Elmhurst, Bensenville celebrate Heritage Day

Visitors can celebrate fall - and learn a little about local history, too - when Bensenville Park District and the Elmhurst History Museum celebrate Heritage Day.

The party on Saturday, Oct. 13, runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park district's Fischer Farm and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the museum-managed Churchville Schoolhouse. The two neighboring historically-rich sites are located near the corner of Grand Avenue and Church Road in Bensenville.

Admission is free at both locations. All activities are free at Churchville Schoolhouse, and a $6 wristband is available at the Fischer Farm for select kids' activities. A tractor-pulled hay wagon will transport visitors between sites.

Here's what's happening at the schoolhouse:

11:15 a.m., 12:35 p.m. and 2 p.m.: Explore the circa 1850s schoolhouse, meet the schoolmarm, and find out how children of the early 1900s learned their lessons.

1:30 and 2:30 p.m.: Learn how to square dance with live music provided by the Muddy Creek Band.

Noon: Hear songs from America's past performed by the Conrad Fischer School Singers.

All day: Play old-fashioned games and make a thaumatrope; find out about the history of Churchville Cemetery; check out the Elmhurst Fire Department's vintage 921 fire truck; enjoy complimentary refreshments, including popcorn and lemonade.

Here's what's happening at Fischer Farm:

All day (free): Tour the historic family house and farm structures; see World War I re-enactors and Civil War re-enactors fire the cannon on the hour; face painting, crafting demonstrations, candle dipping and more; live country sounds of Bourbon Aristocracy bluegrass band.

All day ($6 wristband for kids 13 and younger): Unlimited pony rides, petting zoo, and one pumpkin, while supplies last.

Parking is available near each site. For details, visit elmhursthistory.org or bensenvilleparkdistrict.org, or call Elmhurst History Museum at (630) 833-1457 or Fischer Farm at (630) 834-3152.