DeKalb County has a rich agricultural history and tradition. That tradition is alive and thriving today with family farms. Enjoy local produce and bring the farm to your own kitchen table. Farm fresh doesn’t stop with produce, pick the perfect pumpkin and cut down the right Christmas Tree to decorate for the holidays. The farm experience doesn’t stop there. Many family farms are part of barn/farm tours, local farmers’ markets, host their own mini-fests and events that are fun for the whole family.
Experience a Corn Maze
Stroll along on a Barn/Farm Tour
Farmers’ Markets
DeKalb Famers’ Market – Thursdays, June – September, from 10 am -2:00 pm
Shabbona’s Farmer & Artisan Market – Saturdays, June – October, 8:00am – 12:00pm
Sycamore Farmers’ Market – Tuesdays, June – September, from 3:00 – 7:00 pm
Find local honey, farm fresh eggs, meats and more using Eat Local DeKalb’s Family Farm Map
Orchards and Family Farms
Jonamac Orchard
Jonamac Orchard, open late August – November, features over 10,000 apple trees representing over two dozen varieties, a store and bakery, a pumpkin patch, and a 10-acre corn maze that becomes haunted at night. The orchard has campfire spots, a petting zoo, hay pile, apple train, and many other activities for the whole family to enjoy. Besides the regular activities, the Orchard hosts events every weekend in September and October.
The Store and Bakery, open 7 days a week from mid-August – early November and now offers Apple Wines, Hard Cider, and Apple Ale, as well as apple doughnuts, pies, breads, apple butter and many of your other favorite fall treats. Visitors can now taste the wine and ciders in the newly opened Cider House.
The Cider House is filled with hundreds of unique items, a wide assortment of wine and cider accessories, and friendly staff to guide you along and help match your tastes to the exact apple drink of your dreams. You can see first hand the brewing process. The Jonamac Cider House is more than a store. It’s the place to taste the very best apple wines and ciders in the state.
Kuipers Family Farm
Kuipers Family Farm is a 230-acre entertainment farm located in Maple Park. Their season begins in late August with apple picking on weekends thru October. The Orchard Shop and Bakery offers fresh apple cider doughnuts, home-baked pies, fudge, and other fall favorites. In September, the five-acre, two-mile Corn Maze opens along with the Pumpkin Farm. Enjoy hayrides, farm animals, a haunted forest, tractor tire mountain, and much more. In November, the farm switches gears for winter holidays with pies and specialty foods for entertaining, unique gifts for giving and of course, Christmas trees. Kuipers also hosts weddings and special events in their orchard.
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co.
Sip and savor corn whiskey, apple flavored whiskey, rye bourbon, and vodka from the Whiskey Acres Distilling Co., the only estate distillery in Illinois. From “Seed to Spirit”, they start with the finest grains grown in the best soils the earth has to offer right here in DeKalb County. Learn about their hand-crafted distilled spirits on a tasting tour and sample their bold spirits surrounded by the natural beauty of the farm on the outdoor cocktail patio lounge, in the quaint and cozy historic tasting room, or in the recently constructed visitors center. Whiskey Acres is eager to toast and meet new friends! Open year-round for tours and tastings. Bottles of all hand-crafted spirits and merch are available to purchase as well.
DeKalb Community Gardens
Website | Visit website for more information
Enchanted Valley Farm
Website | Open approximately late September – October
Honey Hill Orchard
Website | Open approximately late August – October
Pumpkin Place of Genoa
Website | Open approximately early September – October
Sunny Oaks Farm
Website | Mushrooms & More
Theis Farm Market
Website | Open approximately early May – October
Wessel’s Family Farm
Website | Open approximately late-June – November
Yaeger’s Farm Market
Website | Open approximately mid-April – October
It’s all about the Pumpkins…and squash
Enchanted Valley Farm
Honey Hill Orchard
Jonamac Orchard
Kuipers Family Farm
Pumpkin Place of Genoa
Theis Farm Market
Wessel’s Family Farm
Yaeger’s Farm Market
Johnson’s Pumpkin Stand and Corn Maze
The Johnson Pumpkin Stand offers pumpkins, gourds, straw bales, corn stalks, broom corn, Indian corn, and bittersweet. Partake in the 8-acre corn maze located on the farm.
Christmas Tree Farms
Theis Farm Market
Wessel’s Family Farm
Whispering Pines Reindeer Ranch
Camelot Christmas Tree Farm
The Friday after Thanksgiving, Camelot Christmas Tree Farm opens for visitors to find their perfect Christmas tree. Camelot is a “choose and cut” Christmas tree farm. They offer a variety of trees including Concolor, Fraser, Canaan, Douglas, Balsam Fir, Blue and White Spruce, White Pine and Scotch Pine and provide free shaking and baling.
Larson’s Family Farm
Starting the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas trees are available at Larson Family Farm. The farm offers a variety of trees to choose from including Canaan Fir (Like Fraizer Fir), Concolor Fir, Douglas Fir, Norway Spruce, Scotch Pine, and White Pine.