Fairs & fests: Oktoberfests, Harvest Fests, Fright Fest and more

<b>This weekend</b>

<b>Didier Farms Pumpkinfest:</b> 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Monday, Oct. 31, at Didier Farms, 16678 Aptakisic Road, Lincolnshire. Hayrides, camel rides, Animal Land Zoo, parakeet exhibit, Pumpkin Playland, pig races and more. Free admission, but some activities require tickets. didierfarms.com/pumpkinfest.

<b>Randall Oaks Fall Festival:</b> 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Sunday, Oct, 30, at Randall Oaks Zoo, 1180 N. Randall Road, West Dundee. Hay maze, corn bin play area, fall treats and pumpkins for purchase and face painting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $3-$5. On weekends, bonfire from noon to 5 p.m. and hayrides for $2. Most activities included with zoo admission, which is $3.25 for residents, $4 for nonresidents, free for kids younger than 2. (847) 428-7131 or dtpd.org.

<b>Fright Fest:</b> Opens at 5 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, Oct. 30, (and 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 10, and 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31), at Six Flags Great America, Six Flags Drive, Gurnee. Daytime hours are family-friendly and include shows and a trick-or-treat trail. In the evenings, ghouls appear along with haunted houses and costumed monsters. For a schedule and admission fees, see sixflags.com/greatamerica.

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Naper Settlement's Oktoberfest:</b> 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Live music, German cuisine and family-friendly activities on Saturday afternoon. $10-$15. Free for Naper Settlement members and kids younger than 4. napersettlement.org.

<b>Light the Torch 5K Night Run:</b> 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at 120 E. Liberty Drive, Wheaton. Participants receive glow giveaways, race through luminary lanes and end with a street fest that includes a DJ, carnival rides and a food truck. Benefits FT Cares Foundation. $15-$40. wheatonparkdistrict.com.

<b>Morton Arboretum's Fall Color Festival:</b> 7 a.m. to sunset daily from Saturday, Oct. 1, through Monday, Oct. 31, at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Scarecrow Trail and special events. Trick or Trees runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends in the Children's Garden and includes games, fall crafts, tree seeds to take home, and small pumpkins to purchase and paint. General admission $9-$14; free for members. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org.

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Cosley Zoo Pumpkin Fest:</b> 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Saturday, Oct. 1, through Monday, Oct. 31, at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton. Straw pyramid, cornstalk tunnel, and apples, gourds, pumpkins, cider, corn stalks and bales of hay for purchase. Fest is included with $4-$5 zoo admission; free for members and kids 17 and younger. cosleyzoo.org.

<b>Pumpkin Patch:</b> 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at SEBA Park, South Elgin. Pick out pumpkins to purchase ($1-$5), petting zoo, pyramid of hay, Touch a Truck, trolley ride (with the purchase of a pumpkin), pony rides for $2 (profits donated to the FUNdation). (847) 622-0003 or southelgin.com.

<b>Downers Grove Harvest Festival & Craft Fair:</b> 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Fishel Park, Grove and Main streets, Downers Grove. Chili cook-off, food, music, beer garden, children's activities and craft fair. Free. (630) 963-1314.

<b>Military Through the Ages:</b> 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1-2, at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Military encampments through history, from ancient Rome to Operation Desert Storm. Free with paid $5 parking free. cantigny.org.

<b>International Children's Film Fest:</b> 10:15 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Charlestowne 18 theater, 3740 E. Main St., St. Charles. A touring festival with nine films from eight countries. $5. classiccinemas.com for show times.

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Blackberry Farm's Pumpkin Weekends:</b> 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in October at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. Roll in the corn crib, ride the Pumpkin Train, experience the new Pumpkin Paddle, plus crafts and harvest decor. $4.50-$8; free for kids younger than 2. (630) 892-1500 or foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

<b>Churchville Schoolhouse Fall Open House:</b> 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the historic Churchville Schoolhouse, 3N784 Church Road, Bensenville. Event features music, dancing and class time with a teacher inside the one-room schoolhouse (built in 1846). Battlefield Balladeers perform songs from the Civil War. Guests can learn to dance the Virginia reel. Plus, old-fashioned games, crafts, food and more. Free. elmhursthistory.org.

