Country Harvest Day a hit in Algonquin

It was a great day for the yellowjackets.

The feisty stingers were out in force Saturday, lured by pumpkin cheesecake, apple cider and the unseasonably warm weather that combined to make Old Time Country Harvest Day a hit.

The annual festival was held in a small parking lot off East Algonquin Road in downtown Algonquin.

While the weather may be no gift to those running Sunday's Chicago Marathon, it was a godsend for Country Harvest Day, where attendance each year seems to wax or wane with the temperature.

Organizers of the eighth annual event said the warmth and clear skies drove strong turnout throughout the day.

"It's been full of people," said Diane Perrone, a member of the Downtown Algonquin Partnership, the consortium of downtown businesses that puts on the festival. "The weather contributed to a wonderful day."

Country Harvest Day was held in conjunction with the last day of Algonquin's Farmer's Market and featured fresh produce, business vendors, performances, crafts and a bake-off.

Alicia Wallace claimed a fall-themed gift basket for winning the bake-off, which required competitors to incorporate pumpkin into the recipe.

Wallace, who lives in Algonquin, modified a recipe she's been using for years to claim first place with her pumpkin Bundt cake.

"I knew I had this recipe, and I figured, 'Hey, I got something. I can do this,'" Wallace said. "I can't believe it - first place, which is great."

Country Harvest Day also was a fundraiser for the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Food Pantry. Perrone said the downtown partnership hoped to receive 150 pounds of food donations for the pantry through the event.

Tom Cline of Algonquin came to the festival with his wife, Ann, and their young children.

"It could use a few more booths and participation, but it's nice," Cline said. "It's nice seeing friends out on a Saturday morning."

Javier Rivas' kids won prizes in the bean toss and took home pumpkins they decorated themselves.

"That was a lot of fun for them," said Rivas, who lives in Lake in the Hills. "They really enjoyed that."

Pumpkin Bundt Cake

2 1/3 cups flour

2/3 cup raisins

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2/3 cup unsalted butter

2 teaspoons baking soda

2/3 cup water

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups sugar

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

4 eggs

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

2 cups fresh pumpkin

Mix wet ingredients thoroughly, then add dry ingredients until blended. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Test with a toothpick for doneness.

Algonquin resident Alicia Wallace's winning recipe at Algonquin's Old Time Country Harvest Day.