Down on the farm at Streamwood's Pumpkinfest

Hoosier Grove Park in Streamwood returned to its roots Saturday when it drew hundreds of families back to the farm to pick out pumpkins.

Streamwood Park District's annual Pumpkinfest offered 10 tons of pumpkins to choose from, along with cornstalks, gourds, Indian corn, fresh mums, taffy apples and warm apple cider. But it was the authentic farm setting as much as the festival that drew families to come out.

"It's beautiful and so relaxing to be able to spend the day out here," said Michael Grant of Hanover Park, taking in the fest with his 8-year-old daughter Missy.

Seth and Meredith Rindner of Streamwood soaked up the farmlike atmosphere with their two young daughters.

"It's all family oriented, and very laid-back," Meredith Rindner said. "And there's lots for the kids to do. We'll check out the moonwalk -- and the tractor pull."

Park district officials also kept alive a tradition that dates back on the property nearly 50 years.

"This was a working pumpkin farm when the park district took it over," said Carol Green, facilities supervisor. "We wanted to continue the tradition of selling pumpkins here."

In fact, the farm was started by German immigrants, the Stuckmeiers, in 1871. When the Landmeiers eventually purchased the 1,000-acre farm in 1959, they added pumpkins to the crops raised there and began selling them and Christmas trees.

The Streamwood Park District bought the farm in 1988 and converted it into a park and museum setting, which now hosts community events and soccer games.

Many of the farm buildings remain -- including its original barn, built in 1888 -- and they hosted such activities as the pumpkin decorating craft for children, the pie-eating contest, a cakewalk and a contest for the best decorated pumpkin.

Those ran the gamut from one that resembled Elphaba in the hit show, "Wicked," to a delicate princess, complete with tiara.

Andrew Leardi, 7, of Streamwood, made the most of his Halloween costume from last year and decorated his entry as a pirate.

"I had the hat already," Andrew said, "and then I added these spiders and skeletons to make it scary. I like to enter this contest each year."