<b>ILEHC Fall Farm Festival and Tack Sale:</b> 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at ILEHC Horse Rescue Center, 45W050 Beith Road, Maple Park. Scavenger hunt at noon, pony rides, pumpkin painting, face painting, raffles, refreshments and more. Tack, saddles, pads, blankets and more for sale. Free. Proceeds help support the care, rehabilitation and retraining of horses rescued from abuse and neglect. ilehc.org.

<b>Glendale Heights Harvest Fest:</b> Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Heritage Park on Paul Avenue, Glendale Heights. Music, crafts, chili cook-off, bags tournament, hay rides, face painting. Free. (630) 260-606.

<b>The Growing Place's Garlic Fest:</b> Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at The Growing Place, 25W471 Plank Road, Naperville. Taste garlic recipes from chef Tom Moskos of The Art of Good Eating and learn about garlic planting. Watch cooking demonstrations and more. Free. thegrowingplace.com.

<b>16th Annual Fish Boil:</b> 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Vasa Park, 35W217 Route 31, South Elgin. Fish boil at 2 p.m. Music, entertainment and more. Reservations at (847) 695-6720 or vasaparkil.com.

<b>Chili for a Cure:</b> 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Hawthorne's Backyard Bar and Grill, 1200 W. Hawthorne Lane, West Chicago. Sponsored by the West Chicago Professional Firefighters group to raise money for the Keep A Breast Foundation. Teams create their own chili recipes for attendees to vote on. Also features chicken wings, hot dogs, cornbread and dessert, with a DJ, bounce house. raffles, silent auction and more. $5-$10 at the door. hawthornesbackyard.com.

<b>Lake Forest Oktoberfest:</b> 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Deerpath Community Park, 400 Hastings Road, Lake Forest. Live bands, German food, beer, games and more. $10; free for kids younger than 5. Parking is $10. friendslfpr.org.

<b>Pink Heals Fest:</b> 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, in the Home Depot parking lot, at the southwest corner of Stearns Road and Route 59, Bartlett. The Bartlett Fire Protection District hosts a community-wide event to raise money for Bartlett residents with debilitating injuries or illness. Food trucks, live music, pink fire engines, car show, silent auction, 50/50 raffle, pony rides, petting zoo, bounce houses and more. Free. village.bartlett.il.us.

<b>Lynfred Winery Oktoberfest and Pig Roast:</b> 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Lynfred Winery, 15 S. Roselle Road, Roselle. German singalongs, grape-spitting contest, grape stomping, cork tossing, costume contest, German food and desserts. Admission is $3; free for kids 13 and younger. Food and beverage tickets cost $1. lynfredwinery.com.

<b>Grand Victoria Casino's Rocktoberfest:</b> 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, in the south parking lot at National and Grove streets, adjacent to Grand Victoria Casino at 250 S. Grove Ave., Elgin. Music headliners include Everclear and Vertical Horizon, plus craft beer, food and more. Tickets cost $15 in advance; $20 on the day of the event. Tickets at gvctickets.com. For details, see grandvictoriacasino.com.

<b>Bluesmobile Cruise Night:</b> 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, in the Metra commuter lot on Northwest Highway, Mount Prospect. Final night of the season to view a variety of cars. Free. mpdma.org.

<b>A Chef Fest:</b> 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the David Adler Music and Arts Center, 1700 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Fundraiser features fare from Libertyville chefs, specialty cocktails and a sweets table. Tickets cost $100 and must be purchased in advance. mainstreetlibertyville.org.

<b>39th Annual Cider Fest:</b> 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at the McHenry County Historical Society Museum, 6422 Main St., Union. Civil War re-enactors with the 36th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, live music, old-fashioned cider making, barn-raising demonstration, white elephant sale, books, food and more. Tour the museum, the Gannon 1843 log cabin and the 1895 West Harmony one-room school. Free. (815) 923-2267 or mchenrycountyhistory.org.

