Wednesday Weekend Windup: {Time to Celebrate Scarecrows!}

If there is something I can say about this weekend it is that it is the "Weekend of the Scarecrow!" There are many scarecrow events this weekend, so what a totally fun theme for the weekend! Here is a look at some of the fun that we found for this weekend!

ROAD TRIP IDEA: Racine County: Step back in history at the Half Point Historical Re-enactment, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12 at the Racine County Fairgrounds in Union Grove. Re-enactors in period clothing will create "a living history book in a park." Periods from The War of 1812 through World War II are covered. Re-enactment hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Donations welcome.

October Weekends--Pumpkin Weekends at Blackberry Farm, Aurora, seasonal crafts, pumpkin train, purchase pumpkins to decorate, carousel rides, pedal cars, pony rides and more, $8 per adult, $7 per child non resident, $5 and $4.50 respectively for residents, 2 and under free!

Fall Color Weekends at Morton Arboretum: Check out the Scarecrow Trail around the lake. Plenty of fun events in the Children's Garden. Special Theatre-Hikes for Halloween on Saturdays and Sundays in October at 3PM (also on Columbus Day). This month's hike is Resurrected featuring some spooky tales from the area. Check website for more details and prices.

Friday, October 10

Friday-Sunday is  Scarecrow Fest in St. Charles. There will be scarecrow contest displays, live entertainment, make your own scarecrow, an arts and crafts fair, a carnival and more. Free admission and parking. St. Charles is a lovely town any time of year and is especially fun during Scarecrow Fest!

Saturday, October 11

Get some trick-or-treating in early during Safety Town Trick-or-Treating in Elmhurst from 10AM-1PM, Free for trick-or-treating but there may be some charges for activities. Come dressed in costume and bring treat bags!

Fall brings the Autumn Harvest to Arlington Heights Saturday 11AM-3PM. This is one of our faves every year and includes a  petting zoo, scarecrow building, pumpkin painting, entertainment, face painting and more for free!

Calling all knights and princesses for A Camelot Faire at the NEW Camelot Community Center in Arlington Heights from 10AM-12:30PM. The fun includes night training and sword fight demo, cupcake decorating, make crowns and swords, visits from knights and a princess from Medieval Times, new equipment demos, complimentary goody bags and refreshments and more!

Join the Scarecrow Festival in Barrington from 11AM-2PM. The event includes scarecrow building, pumpkin painting, arts & crafts & more. Free admission!

Visit with horses during the Fall Festival at Palatine Stables in Palatine from 11AM-6PM. The event includes a petting zoo, wagon rides, vendors, pony rides, riding demos, crafts, scarecrow building and more. Check schedule for times. Free admission but fees for pony rides and some activities are applicable.

Saturday is the NAMI Run for the Mind and Kids' Obstacle Course from 10AM-12PM. The charity event helps the community bring attention to the challenges of mental illness. Read our previous post about the event. The Obstacle Course sounds like a lot of fun! (Run starts at 9AM.)

Have some farm fun during Fischer Farm Heritage Day in Bensenville from 11AM-3PM. Candle-making, pumpkin painting, a petting zoo, pony rides, reenactors and more fun will be at the festival! There is a $5 wristband for pumpkin, pony rides & petting zoo.

Bring the pooches to the Howl-o-ween Pooch Parade at Meineke Recreation Center in Schaumburg from 12PM-2PM. The fun will include a costume parade, agility course, tricks and more! $2 pp, $5 per dog for residents, $3 pp & $7 per dog for nonresidents, attach vaccination records to registration or bring to event.

Celebrate nature at the Festival of the Oaks at the Lake Barrington Village Hall from 10AM-2PM. Help collect acorns to replenish oak for the future, adopt a baby oak for your yard, go on a nature walk to learn tree identification, enjoy crafts and more for free!

What a great fall Saturday in Mount Prospect during the Fall Festival and Oktoberfest. The Fall Fest is 1PM-4PM with free activities, pumpkins, crafts, entertainment and a trick-or-treat line. Oktoberfest is 4PM-11PM. The fun includes German food and entertainment.

Enjoy the Creature Double Feature watching Dracula & Frankenstein outdoors at the Community Park in Lisle starting at 7PM. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. The event is free!

Get in the mood for Halloween with Ghost Stories at Volo Bog from 5:00PM-9:15PM. The eerie fun will include ghost stories, evening nature walks and a haunted trail. Suggested donation $5/adult $2/child, must register, call 815-344-1294.

Sunday, October 12

One of our favorite festivals is the Danada Fall Festival at the Danada Equestrian Center. The event runs 11AM-5PM. There will be horse shows and tricks, hayrides, time to meet the horses, learning about grooming, learning about horse care, hobbyhorse making and more. Free admission and parking. Charges for some activities.