Negangard Pumpkin Patch grows giant pumpkins kids love
Ask around Champaign-Urbana and you’ll quickly find the area’s fall favorite for local families searching for pumpkins this Halloween.
Negangard’s Pumpkin Patch is located in the southeast corner of Champaign County, in rural Sidney. And while it is an area favorite, it is still somewhat of a best kept secret in Champaign-Urbana.
Owned by the Negangard family, who have farmed in the area for more than 50 years, the pumpkin patch continues to grow — in size and popularity – every year. The brilliance of their business is its simplicity and its reasonable prices. Pull up and you’ll see the field of pumpkins ready for perusing, clearly labeled with signs. Family members staff the property as families grab a wagon and load up on pumpkins. Look at those prices! That’s not per pound, that’s per PUMPKIN!
2024 Season Info: Negangard Pumpkin Patch opens for the season on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Hours will be 9 a.m. until dark, seven days a week, until Halloween.
Negangard Pumpkin Patch sells pumpkins of all shapes, sizes, and colors; gourds; straw bales; cornstalks; squash; and more. The prices are what really sets them apart – it’s easy to leave the farm with a haul of pumpkins for less than $10 or $15. Almost everything costs between 33 cents and $5. Try to keep track of things as you pick them out so you can give them your total when you check out. (Forget to do this step like we did? They’ll take the time to add it all up for you.)
One important note: you’re going to want to bring cash or check. No credit cards accepted here.
Our kids’ favorite section was the super-sized pumpkin area. This is the only area of the patch where prices for pumpkins will be written in marker on the pumpkin instead of placed near a sign with the price. We saw pumpkins ranging up to $16 in price. They were absolutely the LARGEST pumpkins we’d ever seen though! So if your family has dreams of a giant pumpkin, you can find it at Negangard.
The Negangard experience is, simply put, simple. You won’t find any of the bells and whistles that are at other local pumpkin patches. There’s no food for sale and there’s no games, rides, or other attractions. There are wagons available for use to pick out your purchases and there are plenty of variety to choose from. This is a full working farm, so you may catch a glimpse of some farm animals while you’re on the property. We walked up to the chickens to say hello. No petting or feeding their animals, please.
The pumpkin business continues to grow every year. About 18 acres of the 900 acre farm grows pumpkins (the other acreage is devoted to typical local crops – corn and soybeans). As mentioned, the site itself is a working farm. It doesn’t exist for pumpkins; pumpkins are just a fun aside.
Going to the Negangard Pumpkin Patch was a great experience with our kids. It was a great opportunity to take a short drive “beyond” Champaign-Urbana into the amazing farmland and agricultural community that surrounds us. Just the drive down there (it’s located about 15 miles from Urbana) was a fun experience, as the harvest continues and large machinery is plentiful in the fields.
More Things to do Nearby
Looking for more things to do while you’re near Negangard? You can swing by the Philo Tavern for dinner, which is just a hop skip and a jump from the farm, or visit Sidney Dairy Barn for a sweet treat after your pumpkin haul. If you’re lucky, the flavor of the day might just be pumpkin!
Directions
To get to Negangard Pumpkin Patch: Take Route 130 south out of Urbana to Country Road 700N, located about one mile south of Philo. (There is a sign for the patch there). Go east on Road 700 about three miles. The address is 1883 CR 700 North, Sidney (here are Google Map directions if you need them).
Hours
The Negangard Pumpkin Patch is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. (or until dark), from opening day until Halloween. You can visit their Facebook page here for updates.
Find everything related to fall in Champaign-Urbana:
- 17+ Pumpkin Treats to Try Around Champaign-Urbana
- Spooky and Fun Halloween Yard Decor in Champaign-Urbana
- Where to Trunk or Treat in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond
- Champaign-Urbana Area Trick or Treat Hours
- 10+ Places to See Fall Colors in Champaign-Urbana (and a Fall Trail Map)
- Where to Take Fall Family Photos in Champaign-Urbana
- Fall Leaf and Yard Waste Collection in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond
- Halloween Events at Zoos Near Champaign-Urbana
- Haunted Houses and Where to Get Scared in Champaign-Urbana
- Champaign-Urbana Area Halloween Events and Activities
- 21 Things to Do During Fall (on a Budget) in Champaign-Urbana
- Four Fantastic Fall Festivals in Central Illinois
- Fall Parades in Champaign-Urbana
- Champaign-Urbana Area Fall Fairs and Festivals
- Apples, Pumpkins and Corn Mazes in Champaign-Urbana
- Fall Fun for Families in Champaign-Urbana
- Where to Pick Apples Near Champaign-Urbana
- Outdoor Concerts in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond
