Elgin's Art Harvest on Saturday beckons families downtown for treasure hunt

Hundreds of autumn festgoers are expected to get lost in a maze, paint a pumpkin and comb the streets for art treasures Saturday, Oct. 26.

Elgin's fourth annual Art Harvest offers those experiences to anyone who ventures downtown between 1 and 4 p.m.

"We have a hay maze, hayrides, face painting and downtown trick-or-treating," said Amanda Harris, Elgin's cultural arts manager.

Harris said the free event also includes arts and crafts activities presented by Side Street Studio Arts and a treasure hunt for public art. Artists will be on hand to talk about their creations.

"A few years ago we had some public art unveiled. We created a treasure hunt where the public could pick up a map and hunt for art treasures. Each year we have some new public art," Harris said.

Two new murals and three decorated utility boxes bring the grand total to 15, she said.

"One of the new murals is located under the Highland Avenue bridge over the Riverwalk and features red poppies, blue bubbles and fish," said Harris.

The other is a depiction of a woman against a bright yellow background, she said.

Prizes, such as windup monster teeth, candy, plush toys and face masks will be awarded to successful art seekers who return to "art central," otherwise known as DuPage Court, after their search.

"The more pieces of art they find on their hunt, the better the prizes," she said. "It's pretty cool. We get a lot of really cool responses every year."

A couple of recently added attractions that proved to be favorites will be back.

"There is no inside-out haunted house this year. We have opted for the hay maze instead, which we introduced to great success last year," she said. "The kids love it, especially the little kids, who have the most fun. It's really for the littler kids. They spend, like, 45 minutes in there."

Hayrides, also added last year, will take riders from DuPage Court to Grove Avenue, then east on Chicago Street to Spring Street before returning to DuPage Court.

Last year, good weather helped foster a turnout that grew by at least 150 people from prior years.

"Our average is between 400 and 450," she said. "It's just to get people outdoors and see the new public art and engage with the public art."

Downtown businesses and restaurants will be open during the festivities, Harris said.

"Most of them are participating in the trick-or-treating," she said. "So those kids should come in their costumes."

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Art Harvest festival

When: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26

Where: DuPage Court and surrounding downtown Elgin locations

Admission: Free

Details: cityofelgin.org