Fall in
DuPage

AUTUMN LEAVES & PUMPKINS PLEASE

There are so many things to do this fall season, and DuPage is a natural choice to experience it all. Enjoy all the usual fall favorites: hiking, outdoor attractions, family events, and festivals complete with seasonal food, music, and good company.

Check out our list of Top 10 Things to Do This Fall below.

1. Pick your pumpkins

Pick your pumpkins locally! Consider Cosley Zoo’s Pumpkin Fest that runs throughout the whole month of October. Thousands of pumpkins to choose from, children's rides, and all the classic fall staples make Cosley Zoo a must-visit this season.

Another DuPage fall tradition is Sonny Acres Farm, a family-owned and operated pumpkin farm. The Fall Festival runs September 17 through October 31 and includes a pumpkin patch, mini petting zoo, Wacky Worm roller coaster, seasonal snacks and drinks, and more.

2. Have fun at a fall festival

Cantigny Fall Fest promises colorful autumn fun for all ages! Activities include a giant juggling scarecrow, live music, comedy juggling show, craft show, pumpkin decorating and craft for kids, interactive strolling entertainment, petting zoo, hay rides, inflatables, food trucks, plant sale, and more!

3. Admire and acquire new fall art

Spruce up your home for the fall season and support local! Browse the Burr Ridge Art Fair or Art on the Prairie to find new pieces of art.

The Glass Pumpkin Patch at The Morton Arboretum is another unique showcase of art. Guests are invited to stop by and watch daily demonstrations of turning bits of glass into stunning molten pumpkins. New this year, guests can visit the Halloween tent to find enchanting and frightful works of art to decorate both home and garden this “spooky” season!

4. Be spooked by monsters

What would the fall season be without Halloween and a friendly fright? Monsters, witches, and werewolves have been seen roaming the grounds in Naperville. Experience it for yourself at Naper Settlement's reimagined All Hallows Eve designed for families with kids 16 and under. Check out the extensive line-up of performances and interactive activities.

Looking for something a little spookier? Howlin' at the Moon is Naper Settlement's 21+ event featuring live music, the Food Truck Graveyard, and Booze Bar. Take a stroll through the Moonlight Market filled with eerie and bizarre items and wander through the Dark Art Gallery.

5. See the fall colors

Discover the fall wonderland in DuPage and enjoy the beautiful colors each of these places has to offer. Check out our list of Top Places to Enjoy Fall Colors.

6. Visit a winery

From berries and plums to cinnamon spice, what better way to enjoy these fall flavors than at a winery? The wine and winery experiences in DuPage will please your palette this season.

7. Challenge yourself—and others too!

Up for friendly competition with family and friends? Cantigny Park and The Morton Arboretum both have races during the fall. The Fall Color 5K Run and Walk helps kick off the month of October, as well as the many fall events going on at The Morton Arboretum during the Fall Colors Festival. Additionally, the Cantigny 5K Run/Walk is at the beginning of November, and all proceeds go towards the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Wheaton.

8. Savor fall flavors

Pies, squashes, and casseroles, oh my! Many are excited to cook their favorite fall dishes. Try your hand at a new fall dish at Marcel’s Culinary Experience, an establishment that offers culinary classes for cooks of all ages and skill levels. You can leave with something new for your recipe book! Check out a few fall favorite recipes below to try at home! Looking to source local ingredients? Stop by the Wheaton French Market on Saturdays through November.

9. Refresh your fall wardrobe

Be on the lookout for fall fashion trends this year! Explore the boutiques of our charming downtowns, or DuPage’s expansive shopping centers and retail outlets, and find just what your fall wardrobe needs.

10. Venture somewhere new

DuPage offers a variety of familiar and unexpected events and activities throughout the fall season. Take a peek at our complete list of fall events below and we encourage you to venture somewhere new this season.