Johansen Farms' Fall Festival Fun for All

Carol Johansen has more pumpkins than the average person would know what to do with—25,000 to be exact.

But Johansen, a third-generation co-owner of Johansen Farms, has a plan for each and every one of the jack-o-laterns or pies-to-be.

By the time Halloween rolls around, nearly all of the 25,000 squashes will be gone—sold to Halloween enthusiasts from all around the Chicago area or wide-eyed preschoolers lucky enough to spend an afternoon field trip at the kid-friendly complex.

At least that's the plan.

Sometimes, she admits, the pumpkins can be overwhelming.

"This is nothing," she said pointing towards the farms first seasonal shipment of pumpkins—a mere few hundred that look like enough pumpkins to satisfy every carving knife within the Village of Bolingbrook's limits. "They just keep coming by semi-load and semi-load until Halloween."

Johansen Farms, formally known as Low-Land-Gardens, originated in 1925 when a Dutch settler by the name of Hans Johansen settled in Lisle and established a roadside vegetable stand to make a living.

By 1979, the farm had bought the 450-acre lot it sits on today and was showcasing its perks in an annual fall festival and children's petting zoo that would become one of the most popular destinations for suburbanites, Chicago residents and scores of school field trips.

Now celebrating their 85th anniversary, Johansen Farms continues to be one of the most popular fall attractions Bolingbrook has to offer.

The farm also recently reopened its doors for the annual fall festival celebration, highlighted by a petting zoo that features more than 500 farm animals.

Johansen, who said foot traffic won't significantly spike until October 1, said crews at the farm are as busy as every preparing for this season's events.

"Once you hit the first of October, we get pretty crazy with field trips, they come from all over," she said. "I think the first is when schools really start to think of the fall theme."

For more information on Johansen Farms, visit their website at www.johansenfarms.com.