Put an unexpected colorful twist on Halloween by going beyond the typical orange roundie and select one of the speckled, green or white pumpkins instead. Visit Pumpkin Playland, where kids can ride the kiddie carousel and Ferris wheel, mine for gems, ride mini tractors, play corn hole, get up close and personal with birds in the Parakeet Encounter, conquer a straw bale mountain, and weave their way through corn stalk or kiddie straw mazes. The farm is open now through Oct. 30.

Well known for their u-pick apple orchard, County Line is also a stop for your fall-inspired favorites like pumpkins as big as a small child, gourds, squash, hay bales, Indian corn, corn stalks, zinnias, sunflowers and mums. Kids can experience barnyard jams, a corn maze, a cow-themed barrel train, and tons of exciting animals at the kids farm!

A visit to Goebbert’s has been a long-held tradition for local families since they opened their roadside pumpkin stand in 1978. Not only do they have a fantastic assortment of pumpkins eager to adorn your fall displays, but kids will leave with happy memories of the 1/2-mile tour aboard the Pumpkin Express, watching the weekend pig races, experiencing the insatiable appetite of the giant mechanical pumpkin-eating dinosaur and wandering through the corn stalk maze.

The Fall Festival has been a family favorite since its inception in 1995. Take a hayride back and forth between the patch, visit four-legged friends in the petting zoo, test your navigation skills in the corn maze and indulge in your favorite fest foods.

Located just outside of Joliet, Siegel’s offers 40 acres of family fun with 30 attractions, including a tractor ride to their u-pick pumpkin patch and a beehive demo. Explore three different play areas that offer physical play, see the farm in style by taking a ride on the Ghost Town Railroad and squeeze in relaxation for the whole family when you sit back in the giant 100-year-old rocking chair. They are open now through Oct. 31.

You can pack a full day’s worth of fun that goes well beyond the pumpkin patch at this gem located about an hour southwest of Chicago. General admission includes unlimited turns on kiddie rides including the Happy Swing, a 90-foot-tall mega fun slide and twirling t-cup honey pots, pig races that occur every hour, adorable furry fun in the petting zoo, a walk through Kid Village, and lots more. The farm is now cashless.

Shutterbugs looking for a prime pumpkin patch photo to Instagram will love the mountainous spread of pumpkins of varying shapes, sizes and colors sitting under the watchful eye of scarecrows and ghostly wooden cutouts.

Whether you want to bake, carve or decorate, Kroll’s carries many specialty breed pumpkins that vary in size, color and shape ready for you to load up in their pumpkin carts. Hayrides with a focus on educating visitors on farming (crop rotation, hay versus straw, pollination) and the crops they grow (gourds, corn, pumpkins) are offered. Continue the education with a visit to the donkeys, sheep, goats, chickens and turkeys and learn about each from one of the knowledgeable employees.

Take the whole family to Gallagher Way's annual Pumpkin Party for an early Halloween celebration on Oct. 22. Trick-or-treat your way through Gallagher Way, snag a free junior pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, and enjoy a sing-a-long with the Old Town School of Folk Music crew.

When it comes to pumpkin picking within the Chicago city limits, there's nothing quite so convenient as your local park! Hand-select your favorite pumpkin from these Chicago parks filled with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. If you have to choose one, consider stopping by Jefferson Memorial Park, which will host a full-on Fall Fest filled with crafts, games, and—of course—pumpkins.