Elgin Hay Day offers family fun

The smell of hay at the inaugural Elgin Hay Day brought a touch of fall to Settler's Park on Saturday.

The City of Elgin Special Events free program was a family-friendly, county fair-themed event. It featured dozens of activities for young children, including hayrides, a petting zoo, pony rides, potato sack races, a hay maze and other fun activities.

"We've been really impressed with what Elgin has been doing," said CJ Stahl of Elgin as she rounded up her 4½-year-old son Kirby. "The tug of war is his favorite so far."

The event featured several informational booths and food from local vendors and a stage with live music.