Carolyn Lauing-Finzer of Naperville describes herself as fun and eclectic. Here she dons a gourd hat.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Homecoming queen Krissy Altersohn, left, and king Thomas Broviak ride on a float during Geneva High Schools Homecoming parade Friday.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Lauren Park, center, and her two children Owen, 2, and Lilly, 3, all of Aurora enjoy a train ride during Oktoberfest at Naper Settlement in Naperville Saturday. The fest offered beer, food, and fun for all ages.
Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
Mac, a border collie has a hard time sitting still while watching and waiting to get back in the action during the fourth annual Dog-tober Festival at Deicke Park in Huntley Saturday October 6, 2012.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Covered in peanut butter, Phoebe a giant schnauzer tries to beat the pack during a peanut butter eating competition at the fourth annual Dog-tober Festival at Deicke Park in Huntley Saturday October 6, 2012. Phoebe is owned by Jessica Frost of Lake in the Hills.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
English bulldog Bob is perched in his favorite spot to people watch during the fourth annual Dog-tober Festival at Deicke Park in Huntley Saturday October 6, 2012. Bob was there with his owner Paula Tapper of Doggie Styles Pet Grooming Inc. of Huntley.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
The Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz moves its eyes back and forth in a mechanical entry by Bridges Montessori Academy at the St. Charles Scarecrow Festival on Saturday, October 6. He was also riding a bike.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Riley Jones, of Lake Villa, paints a pumpkin during the Bonner Heritage Farm Country Fair Sunday in Lindenhurst. The festival featured wagon rides, a petting zoo, games, scarecrow building and painting pumpkins. Jones was celebrating her second birthday at the fair.
Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
Blacksmith Walt Rittle of Naperville works some iron into hooks while instructing visitors on the life of a late 1800s blacksmith, during The Naper Settlements Harvest Time celebration, Sunday.
Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
Knox Burau, 2 of DeKalb portrays a family member of the Missouri Gorillas in a Confederate Civil War re-enactors camp at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Sunday.
Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
Ken Gough of Elgin, portrays real life Civil War Reporter with the 7th Illinois, Isaac Buck of the Elgin Weekly Gazette, during a Civil War re-enactors camp at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Sunday.
Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
Member of the Confederate Missouri Gorillas perform drills during a Civil War re-enactors camp at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Sunday.
Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
Lindette Bourne of Crystal Lake holds Jessica, a nine year old terrier mix as Rev. Dr. Warren Best of Melrose Park blesses animals Sunday at a ceremony sponsored by the Assisi Animal Foundation at McHenry County College.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
History re-enactor Reid Miller teaches a music lesson with spoons as seen through a knothole in one of the original barns at Sundays Fall Festival and 35th anniversary of the Garfield Farm Living History Museum and working farm west of Geneva. Miller is from Wisconsin.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Volunteer Matt McKavis, front, of Lindenhurst, helps with the act as Andy Head entertains children during the Wonderful, Wacky Juggler program Monday at the Lake Villa District Library.
Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
United States 8th Congressional District candidates Republican Joe Walsh and Democrat Tammy Duckworth debated at the Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows on Tuesday night.
Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
Construction of the streetscape on North River Street in downtown Batavia significantly disrupted business this summer for places such as Katrinas Salon and El Taco Grande restaurant. The city is considering reimbursing some businesses for their water, sewer and electricity bills.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Trees in the Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda show off their fall splendor.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Brynn Kordik of West Dundee and her one-year old Zachary, came back to the Neonatal ICU at Northwest Community Hospital to say thanks a day before his birthday. He was born three months premature and had surgery performed at NCH that saved his life.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com
Margaret and Wesley Martin of Palatine celebrate getting their $3.75 million check from the Illinois Lottery with employees at the Meijer store in Rolling Meadows on Thursday, October 11.
George LeClaire/gleclaire@dailyherald.com
Sydney Javlonski cheers as she watches the West Aurora High School homecoming parade, Thursday.
Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
West Aurora High School football players high-five kids along the homecoming parade route, Thursday.
Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com