Highwood Pumpkin Fest raises money for Autism Society of Illinois

The Autism Society of Illinois and the City of Highwood partnered for the Fifth Annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival Oct. 17-19, raising more than $50,000 after expenses to directly benefit individuals in Illinois affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Setting the Guinness World Record for most carved and lit pumpkins took a back seat to raising money for charity, however, as Highwood Alderman Eric Falberg, creator of Highwood Pumpkin Fest, said, "Partnering with the Autism Society of Illinois was the best choice we could have made."

More than 90,000 guests came out throughout the three days to carve over 21,000 pumpkins, enjoy seasonal pumpkin fare, dance to more than 20 different live music acts, and view nightly pumpkin sky-high wall lighting ceremonies.

"Our goal was to carve and light a pumpkin representing each individual impacted by Autism in Illinois," said Mary Kay Betz, Autism Society of Illinois executive director. "It was an incredible sight to stand among the sea of pumpkins, each with a unique beauty all their own."

Other fan favorite activities included a pet costume contest, Light Up the Night Parade, 5K Pumpkin Run/Walk and Kids' Dash, giant pumpkin maze, hay rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, carnival rides, kids' crafts, and pumpkin beer tasting.

Festival organizers also debuted a new concept and layout this year, moving it across the train tracks to Green Bay Road and Everts Park to allow for a smaller community feel.

Although the festival had the same footprint, the new layout allowed for more room to walk the grounds, larger carving sections, and plenty of food and craft vendors.

The Home Depot World's Largest Pumpkin Maze was also added as a new attraction this year. All of the lumber was donated from The Home Depot and more than 5,000 pumpkins were on display in the maze. In addition to the donation of lumber, The Home Depot provided 150 volunteers to help throughout the festival.

Even though Pumpkin Fest is over, there's still time to raise funds and awareness for the Autism Society of Illinois. Visit www.autismillinois.org.

The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival was created in 2009 and has grown each year, attracting people from across the country to celebrate the season and make a day or weekend out of it. For updates on the 2015 Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest, visit www.highwoodpumpkinfest.com.