Farmers markets are a dazzling display of America’s heartland year-round, but they shine especially during the summer months, when locals leisurely stroll the grounds, filling tote bags with just-plucked produce, enjoying live tunes and meeting the hardworking people behind the booths.
Now, those folks are inviting us to come to them, opening their dining rooms and barn doors for immersive, communal feasts that offer what we crave most: connection to the land and each other.
Discovery drives it all — seasonal menus from the region’s best chefs, a road trip in sight, and the chance to make a weekend of it, enjoying these towns in late summer splendor. The fact that many of the events champion charitable causes only has us packing our bags faster. From community burger nights to multicourse meals, here are the best farm dinners to travel for — plus, where to post up, post-meal.
Farrand Hall (Colon, Michigan)
James Gray and Jacob Hagan originally purchased this historic property to be a weekend getaway from Chicago, but after holding a few small events, they realized the space’s special qualities in bringing people together. The two bridged their backgrounds in art, design and hospitality to create the communal hub Farrand Hall is today, home to a market, bakery and cafe, and several culinary gatherings throughout the year. Keep an eye on their calendar for frequent chef collaboration dinners featuring leading talent from across the country, including Chicago’s own Dominique Leach on Oct. 4. The team also hosts monthly, multicourse dinners with their chef, Ken Miller, including a late summer menu on Aug. 29 and on Sept. 26, a Harvest Dinner benefiting their Culinary Internship Program.
For an overnight: Check into the Palmer Lake Lodges or Retreat at Miller’s Landing, situated, respectively, on Palmer Lake and Sturgeon Lake.
Farrand Hall: 58522 Timber Run Trail, Colon, Michigan; farrandhall.com
Palmer Lake Lodges: 59270 S. Burr Oak Road, Colon, Michigan; 773-816-8928; palmerlakelodges.net
The Retreat at Miller’s Landing: 3383 N. Blackstone Ave., Colon, Michigan; 747-269-9122; theretreatatmillerslanding.com
Walker Homestead Farm and Winery (Iowa City, Iowa)
This farm and winery, established in 2020, sits just outside of downtown Iowa City and spans 85 acres of gardens, orchards, vineyard and pasture. The team carries out its mission of building community through thoughtful, year-round agricultural education and culinary events, giving guests ample opportunity to connect and learn sustainable practices of care. Visit for their Thursday Open Hours, when they serve a menu of wood-fired pizzas and farm-inspired plates, or book one of their Farmer’s Table dinners. These popular monthly gatherings — taking place on Sept. 10, Oct. 8 and Nov. 12 — feature a welcome drink, live music and a multicourse menu honoring that week’s harvest.
For an overnight: Embrace Iowa City’s artistic history in the heart of downtown at The Graduate, where lobby walls are adorned with poetic verse, and amenities honor University of Iowa alumni (such as Wilder, a restaurant honoring Gene Wilder). For a more rustic stay, check out the treehouses and huts at Calyx Creek, a 200-acre lavender farm.
Walker Homestead: 3867 James Ave. SW, Iowa City, Iowa; 319-351-4791; walker-homestead.com
The Graduate: 210 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, Iowa; 319-337-4058; graduateiowacity.com
Calyx Creek: 1722 255th St. NW, Oxford, Iowa; 319-900-5992; calyxcreek.farm
Granor Farm (Three Oaks, Michigan)
General manager Anna Rafalski and sous chef Jason Garland, right, add coarse salt to family-style platters of the season’s first tomatoes with peaches and kale pesto during a supper in a greenhouse at Granor Farm in Three Oaks, Michigan, on Aug. 7, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
What began in 2006 as a 10-acre vegetable and educational farm has grown into a 400-acre culinary destination, complete with a farm store and robust events calendar. Visit on Fridays and Saturdays for their Taste of Granor Dinners, when James Beard-nominated chef Abra Berens and team call upon the farm’s yield (hundreds of varieties of fruit, herbs and vegetables) to guide a tasting menu in their greenhouse, an award-winning, 7,000-square-foot glass gathering space. This fall marks the release of their first farm whiskey, and to celebrate, they are holding three specially themed events in September: a Behind the Farm: Estate Distilling dinner on Sept. 6; an Apples, Pork, and Bourbon dinner on Sept. 26; and a Whiskey Dinner and Distillery Tour on Sept. 27 (featuring a tasting of their four new whiskeys). The team hosts dinners, cooking classes and tours year-round — good news for those looking for an epicurean escape from the city, no matter the month.
