Curtis Orchard

Champaign-Urbana favorite Curtis Orchard is a staple during the fall season

Kids activities, delicious treats, kittens galore, pumpkins, apples, corn mazes and more — the list goes on and on when it comes to why we love the orchard

What may be one of Champaign-Urbana’s most well-known family attractions, Curtis Orchard is a little country escape just outside the heart of C-U. The live animals, delicious food and kid-friendly attractions might be the perfect mix of everything you’re looking for in a fall family outing. Here are the top things to know before you head to the orchard, which is open July 20 through Dec. 23.

Chambanamoms thanks Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch for presenting this resource of fall family fun.

Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch ranks among the top agritourism destinations in Illinois, offering entertainment, shopping and learning experiences for all ages, with a Wizard of Oz themed twist.

Converted from a traditional Illinois grain and livestock farm in the late 1970s, Curtis Orchard boasts over 13,000 apple trees, 16 acres of pumpkins, a 6,000 sq. ft. gift shop, donut and pie bakery, 100 seat café with additional outdoor seating and seven acres of outdoor activities. Guests can pick apples and pumpkins seasonally or purchase produce from the store while shopping the hundreds of food and gift items in the store, including cider, preserves, melons, sweetcorn, and a wide variety of food and gift items.

Lunch in the Flying Monkey Café and treats from the bakery are always popular, and 2025 saw the biggest expansion to the newly rebranded Land of Oz Activity Area in over a decade. New offerings include a completely redesigned Ruby Slipper Maze, the new Glinda’s Zinnia Maze & Pick-Your-Own Bouquet, a new slide for kids, a grain wagon basketball shootout, and renovation of all existing activities. The giant Wizard of Oz barn mural is also completely new for the best photo opportunities ever!

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There’s no admission fee.

You don’t have to pay a fee to enjoy parts of the orchard. Show up and pop into the store for donuts, go peruse the pumpkin patch or just chase some kittens and call it a day. There are tons of photo opportunities, too! This definitely fits the description of budget-friendly.

Weekdays — particularly weekday afternoons — are the quietest time to visit the orchard.

Weekdays in general will be much quieter than weekends in the fall. Some of the attractions aren’t running on weekdays (like pony rides) and there are things like added food vendors, pony rides and such on the weekends that add to the festive atmosphere. But if the goal is to have a quiet family outing or a playdate meet-up with another family, you’ll want to pick a weekday. When littles have to go home for nap time in the early afternoon, the orchard gets particularly quiet.

Apple picking: here’s the scoop.

The way that apple picking works is that each person (over 36 inches tall) pays a fee to go into the apple picking area, receiving a bag to fill. So if you take a family of five, for example, you’re going to leave with a whole lot of apples when you’re done. You can always grab a bag of freshly picked apples from the shelves of the store.

Yes, there’s a pumpkin patch. But many other produce finds are available for purchase too.

If you’re looking for gourds, decorative corn, summer squash to eat, or many other items, you can find them at the orchard. Pay by the pound for pumpkins here.

The kittens are completely adorable and, yes, you can pick them up.

If you love animals, you’re going to love Curtis Orchard. The kittens running everywhere are very friendly and used to guests picking them up, so go for it. However, check the bottom part of your stroller before leaving because they’ve been known to hop in there and stowaway until later. All kittens are micro-chipped and it is very important they STAY at the orchard when you leave.

Paid activities: what’s the scoop?

If you are going to visit the Land of Oz Activity Area, again, weekdays are a great option. Get a play-all-day wristband for a great savings over what you’d pay on the weekend. Because info on what is open and current prices can change from season to season, we recommend you check the Curtis Orchard website to plan for your visit. Season passes are available, too!

Plan to eat at the Flying Monkey cafe, or one of the outdoor vendors during the weekends, as you can’t bring in your own food.

Since food is for sale, it’s understood that one of the rules is you can’t bring in your own food. The Flying Monkey Cafe opens Aug. 30 and is open through Halloween. If you’re looking for a park to have a picnic afterwards, find our list here of all the best places for a picnic.

Have a birthday party or a field trip.

Group outings are a blast at Curtis Orchard! Host your child’s fall birthday party here or organize that homeschool co-op field trip. Looking for something a little more spontaneous? Just plan a parent meet-up and let the kids play and roam while parents visit. This is a popular spot for that.

Get your holiday pies here.

Yes, the donuts rock, and the baked goods in general are pretty spectacular. Order your Thanksgiving or Christmas pies at Curtis Orchard. You can get them already baked or frozen to bake at home. We think your family will be asking for one every year after you do this once. And it’s one less thing to prep.

No more jammed machines for goat feed!

Your kids are going to want to feed the goats — and the jammed machines are no longer a thing. Get a cup for a dollar from the Land of Oz admission booth.