Have cool time at Twilight Fair

Did you miss "Twilight Fair at the Farm" when it didn't happen this summer?

Try the new-and-improved, cool-weather version of the event Saturday at Peck Farm Park in Geneva.

Geneva Park District officials decided that it's been too hot in the summer for the event; last year there was even a heat advisory that day. So they changed the date.

"It was miserable for the animals as well," Steve Persinger, park district director, said of the old August event. Persinger is secretary of the foundation.

And because it gets dark earlier in the day in October, they also changed the time, moving the event to afternoon. Thus the change of name to "Autumn Fair at the Farm."

But it still full of fun.

There are free arts, crafts, games and hayrides. You can view birds and animals through the park's new permanent telescope. And kids can search for candy in a haystack.

The foundation will sell refreshments, including chili, cider, pumpkin bars, bratwurst, hot dogs and pie. And you can roast marshmallows "which is more of a fall activity," said

There will be demonstrations of birds of prey, and local astronomers will help you view sunspots through telescopes.

The Geneva Cultural Arts Commission will have a mural for children to paint.

And the ever-popular cow chip bingo will return. Cows drop you-know-what in a field marked off with squares; tickets are $5 a square.

The party is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the park, 38W199 Kaneville Road, Geneva.

The parks foundation donates extras to the district. It raised $50,000 for the butterfly house at Peck Farm Park, and another $50,000 for work on the park's observation silo. It also donates money for tree plantings throughout the district, and bought the permanent telescope for Peck Farm Park.