Kids get a jump on Halloween at Grayslake Pumpkin Fest

Children dressed as superheroes, princesses and monsters excitedly trekked through the Trick or Treat Path to greet cartoon characters like Winnie the Pooh and Bert and Ernie during the ninth annual Pumpkin Fest at Central Park Field in Grayslake on Thursday.

The Halloween festival was sponsored by the Grayslake Park District. It featured Halloween crafts, games, an inflatable fun zone, hay rides and a family scavenger hunt.

"We have lots of characters out here that they can visit with. We have hay rides and costume contest with prizes for that," Tracey Putkonen, recreation supervisor for the park district.

"Everyone gets into it, and sometimes you get a whole family dressing up and come in costume."

Children and their parents sat on hay bales by an open fire as a witch, better known as Charlotte Renehan of the Grayslake Historical Society, read spooky stories about local ghosts.

Some children had their fortunes told, others made Halloween masks, and some played games like "Pumpkin Toss" and "Spin to Win."

"Mommy told me to look at the costumes, and I found a cake," said 5-year-old Genevieve Hollenstein of Grayslake as she ran around the festival wearing a birthday cake. "I love Pumpkin Fest because I guessed a lollipop (on Spin to Win) and I got it right."