Celetastity festival debuts at Blackberry Farm

Celetastity: A Festival at the Farm, made its debut Saturday at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road in Aurora.

Pronounced See-A-Taste-It-ee, the name combines celebration, taste and community.

According to Laurie Hoffman, director of recreation and communications for the Fox Valley Park District, the park district partnered with the Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce to stage the event and celebrate the uniqueness of the communities.

The day included food, live entertainment and children's games. There were pony, hay-wagon and carousel rides, and rides on the steam engine replica train.

All of Blackberry Farm's living history exhibits were open, including the Pioneer Cabin and the One-Room School.

An art exhibit that featured paintings, fiber sculptures, woodworking, photography and jewelry was coordinated by Mary Parks, who taught art in Naperville schools for 26 years, and by Aurora native Gloria Truemper.

Live entertainment was provided by The Ides of March, "American Idol" finalist and St. Charles native Leslie Hunt, bands August and We Valedictorian, and the Steel Crazy steel drum band.