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Celebrate fall at Blackberry Farm's Pumpkin Weekends

The answer to just how tall the world's tallest scarecrow is may be revealed this month at Blackberry Farm.

The iconic protector of fall harvests is expected to visit the Aurora farm on Oct. 27 as part of the farm's Pumpkin Weekends celebration.

"The farm operates May through August daily as a theme park and living history museum geared for children," said Tim Wagner, public relations and marketing content strategist for the Fox Valley Park District, the organization that runs the farm.

Each fall, he said, the farm opens up for Pumpkin Weekends.

The farm will be open on weekends throughout October and on Columbus Day, Oct. 14. Visitors can ride the carousel, steam train, hay wagon and ponies and visit the old-time blacksmith shop and schoolhouse. They can also visit the Carriage Museum and play in the corn crib at the farmers' junction, Wagner said.

The Pumpkin Weekends festival at Aurora's Blackberry Farm runs through October with seasonal decor and activities. Courtesy of Fox Valley Park District

"It's just a really popular event for families to come out and enjoy the fall setting," Wagner said.

"Ten thousand people came out last year," said Dan Leahy, the district's marketing director. "It's a big, well-known festival."

Pumpkins will be available for purchase in the carriage house for $3 apiece, Leahy said.

Special events are planned for several of those weekend dates.

On Saturday, Oct. 5, a pumpkin-themed bounce house will be added to the slate of attractions.

Face painting will be available at the farm from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 12.

  Visitors can purchase pumpkins at Blackberry Farm's Pumpkin Weekends, a monthlong festival that begins Saturday, Oct. 5, in Aurora. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com, 2017

On Oct. 19, children are invited to don their Halloween costumes and go trick-or-treating at stops throughout the farm, said Leahy.

A professional storyteller will spin yarns with a Halloween-tinged spirit from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 20, said Holly Wiggins, farm facility manager.

Like the bounce house and face painting, another new attraction added to Pumpkin Weekends this year will be a balloon artist scheduled to visit the farm from 12:30 to 2:20 p.m. Oct. 26, Wiggins said.

And the towering scarecrow is set to make an appearance from noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 27, she said.

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Pumpkin Weekends at Blackberry Farm

When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 26 and 27

Where: Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora

Admission: $7 per person

Details: (630) 892-1550 or foxvalleyparkdistrict.org

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