About Von Bergen's Country Market
Von Bergen's Country Market has sold its own homegrown produce on Route 173 west of Richmond for more than 40 years. The market opens in spring and runs through November, with farm-grown vegetables, sweet corn and seasonal fruit, plus salsas, cheeses and goods from other local farms. In 2026 the family also ran a weekly produce box program, and bulk produce for canning and freezing can be ordered by calling ahead.
Summer is sunflower season. More than 30 acres of sunflowers open to visitors from mid-July into fall, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with flower picking, photo spots and snacks; the family posts field conditions and bloom updates on their social pages. Photographers need a daily wristband.
The Fall Pumpkin Fest ran September 26 through October 31 in 2026, opening with a customer appreciation day. Every day brings a corn maze, a giant straw bale maze, barnyard animals, a butterfly house, a bubble barn, a pumpkin house, a tire tower and a teepee with Native American artifacts. Weekends and holidays add hay wagon rides, a tractor barrel train and the Farmyard Kitchen. Each person 3 and older needs a general admission ticket.
Maria's Farm, a lavender farm in Marengo with visits by appointment, is about 25 minutes southwest, which makes a summer day of lavender and sunflowers easy to plan.
What to do
- Buy sweet corn and just-picked vegetables in summer
- Walk more than 30 acres of sunflowers from mid-July
- Do the corn maze and straw bale maze at the fall Pumpkin Fest
- Ride the hay wagon or barrel train on fall weekends
- Visit the butterfly house and barnyard animals
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Market April through November; sunflowers from mid-July; Pumpkin Fest late September to October 31 (2026: September 26 to October 31)
- Hours
- Market from April 24, 2026: Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat–Sun 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; Pumpkin Fest 2026: Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat–Sun and Columbus Day 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Oct 31 until 3 p.m.
- Admission
- General admission ticket required for festivals, ages 3 and up; see their website for current prices
Good to know
- Dogs
- Service animals only
- Payment
- Cash and credit cards (card minimum $5); ATM in the market
Tips for your visit
- Coolers and outside food are not allowed at the festivals
- Check their social pages for sunflower bloom and weather closures
- Hay wagon rides and the barrel train run on weekends and holidays only
- Drones are not allowed in the sunflower fields
Pair it with a lavender farm
Maria's Farm · about 25 minutes away
Pair a by-appointment visit to Maria's Farm in Marengo with the sunflower fields here, about 25 minutes apart.
Getting there
Questions
When is the Pumpkin Fest?
Late September through October 31; in 2026, September 26 to October 31.
Can I bring my dog?
No, only ADA service dogs are allowed, because of the farm's insurance.
When do the sunflowers bloom?
The fields open from mid-July into fall; bloom updates are posted on their social pages.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Marengo & Woodstock, Illinois
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
