On Nov. 3, Didier Farms announced that they would be permanently shutting down retail sales.

“Dear friends of Didier Farms,” the post reads. “After years of serving the community with fresh locally grown vegetables at our Farmstead, pumpkins & donuts at our Pumpkinfest, and flowers from our Greenhouse, we have decided to close our doors.” 

For generations, Didier Farms has been a staple for Chicagoans during the fall season, offering an array of attractions and games. This year, however, will be the last as they plan on permanently closing retail operations to focus on their grain farming operation. 

“Most of the main attractions will be closed,” former employee Sela Buckland ’24 said. “All of the rides and food won’t be available anymore, but I’ve heard they’ll still have produce.”

Didier’s primary attraction was its annual Pumpkinfest, which ran from Sept. 17 to Oct. 31 this year. During this time, the farm hosted all sorts of family-friendly events, such as hay rides, pony riding and other kiddie rides. 

“[Going to Didier] was one of my core memories I had when I was a child,” Aashni Patel ’25 said. “Every fall, I would go and ride horses and pick pumpkins. Now I take my little cousins, which helps remind me of my own childhood experiences.”

As the land opens up to new opportunities for future real estate ventures, Buffalo Grove residents will watch the century-old family farm turn into family homes. The new houses will feed into District 125. 

“The community’s disappointment is likely similar to how the employees feel. Didier Farms Has been an active working farm since 1912,” said former employee and manager of bakery Grandma D’s Anne Nowak. “It’s the end of an era and we had the privilege of enjoying everything the farm had to offer”.

Former employees and patrons alike received the news of Didier’s closing at the same time. The Didier family had kept the news fairly private, so the community post on their website has been the only source of information regarding future plans after their closing.

“Didier was the heart of my childhood,” Patel said. “I can’t believe it has finally come to an end.”