Apple picking, carnival rides, a petting zoo, and even pig races are a few activities that you can do at Eckert’s Millstadt Fun Farm east of Belleville, Ill.
Arriving at the Farm
We parked in the gravel lot near the entrance road. I do this since it makes it easier to find the car when we leave.
Next, we headed to the Ticket Booth. I bought the tickets online which saves money and we didn’t have to wait in line to buy tickets at the farm.
Then we entered the park. My son Andrew wanted to go to the Corn Maze first.
So we made a beeline for the maze, which is at the far south end of the park.
Corn Maze
My son Andrew enjoyed exploring it on his own as I looked for him. If you have a young child you might have them stay close by.
I wanted to explore further than only one section of the maze, but he didn’t. It is a huge maze and you could spend a long time wandering through it.
Spinning Apples
Next, we headed to the Spinning Apples. It is like a Tilt-A-Whirl in which you can spin it around. My son enjoyed doing this, which made me a bit ill.
Pedal Tractors
After this ride, we headed to the Pedal Tractors. You can drive kid-size tractors around a course.
Rat Races
The Rat Races has huge circular plastic pipe sections that you use your feet and arms to turn along a track. It is hard to explain but is fun to do for a kid.
Wagon Rides
My son spotted a friend from summer camp so we went out with his family to the apple and pumpkin fields. The Wagon Boarding station is near the Office.
The wagon driver first stops in the apple orchard. Plastic bags to fill with apples are near where the wagon drops you off. Andrew and I searched for the current ripe apples, which included Fujis.
Then the next wagon driver comes by to take you to the pumpkin patch. Here I found one with warts, many that were orange, and a few different colored ones such as yellow and pink.
The first wagon was full so we waited for the second wagon. They come pretty regularly so you aren’t stuck there.
Then we are back at Wagon Boarding. They direct you to the Country Store to weigh the apples and pumpkins.
After the weighing we have our hands stamped so we can put them in the car before continuing more activities.
Plastic Tilt A Whirl
Next, we found a smaller version of the Tilt A Whirl. They sort of reminded me of plastic bathtubs. You sit in these and spin them around also.
I become dizzy from all the spinning today.
Then we come to an area with swings.
Wagon Train
Near the swings is the Wagon Train. A lawn tractor is used to take kids out in wooden framed seating. It is a gravel and dirt track. He does crazy eight turns which my son enjoyed.
Tractor Slide
Next, my son heads to a tractor that has been turned into slides and for climbing.
Jumping Pillow
Then his favorite play area, the Jumping Pillow. Kids can jump on it and bounce around. My son does this activity more than once.
You have to take your shoes off, so if your kid has socks on know they will be dirty afterward.
Animal Barn
We stop briefly to check out the cows, camels, alpacas, and goats a the Animal Barn. You can feed and pet them.
Near the Animal Barn, are pony and camel rides.
Straw Pyramid
Next, we went to Straw Pyramid to the right of the Wagon Train Station. My son enjoyed climbing up and down it.
Mini Golf
To the left of the Straw Pyramid is the Mini Golf. It only has three stations done in a country theme. But my son enjoys Mini Golf so we played it. A plastic container has golf clubs and balls and you wait for kids to finish the short course and then it is your turn.
Pumpkin Cannon Show
First, the gentleman demonstrated the Pumpkin Cannon. Kids help out by gathering pumpkins. Then he shoots them out of a cannon that lands way off in the yonder field. (Pictured as the main blog photo).
Hay bales provide sitting for the Grand Stage shows.
Mine Shaft Slide Break
Nearby is the Mine Shaft Slide. Kids go up to a slide that is like a mineshaft since it is through a long plastic tube. My son enjoyed doing this more than once.
Nearby is the Golden Goat Bridge where goats mingle about.
Pig Races
Then we are back to the Grand Stage to watch the Pig Races.
The announcer brings out the pigs to the race course. They wait in the holding area before the gate opens. Encouraged to run by snacking on Oreos.
Kids stand at different stations, which are colored poles along the track. If your colored pig wins you receive a small Pooping Pig. It is not real Poop, but I still find it disgusting, but the kids love it.
My son does not make the first round but makes it down for the second round. We are rooting for Albert Pigols, a play on words for Cardinal player Albert Pujols.
His pig wins so he receives a free Pooping Pig. You can also purchase the pig for $2 at the end of the show. This also helps support the performer.
Shops and Restaurants
Country Store has food and gifts to buy. Not all restaurants are open all the time but there is also a Cider Barn, Kettle Corn, and Iron Skillet.
MORE ACTIVITIES:
Parakeet Encounter
During the weekends you can feed the Parakeets, but it was not open on Friday they were there. You can see birds fly around the enclosure while you are there.
Apple Cannons
Also, the Apple Cannons were not operating the day we were there.
DETAILS
Located around the main area are restrooms, which are actually port-a-potties. Look for the Restroom signs.
Admission (if purchased online)
Monday & Tuesday: CLOSED (open on 10/14 with a ticket price of $12)
$3 /person – no live entertainment – Wednesday & Thursday:
$12 /person – entertainment – Friday –
$17 /person – entertainment – Saturday & Sunday:
children under 2 are FREE
Admission (if purchased at the gate)
Monday & Tuesday: CLOSED (open on 10/14 with a ticket price of $15)
$4 /person – no live entertainment – Wednesday & Thursday:
$15 /person –entertainment – Friday:
$20 /person – entertainment – Saturday & Sunday:
children under 2 are FREE
Available Entertainment at Millstadt (entertainment available Fri – Sun only + Columbus Day)
- Fort Eckert (giant wooden play structure)
- Petting Zoo
- Miniature Golf
- Push Pedal Tractors
- Combine Slide
- Straw Pyramid (for climbing)
- *Rat Races
- *Carnival Rides
- *70ft Underground Slide
- *Pumpkin Canon
- *Pig Races
- *12 Acre Corn Trail
- *Wagon Train
- *Pony Rides- Additional $8
- *Camel Rides – Additional $8 (0nly Saturday-Sunday)
- *Parakeet Encounter – Additional $3
- *Apple Canons – 5 apples for $3 or 10 apples for $5
*activities are only available Friday – Sunday at the Millstadt Farm. Unmarked activities are available daily.
Haunted Wagon Rides
Haunted Hayrides are available every Friday & Saturday night from September 13 – October 26, 2024. One haunted hayride is included with each paid admission.
Crops to Pick
Pick-Your-Own Apples will be available from September through October (while supplies last) and Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins will begin at the end of September and will be available through the end of October.
Drive
Take Interstate 55 across the river to Illinois and then get on Interstate 64 and next go south on Interstate 255.
Next exit onto Illinois Highway 15 going towards Belleville and then exit onto S. 88th Street going south.
Then make a right onto Illinois Highway 13 then a left onto Illinois Highway 157.
Next, make a left onto Ilinois Highway 163 then a right onto Forest Hill School Road, and then a right onto Otten Road, and look for the sign for the farm on the left.
Hours
9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday; 9 a.m. – 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday
STARTING 10/14 Open 9 a.m.- 6 p.m., Monday-Tuesday
Address
2719 Eckert Orchard Ln, Millstadt, IL 62260
MORE OCTOBER ACTIVITIES
Big River Hike at Byrnes Mill City Park
Find remains of a mill and take a walk along Big River at Byrnes Mill City Park south of Fenton, Mo. just off of Missouri Highway 30. Arriving at the Park A playground faces a parking lot at the center of Byrnes Mill along Byrnes Mill Road. I checked out this park with my son who of course first wanted to do the playground.
HALLOWEEN HIKES
A Route 66 Ghost Town
Hiking along a former street in a ghost town near the skeletal remains of a Route 66 bridge across the Meramec River was my destination. This area has a lot of history, from once being a resort town to becoming contaminated by the dangerous chemical of dioxin.
Fort Belle Fontaine
The grounds of a former 19th-century U.S. Military installation and ruins of a popular summer retreat in the 1930s can be explored at Fort Belle Fontaine County Park in North St. Louis County.
Rumors are this place is haunted by soldiers and it does have an eerie vibe to it with all the ruins.
