The season has officially turned into my favorite part of the year, and this week brought two things I am genuinely excited to share: the big pumpkin-night attraction in Lemont opens tonight, and Hobart's Johnson's Farm has its full 2026 festival lineup on the books, which runs nearly every weekend from here to Halloween. I verified every detail below against the venues' own pages this week, so you can plan with confidence. As always, give each place a quick check before you head out, since hours can shift with the weather.
Opening Tonight: Enchanted Adventure at The Forge, Lemont
The Forge: Lemont Quarries, at 227 Heritage Quarries Drive, opens Enchanted Adventure on Friday, September 25, and it runs Thursday through Sunday nights through November 1. The quarry grounds become a half-mile illuminated pumpkin trail after dark, with thousands of artisan-designed pumpkins arranged in themed scenes, more than 20 displays, and food and drinks along the path. The event skews family friendly, the walking surface is crushed limestone, and tickets are sold in dated time slots online, which keeps the experience pleasant rather than shoulder to shoulder. One honest note: tickets are final sale, so pick your night before you buy.
The Full Johnson's Farm Season, Hobart
Johnson's Farm at 8960 East Ridge Road in Hobart has its Pumpkin Festival Weekends confirmed for 2026, and the schedule is bigger than I first realized: Saturdays and Sundays on September 26 and 27, October 3 and 4, October 10 and 11, October 17 and 18, October 24 and 25, plus Saturday, October 31, all from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with last admission at 5. General admission runs $15.99 and covers pick-your-own pumpkins, the corn maze and 40-plus farm activities: jumping pillows, Straw Mountain, pedal karts, the Goat Village, an obstacle course and costume contests on Halloween weekend. It is the most complete pumpkin-day option in Lake County, and it is an easy drive from nearly anywhere in the South Suburbs.
This Weekend, September 26 and 27
Saturday brings the Portage Harvest Festival at Founders Square, and Sunday, Empty Bowls returns to New Lenox's Village Commons. Both were detailed in our weekend guide from earlier this week, so I will not repeat them here, yet both are worth your time.
The First Weekend of October Is Nearly Here
October 2 through 4 is the busiest stretch of the fall: Mokena's Family Fall Fest runs Thursday through Sunday, Crown Point's Oktoberfest takes over Bulldog Park on Saturday afternoon, St. John holds its parish Oktoberfest all weekend, and Orland Park's Great Pumpkin Party fills Centennial Park on Saturday morning. Our earlier guide has the full schedule, and the one fresh addition I verified this week sits across the state line: Porter's Perfect Pint celebrates its 15th year on Saturday, October 3 from noon to 5 p.m. at Hawthorne Park, 500 Ackerman Drive in Porter, Indiana. It is a 21-plus craft beer festival with unlimited samples from 50-plus regional breweries, a commemorative pint glass, live music and food vendors, and every dollar raised benefits the Town of Porter Parks Department and the Porter Volunteer Firefighters. If you are in Porter County that weekend, it is the grown-up companion to a weekend packed with family events.
A Season Worth Building Weekends Around
If you missed the Tinley Park Oktoberfest or Schererville's street fest earlier this month, this is the season that keeps giving: every weekend from here carries at least one reason to be out in the community, and the pumpkin patches open their full calendars next weekend. The past editions of our seasonal guides, including the farm and Halloween edition and the first big festival weekend, are linked here if you want the whole picture in one place.
Make a Weekend of It
If you are thinking about making one of these towns your next home, come visit on a weekend like this one. Walk the pumpkin trail in Lemont, watch Hobart's farm fill with families, sit on the grass at Bulldog Park. That is when you know a place fits. When you are ready to make the move, I would love to be in your corner. You Can With Joanne!™