About Johansen Farms
Johansen Farms goes back to 1925, when Hans Johansen arrived from Copenhagen, settled in Lisle and sold the vegetables and flowers he grew from a roadside stand. His son Cort and daughter-in-law Dorothy opened their own stand in 1957, and by 1979 the family ran six stands and opened this site on Boughton Road in Bolingbrook, where they added a fall festival and a petting zoo. Later generations of the family still run it.
The fall festival is the draw. The pumpkin patch, which the farm says holds about 25,000 pumpkins, and the open market are free to walk, with free parking. The paid Children's Zoo runs daily from mid-September through October 31 and covers all animals, rides and activities: holding baby chicks, feeding animals, hayrides, train rides at Pumpkin Junction, air slides, a corn maze, mini golf, a toddler area and an obstacle course. Pony rides run on October weekends from 11 am to 6 pm.
The Piehouse & Bakery sells hot apple cider donuts by the dozen, whole pies, cherry turnovers and fresh bread, and the market stocks mums, fall decor and autumn treats, with a free photo area. School field trips, scout nights and parties are booked through the farm, and on October 31, 2026, the zoo hosts trick-or-treating from 10 am to 3 pm with a costume contest.
Nettle Creek Lavender Farm, west of Morris, is about 40 minutes southwest by I-55 and I-80. Its bloom-season tours and summer yoga come months before the pumpkins here, so most families will make them two separate trips.
What to do
- Pick a pumpkin from a patch of about 25,000, free to enter
- Hold baby chicks and feed the animals at the Children's Zoo
- Ride the train at Pumpkin Junction or take a hayride, included with zoo admission
- Find your way through the corn maze, then try the air slides and mini golf
- Take home a dozen hot apple cider donuts from the Piehouse & Bakery
- Pony rides on October weekends, 11 am–6 pm
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Pumpkin patch, market and Children's Zoo daily mid-September through October 31; the farm closes for the season November 1
- Hours
- Fall 2026: pumpkin patch and open market Mon–Fri 9 am–6 pm, Sat–Sun 9 am–7 pm; Children's Zoo Mon–Fri 10 am–6 pm, Sat–Sun 9 am–7 pm
- Admission
- Pumpkin patch, market and parking free. Children's Zoo, fall 2026: weekdays $18.95; weekends $23.95 in September and $26.95 in October; ages 62+ $15.95 on weekdays; 23 months and under free; active and veteran military free with ID
Good to know
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Accessibility
- The zoo is wheelchair accessible, with paved paths throughout
- Reservations
- Walk-in
- Payment
- Cash and major credit cards; ATM on site
Tips for your visit
- No need to buy ahead; pay at the zoo entrance
- Outside food and drink are not allowed on weekends
- October weekends cost the most; a weekday season pass was $38.95 in 2026
- Attractions are weather permitting and can close without notice; closures are posted on their website
Pair it with a lavender farm
Nettle Creek Lavender Farm · about 40 minutes away
Nettle Creek Lavender Farm near Morris is about 40 minutes southwest; visit the lavender in summer and come back here for pumpkins in fall.
Getting there
Questions
Does it cost anything to visit the pumpkin patch?
No. Entry to the pumpkin patch and open market is free, as is parking; only the Children's Zoo charges admission.
Can I bring my dog?
No. Pets are not allowed, for the safety of guests and animals.
When does the season end?
The Children's Zoo runs through October 31, and the farm closes for the season on November 1.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Morris, Illinois, Along the I&M Canal
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
