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-front-of-orchardJonamac 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 exterior of the cider housefall 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

exterior of kuipers farmKuipers 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

close up of apple hanging on treeHoney 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

assortment of small pumpkins and gords

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

jonsons apples in baskets in front of a fence with pumpkins in the backgroundThe 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

line of christmas trees covered in snowThe 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.