Fall in love with autumn colors at Fall Color Festival

As the days grow shorter and the weather becomes cooler, green leaves on trees start to transform into a variety of vibrant yellows, reds and oranges.

For Ed Hedborn, manager of plant records at the Morton Arboretum, that once-a-year nature makeover is a fascinating part of autumn that's worth celebrating.

"Every year is unique and it's always a delight to see what nature presents to us," he said.

The best time to experience the transformation, Hedborn said, is during the month of October, when the arboretum hosts its annual Fall Color Festival.

This year the festivities begin Saturday, Oct. 2, and will span four weeks, giving visitors plenty of time to admire the thousands of trees and plants on the arboretum's 1,700 acres.

The colorful display of foliage will be complimented by an array of fun fall activities that visitors are invited to participate in every weekend of the month.

Special events manager Marilyn Baysek said the festival was designed with families in mind.

For example, a 5K walk and run that will jump start the festival at 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, includes a Kids Dash at 9 a.m. for children ages 2 through 10.

"It's a very family-friendly 5K run, but it also is competitive because our course is rather hilly," Baysek explained, adding that the event has been called "the most colorful and unique run in the western suburbs."

The race is $30 for the 5K and $12 for the Kids Dash. Discounts are available for arboretum members, and all participants are welcome to enjoy a post-race pancake breakfast for $5.

Every weekend in October following the 5K will feature special fall festival happenings for kids and adults alike.

"Trick or Tree" sessions in the Children's Garden will feature games, crafts, prizes and a seed planting activity from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekend and on Columbus Day. Pumpkin painting will be available for $3, and all guests are encouraged to wear costumes.

A live reading of "Marcie, The Marvelous Tree," a true story about third-graders named the "Tree Musketeers" who planted a tree, cared for it over the years and became environmentalists, is geared toward a younger crowd. The reading will take place from 11 a.m. to noon on Monday, Oct. 11.

"We want to create a new generation of nature advocates," Baysek said about the kid's activities. "We want to support children's explorations into nature."

Families can enjoy 40 scarecrows scattered around Meadow Lake together too. Created with a nature theme by local Girl Scouts, the scarecrows will be on display the whole month of October, adding a whimsical feel to the arboretum.

Theatre-Hikes performances of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" are scheduled for 1 and 3:30 p.m. Saturdays and Columbus Day. Low-impact hikes suitable for strollers, walkers and wheelchairs are on Sundays at the same time.

Other offerings from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the weekends and Columbus Day include a $4 taffy apple bar, free wine tastings and fall festival food, such as grilled corn and brats.

The Illinois Gourd Society also will be on-hand at that time selling gourd goods - everything from birdhouses to bowls - all made from gourds that members have grown, dried and painted. Visitors interested in the gourd creations can sign up for workshop with the group for a fee.

Baysek estimates that about 200,000 people come through the Morton Arboretum every October.

"We always like to send people away with a little more information than they came in with and we think our festival does that," she said.

Hedborn thinks arboretum-goers will get a lot out of their visit too.

"The advantage to coming to a place like the arboretum is we have different kinds of plants from around the world," he said. "You increase your color palette. Just come out and watch the wonder of nature as it unfolds before you."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Fall Color Festival</p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> Weekends in October</p>

<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle</p>

<p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> $11 adults, $10 seniors, $8 children, free for ages 2 and younger</p>

<p class="News"><b>Info:</b> <a href="http://mortonarb.org" target="new">mortonarb.org</a> or (630) 968-0074</p>

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