Cantigny's Fall Fest has its share of pumpkins, scarecrows and hayrides

Posted October 07, 2009 11:00 pm

Bob Smith

There are some things you simply must offer if you're going to hold a fall festival.

Pumpkin painting for one. Scarecrow decorating for another. You've gotta have face-painting, hayrides, entertainment, old-fashioned games and even those inflatable things kids slide and bounce around on.

But it always helps if you have at least one activity you don't find at every pumpkin patch in the Free World, one feature that stops even the most autumn-jaded visitor dead in their trick-or-treat-lovin' tracks.

Jeff Reiter says Cantigny Park's Fall Festival will offer just such a showstopper during its one-day run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at 1S151 Winfield Road near Wheaton.

"We don't have a corn maze," the communications manager admitted with just a tinge of sadness, "but we do have a Candy Dive."

The concept is diabolically simple, although not necessarily endorsed by the American Dental Association.

Organizers carve a pit, maybe 10 feet square, and cover it with straw. They throw in a bunch of wrapped candy and let it sink out of sight. Then they get out of the way.

"The kids get to go in and dive through the straw," Reiter said.

Junior can keep diving until he finds two pieces of candy. Then he has to get out and - if he's really desperate for another Tootsie Roll - go to the back of the line to make sure other youngsters get a crack at it, too.

"I've never seen it (the dive) anyplace else," Reiter said, "but it's very popular."

This is the ninth year Cantigny has sponsored a Fall Festival and, as usual, most of the activities are aimed at the younger set. But Reiter said this year's celebration also will feature an open-air French Market designed to keep Mom and Dad occupied, too.

The market is operated by Bensidoun, which runs a similar enterprise on weekends in downtown Wheaton, and includes 30 vendors selling jewelry, clothing, items for the home and bakery goods and produce.

Most of the festivities will be centered on Cantigny's parade field in front of the visitors center, but guests, as always, are free to wander through the park's gardens and visit the First Division and McCormick museums.

The entrance fee is $5 a car - $2 if you get there before 10 a.m. - although there are additional charges for food and some events.

Reiter says the festival is part of a larger effort at Cantigny to attract bigger crowds, with a special focus on families looking for something to do on weekends. Park officials have created several new events this year with that in mind, including recent Green Fair and Dog Days celebrations.

"There really is something for everybody here," Reiter said. "There's a lot to like."

Most of Cantigny's Fall Festival events are aimed at kids, but this year's celebration also will feature a French Market for adults. Courtesy Cantigny Park

Cantigny Park's Fall Festival When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 Where: Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road near Wheaton Cost: $5 per car, $2 before 10 a.m.; additional fees for some activities Info: <a href="http://cantigny.org" target="new">cantigny.org</a> or (630) 668-5161

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