Harvest Fest yields a cornucopia of competitions
The Downers Grove Park District will celebrate autumn with the annual Harvest Fest event on Saturday, September 30. The free family-friendly event will include live musical entertainment, children's activities, a craft fair, Chilympics Chili Cook-off, a Bags Tournament, a Pie-eating Contest, food trucks, adult beverages and more. The day will kick off at 8:30 am with the DG 5&8 Miler, a competitive race through Downers Grove. Harvest Fest will be held from 9 am to 7 pm at Fishel Park located on Grove Street in Downers Grove. To learn more, visit dgparks.org.
The new and improved DG 5 & 8 Miler features a challenging, scenic course that runs through the rolling residential streets of Downers Grove. Racers can choose to compete in the established 5-mile course or the all-new 8-mile course both starting at the Lincoln Center and finishing at Fishel Park. Both routes are CARA- and USATF-certified. The 5-mile fee is $45 and the 8-mile fee is $55. CARA Members receive discounted registration. The course map, race information and online registration is available at dgparks.org.
The DG 5&8 Miler is a great opportunity for racers to warm up for the upcoming Chicago Marathon or to finish out the racing season before the cold weather sets in. Enhanced giveaways for the first 500 registered racers include a long-sleeve tech shirt, a racer medal, snacks and a beverage ticket for Harvest Fest. Top race finishers in both the male and female age divisions will be awarded a DG 5&8 Miler commemorative pint glass.
Show us your best recipe with the Chilympics Chili Cook-off! Enter yourself or a group to compete in this hot competition. Participants will prepare chili onsite to serve samples to our judges and the community to battle it out for the Judges' Choice and People's Choice awards. Judging will take place at 3 pm and cash prizes will be awarded to community competitors. Local municipality groups are encouraged to participate for bragging rights and a plaque. The cost is $20 for community competitors and free to municipality groups.
For those who enjoy America's favorite backyard lawn game, a Bags Tournament will begin at noon with the final match for the championship taking place at 3:45 pm. The double elimination tournament will feature cash prizes for the winning teams. All bags and boards will be provided. The tournament costs $25 per team. Players must be 18 years and above.
Kids ages 6 to 14 can chow down and compete in the Pie-eating Contest at 3 pm. It's free to enter and registration will be taken before the contest. The Pie-eating Contest is generously sponsored by Fresh Thyme.
Volunteer support is needed for Harvest Fest and the DG 5&8 Miler. This is an awesome opportunity for students looking for volunteer credits or for those looking for a fun way to give back to the community! To volunteer, call Brian DeWolf at 630.960.7468 or email at bdewolf@dgparks.org.
For more information about Harvest Fest or for entry forms for competitions, please visit www.dgparks.org/harvestfest.
About Downers Grove Park District
The Downers Grove Park District is dedicated to providing a wide variety of year-round recreation programs, facilities, parks, open space and natural areas that respond to the articulated needs and desires of residents. For more information, call 630.963.1300 or visit www.dgparks.org.