<b>Fall Fest Fox Lake:</b> 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Grant Township Center, 26725 W. Molidor Road, Ingleside. Pumpkin carving, pony rides, hayrides, food and more. Free. (847) 587-3944 or foxlake.org.

<b>Crystal Lake Family Kite Festival:</b> 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Lippold Park, 1251 Route 176, Crystal Lake. Kites of all sizes, some as large as 90 feet; lessons offered. Free. chicagokite.com.

<b>Harvest Days:</b> 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Garfield Farm Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, Campton Hills. Continuous demonstrations of farm and household skills, 19th-century music and food. $6; $3 for kids. (630) 584-8485 or garfieldfarm.org.

<b>Autumn Harvest Festival:</b> Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Learn about life in the 1880s with hands-on demonstrations of cider pressing, blacksmithing and grain threshing. Children's crafts, 19th-century games, live string music, food and more. $5; $20 per family (up to six people); free for kids 3 and younger. parkfun.com.

<b>Westmont Historical Society's Ninth Annual “The Last Straw”:</b> Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Gregg House Museum, 115 S. Linden Ave., Westmont. Family event with scarecrow-making, an animal show, crafts, a bake sale, an antique vehicle display and more. Guests can meet a bee keeper, decorate pumpkins, and pan for minerals and “gold.” Free admission. There is an $8 fee per family for making a scarecrow; $5 per person for panning for minerals and “gold.” Participants should bring clothes for the scarecrow and any special items to decorate. Proceeds benefit the Gregg House Museum. In case of inclement weather, activities will take place inside the museum and in the Westmont Park District Senior Center, 55 E. Richmond St. (630) 969-8080, Ext. 104, or westmontparks.org.

<b>Harvest of the Acorn Moon Festival:</b> 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Oakhurst Forest Preserve, 1680 Fifth Ave., Aurora. Celebrate autumn with pumpkin painting, outdoor games, folk music, guided hikes and more. Free; there is a nominal fee for crafts and refreshments. kaneforest.com.

<b>Heirloom Apple Fest:</b> 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Durant House Museum, LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W370 Dean St., St. Charles. Costumed guides demonstrate and use a pioneer apple-drying basket and serve an array of 19th-century fare. Visitors can sample a variety of rare apples not available at supermarkets and sip ciders prepared in an 1840s hearth and a Victorian wood-burning stove. Admission is $3 for adults; $1 for kids. (630) 377-6424 or ppfv.org.

<b>Sixth Annual Eye on India Chicago:</b> Runs through Sunday, Oct. 2, at various venues throughout Chicago. Festival of contemporary and traditional Indian culture featuring artist workshops, dance, music and more. Many events are free. Event fees run $20-$48. eyeonindia.org.

<b>Next week</b>

<b>Lake Zurich Cruise Night:</b> 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, on Old Rand Road in downtown Lake Zurich. Features 100-150 vehicles on display from every era. Live DJ. Trophies awarded for spectator choice, along with car trivia and raffle prizes. Free. lakezurich.org.

<b>Ear Taxi Festival:</b> Wednesday, Oct. 5, through Monday, Oct. 10, at various venues throughout Chicago. Festival celebrates the contemporary classical music scene in Chicago. For a daily schedule of performers and tickets, see eartaxifestival.com.

<b>Fox Valley Oktoberfest:</b> 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora. Event is for ages 55 and older. German cuisine, music and more. $9 Fox Valley Park District residents; $11 nonresidents. Register by Monday, Oct. 3. (630) 859-8606 or foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

<b>Ghosts in the Graveyard:</b> 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. For ages 9-13. Wagon rides and carousel, bonfire with s'mores and spooky stories, followed by a flashlight skeleton hunt. Dinner is included. $9 Fox Valley Park District residents; $12 nonresidents. (630) 892-1550 or foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.