Autumn FTW: Lake County's Fall Fab Five
By: Jonathan Jones 09/18/2020
Just when you thought your dreams were drifting away with summer ending, September shows up in Lake County. The result? Autumn FTW!
From the beautiful foliage on the trees in Lake County Forest Preserves to the spooks and spirits to corn mazes to pumpkin patches, to Halloween and watching football at the sports bars, Lake County is the place to be during fall.
While there is an abundance of third season thrills, the land of lakes has a fall fab five that we hold near and dear.
As much as we love the summertime when the weather is fine, we must bid farewell for a few moons and make way for Lake County's fall fab five. The season officially begins on September 22. It's Autumn FTW!
So why does Fall Farm Fun in Lake County seem so inviting? Well, maybe it’s because it’s the mellow time of year, and nature is exploding with colors perfect for scenic shots and pumpkins! Where can you find fall fun in Lake County? There are many different farms in the area that have brain-teasing corn mazes, petting zoos, homemade cider, pumpkins, gourds, squash, hayrides, zip lines and the list goes on and on. So visit a farm for fall fun in Lake County to discover, meditate, learn and play! Here are a few of the land of lakes spots you can sing E-I-E-I-O at.
- Richardson Adventure Farm and Corn Maze in Spring Grove (open through 10/31) INFO»
- Didier Farms in Lincolnshire (Open Through 10/31) INFO»
- Lambs Farm in Libertyville (Open THrough 10/25) INFO»
For years, Dungeon of Doom Haunted House in Zion has been scaring the living daylights out of spooks fanatics. The scare facility will serve up its expected world-renowned haunts and thrills, but this year has a new twist as we endure the COVID-19 pandemic. The Zion haunted home debuts its Scare Vision Theater. This brand new feature is a drive-in movie experience with a 46-foot-tall screen and cinema-quality projector. Each haunted walker can watch these sinister flicks while waiting for their turn to explore the house. The showcase is not only an additional perk to the Zion house, but it encourages social distancing. Dungeon of Doom also introduces a pit stop food trailer for movie watchers. If you thought you were on the edge of your car seat during the film, a "killer crew" will roam the lot to frighten you just in case the horror movie isn't doing the trick. Happy Hauntings.
Let’s toast to the Lake County
Libation Trail! “It’s five o’clock somewhere,” as suds aficionados, vino connoisseurs and spirit enthusiasts will be elated to experience what Lake County has to offer. Ditch the pumpkin spice and sip some of the best fall libations the autumn season offers on this side of the Mississippi. Beer usually reigns supreme this time of year, but the distilleries and wineries still pack a mean fall punch. The
trail is highlighted by 21 participants creating adult beverages from locally sourced ingredients. Lake County is home to
North Shore Distillery in Green Oaks, which is the first distillery in the Land of Lincoln.
Mickey Finn’s Brewery in Libertyville is the first established brewery in the land of lakes. The Lake County Libation Trail also features
Bosacki’s Brewery and
Tighthead Brewing Co. in Mundelein,
Zümbier,
Nightshade and Dark’s Pandemonium Breweries and
Oppidan Spirits in Waukegan,
Light the Lamp Brewery and
Glunz Family Winery in Grayslake,
Buffalo Creek Brewing Co. and
Valentino Vineyards in Long Grove,
Half Day Brewing Co. and
Wright’s Brew & Bistro in Lincolnshire,
Harbor Brewing Co. in Winthrop Harbor,
Lynfred Winery in Wheeling,
Wild Onion Brewery in Lake Barrington,
Only Child Brewing Co. in Gurnee,
Ravinia Brewing Co. in Highland Park,
Side Lot Brewery in Wauconda,
28 Mile Vodka & Distillery in Highwood and
Vigneto del Bino in Antioch. Stay tuned for the top fall libations guide coming in October 2020.
No matter the season, we enjoy the fruits of what Mother Nature gave us in Lake County: The tall trees, the winding trails, the serene bodies of waters, the creatures and critters and the picturesque plant life. Lake County provides outdoor escapes from the shelter in place with an up close and personal live-action Claude Monet portraits. Lake County is home to hundreds of miles of trails for you to explore! Whether you’re looking for a quick hike or looking for a more challenging distance on a two-wheeler, there are trails for all fitness levels just waiting for you. Achieve your fall feels though by seeing an explosion of browns, oranges and golds, and snap it for the gram. Don't just snap it for the gram; submit it into the
#LetsSnapLakeCounty Photo Contest. Turn in up to five pictures for a chance to win one of six categories, including the grand prize winner. Winning photos will receive photo credits and an exclusive prize.
Continue here to learn more about the #LetsSnapLakeCounty Photo Contest.
We're just days away from it officially being autumn in the land of lakes. What is always a big hit during this season is the delectable treats that come with this time. From candy corn to pies, to pumpkin spice lattes, to Halloween candy, Lake County visitors just tend to gravitate towards the sweets in the fall. Between
Didier Farms, Lambs Farm and
Richardson Farms, they bake donuts in-house, as well as pop kettle corn and serve apple cider.
Long Grove Confectionery Co. and it's satellite locations in Wauconda and Buffalo Grove, take a break from the cocoa bean game and bake up this unbelievably crunchy and crumbly brown bag apple pie (but let's not get it twisted, they sell their unmatched chocolate year-round).
Tony Cannoli in Mundelein concocts butterscotch ricotta dipped cannoli in crushed butterscotch chips.
Curt's Cafe in Highland Park goes full pumpkin with their pies, donuts and lattes. Don't forget to visit
WildBerry Cafe in Libertyville for their pumpkin pancakes, and also the orange-fruit brews served on the
Lake County Libation Trail. That's just a few, click the button below to find more.
For more information about Lake County's fall fab five, click here. It's autumn FTW!