For an overnight: In addition to their menus and impressive portfolio of spirits, Journeyman Distillery offers lodging for the night, a good option for those exploring the area. Check out their Bunkhouse or, for larger groups, their four-bedroom Farmhouse. A few miles west, travelers will find Goldberry Woods, home to an organic farm, gardens and a collection of spacious, modernly appointed cottages. Stick around for breakfast, a from-scratch celebration of ingredients grown on-site.
Granor Farm: 3520 W. Warren Woods Road, Three Oaks, Michigan; granorfarm.com
Journeyman Distillery: 109 Generations Drive, Three Oaks, Michigan; 269-820-2050; journeyman.com
Goldberry Woods: 9902 Community Hall Road, Union Pier, Michigan; 269-469-9800; goldberrywoods.com
Locavore Farm (Grant Park)
Chris and Rachael Jones operate Locavore Farm, a farm-to-table dining venue that includes a small general store, in the village of Grant Park. (Susan DeGrane/for the Daily Southtown)
Rachael and Chris Jones established Locavore Farm in 2015 in Kankakee County as a way of creating a more communal, connected lifestyle that would tether them to the land and sustainable food practices. The team has been hard at work in the years since, restoring 35 acres into regenerative farmland, helping pass Illinois’ agritourism legislation and launching their Farm Project Nonprofit, which is dedicated to creating meaningful farm education opportunities for youth. They are celebrating their 10th anniversary with a curated lineup of guest chef dinners, featuring one with Jenn Beach on Aug. 23 and one with Max Kolker on Sept. 13. Join them well into fall and winter, too — on Oct. 18 for a special dinner with several chef friends of the farm, on Thursdays for their Harvest Hangs (through Oct. 23), on Nov. 22 for a Friendsgiving Feast, and on Dec. 13 for a Christmas on the Farm gathering.
For an overnight: Post-dinner, spend the night at the property’s on-site cottage, a charming retreat featuring two bedrooms and modern farmhouse details throughout. Keep an eye on their website next spring, when they plan to debut a second lodging option for larger groups.
Locavore Farm: 11588 N. 17500E Road, Grant Park; 708-701-4320; locavorefarm.com
Elawa Farm (Lake Forest)
People shop in Elawa Market at the Elawa Farm Foundation on Aug. 8, 2025, in Lake Forest. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
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People shop in Elawa Market at the Elawa Farm Foundation on Aug. 8, 2025, in Lake Forest. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Built in 1917 (and subsequently named) for Elsa and A. Watson Armour of meatpacking company Armour & Co., Elawa Farm has long been regarded as a pioneer in local agrarian practices and community enrichment. The team honors that legacy today with its mission to bring food education and experiences to all, as seen through its Seed to Plate classes, a lively cafe and market, farm animal encounters, and a workforce development program for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. They also host frequent dinners, including two featuring their own Lee Kuebler: a Harvest Benefit Dinner on Sept. 13 and a Wisconsin Supper Club Farm Dinner on Oct. 24. Check out their upcoming community dinners, too — every ticket sold to their Burger Nights (Aug. 20; Aug. 27) and Summer Grill Night (Aug. 28) benefits North Chicago Community Partners.
For an overnight: Deer Path Inn is a long-standing favorite of locals and visitors for its polished hospitality and elegant quarters, all recalling English countryside charm. Food and drink are a large draw, best experienced here in cocktails and sushi at White Hart Pub, or afternoon tea at The English Room.
Elawa Farm: 1401 Middlefork Dr., Lake Forest; 847-234-1966; elawafarm.org
Deer Path Inn: 255 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest; 847-234-2280; thedeerpathinn.com
Nicole Schnitzler is a freelance writer.
6 Midwest culinary road trips for fall: Where to eat and stay, from Michigan to Iowa
Originally Published: August 18, 2025 at 5:00 AM CDT