Go back in time at Spring Valley's Autumn Harvest Festival
See early Schaumburg history come to life at Spring Valley's most popular community event.
The 30th Annual Autumn Harvest Festival, sponsored by Whole Foods Market, will provide participants a trip back in time to an 1880s working farm and 1790s frontier encampment from noon to 5 p.m., Oct. 6 at Spring Valley's Volkening Heritage Farm and Merkle Cabin.
“The Junior Frontier Olympics are a new addition to this year's event,” said Dave Brooks, conservation services manager at Spring Valley, “The activity provides an opportunity for children to try their hand at a number of skills common to frontier era youth near Merkle Cabin.”
Visitors will see scheduled demonstrations of cider pressing, cow milking and working draft horses. They will also have the opportunity to visit a frontier camp to experience food cooked over an open fire and the inside of a Native American wigwam. Participants will be invited to help with farm chores and harvesting. Children will have the chance to try out 1880s farm skills at the Junior Farm Olympics. Other activities include pumpkin decorating, children's crafts and live old-time music. Food and beverage will be available for purchase. New items for sale this year include cider and fresh donuts.
Cost is $4 per person and $16 per family of six or fewer. Additional members are $4 each. Children ages 3 and younger are free.
Parking is available at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, and off Plum Grove Road across from Heritage Farm, 201 S. Plum Grove Road.
For more information, call (847) 985-2100 or visit www.parkfun.com.