patches all over the Chicago area. People who want to find good pumpkins to carve shouldn't have to drive too far. Here are a few of our favorite picking spots:

Goebbert's in Hampshire AND South Barrington, Illinois – This family farm is northwest of Chicago. It has a fall fair, a pumpkin farm where you can pick your own pumpkins, a petting farm, and a dinosaur that eats pumpkins.

Stade's Farm and Market in McHenry, Illinois – Just south of the Wisconsin line is a pumpkin farm where you can pick your own pumpkins and do a lot of other fun things. During their Shades of Autumn Festival, which lasts for 8 weeks in the fall, there is a carousel, a tractor tire tower, and duck races. Kids will never complain of being bored.

Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm in Homer Glen, Illinois – The farm has a pumpkin fest from September 14 through the end of October. With a pumpkin rocket, kids can watch pumpkins fly through the air. They can also try apple donuts and mine for gems. This trip will take all day!

Attend a football game

In the U.S., high school football games are usually on Friday nights, and Chicago is no different. Nothing beats putting on your school's colors, going to the field with family and friends, and cheering for your team to win with the rest of your community.

On Saturdays, families go to watch college football games at places like the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University in Evanston. Spending an autumn day or evening tailgating is a great way to relax an have a great family outing. The Chicago Bears play every Sunday, so you and your brood can watch the NFL (or take a road trip to Green Bay to cheer for the Packers). Attending one of the few home games played in the fall is a great way to spend an October evening before the weather turns.

The fall season in the Midwest is in a league of its own. When fall arrives in Chicago, the leaves transform into a bright array of hues, the air turns crisp, and people of all ages throng outside to take advantage of the season. We have compiled a list of Favorite Fall Activities for Families in Chicago and Illinois in the hopes that it will motivate your family to get out of the house and enjoy some apple cider and apple donuts in the city. These activities in Chicago and Illinois during the fall season are not to be missed!