Venture back in time during Spring Valley's Autumn Harvest Festival
History will come to life at the Schaumburg Park District this fall.
The Autumn Harvest Festival, sponsored by Whole Foods Market, will take visitors back in time more than 100 years to an 1880s working farm from noon to 5 p.m., Oct. 5 at Spring Valley's Volkening Heritage Farm and Merkle Cabin, 201 S. Plum Grove Road.
"This is Spring Valley's largest and most popular event that celebrates local history with food, crafts, games, wagon rides, music and more," said Dave Brooks, manager of conservation services at Spring Valley. "The Autumn Harvest Festival is great for new visitors to get an introduction into the historical aspect of Spring Valley's events."
Visitors will see hands-on demonstrations of frontier-era and 1880s farm life including cider pressing, blacksmithing and grain threshing. At Merkle Cabin, visitors will explore a frontier camp to experience food cooked over an open fire and see inside of a Native American wigwam. Kid's crafts will be available throughout the day. Participants will be invited to help with farm chores and harvesting.
New this year will be a beer garden featuring beer, pretzels and live old-time music. Food and beverage will be available for purchase.
Cost is $5/person and $20 per family of six or fewer. Additional members are $5 each. Children ages 3 and younger are free.
Parking is available at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, and off Plum Grove Road across from Heritage Farm, 201 S. Plum Grove Road.
For more information, call (847) 985-2100 or visit www.parkfun.com.