Autumn Harvest Festival returns to Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg

Experience history and the abundance of fall at Schaumburg Park District's Autumn Harvest Festival, sponsored by Davey Tree.

This year's 35th annual fest, set for noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, at Spring Valley's Merkle Cabin and Volkening Heritage Farm, features a performance by Ernestinum Bigband, a 30-member youth band from the Schaumburg-Lippe region of Germany. The fest also includes demonstrations of cider pressing, blacksmithing, beer making, leather harness making and working draft horses. Other activities include children's crafts, tales of life on the frontier, junior frontier Olympics and pumpkin decorating.

Grilled food, taffy apples, roasted ears of corn and cold refreshments will be available for purchase.

“It's a really exciting year for the festival,” said Patty Kennedy, farm program coordinator. “In addition to the band, the public will get to see all that Spring Valley offers. It's a big day to showcase everything we do, from Merkle Cabin to Heritage Farm.”

Cost is $5 per person and $20 per family. Children ages 3 and younger are free. Parking is available at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road and on the west side of Plum Grove Road across from Heritage Farm, 201 S. Plum Grove Road.

For information, call (847) 985-2100 or visit parkfun.com.