Get out there and play
Celebrate the pomaceous fruit and member of the rose family—the apple—this weekend at the 16th Annual Long Grove Apple Festival. Your family can eat their way through the festival sampling all things apple as they enjoy live music and a kids’ fair.
From Long Grove’s famous brown bag apple pies and apple cider donuts to hot apple cider and caramel apple lattes, the festival has all apple-themed possibilities covered. If the kids are less about eating and more about getting their hands messy, they’re sure to enjoy making their own taffy apples.
Be sure you visit the Apple Jam Kids’ Fair in Towner Green Field with rides, games, face painting and pony rides. Go a little crazy as you take in a Mad Science show.
The 16th Annual Long Grove Apple Festival is held in the Long Grove historic village, located¼ mile northwest of the intersection of routes 53 and 83, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday. For a complete list of entertainment, visit the Web site. Admission and parking in the Long Grove municipal lots are free. Additional parking is available with free shuttle bus service to and from the Geimer Greenhouses, Old Route 53/Hicks Road, north of Lake Cook Road, on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, call (847) 634-0888 or visit longgroveonline.com.
Sweet prize
This week, one lucky Chicago Parent will win a Miffy prize pack. The pack includes a plush Miffy doll,“Miffy and Friends: Miffy’s Adventures” on DVD, a Miffy and Friends: Let’s Play book and a Miffy coloring book. For more information, visit wttw.com. To win, visit our discussion board.
Get out there and play some more
Fill your weekend with plenty of pumpkins at the Joliet Pumpkin Fest. Celebrate the autumnal squash at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, 201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet, with horse-drawn hay rack rides, a haunted house and a trackless train ride.
Have a ghoulishly good time as your costumed clan builds a scarecrow out of provided materials and decorates pumpkins. Take in the spooky play,“Spirit of All Hallow’s Eve,” travel through the Monster Corn Maze and jump in inflatable ghost and pirate ships.
Visit the petting zoo and have the little ones take a pony ride or get their faces painted. If Batman is popular in your house, make sure you check out“The Dark Knight” exhibit that features the vehicles used in the filming of the movie in Chicago. Round out your Saturday night with fireworks at 9 p.m.
The Joliet Pumpkin Fest is open 5-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10:30 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. For a full list of events, visit the Web site. Admission is free as is parking on surrounding streets. Some events and activities are extra, most are under . For more information, call (815) 724-3760 or visit bicentennialpark.org.
Outside fun
Go fly a kite this weekend with your family at Mayor Daley’s 10th Annual Kids and Kites Festival from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. If you don’t have your own kite at home, your kids can create their own with free kits provided by the city of Chicago.
After creating your own kite, get a few flying tips from the professionals. Keep your eyes out for the world’s largest spin sock—measuring 190 feet long, three stories high—and 90-foot Manta Ray and 50-foot caterpillar. Take a break from flying for a few stories and hands-on exhibits at The Kohl McCormick StoryBus as well as arts and crafts and face painting.
Mayor Daley’s 10th Annual Kids and Kites Festival is free and takes place on Cricket Hill, Montrose and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. For more information, call (312) 744-3315 or visit chicagokidsandkites.us.
Piece of the prize
One lucky Chicago Parent reader will have the“best of both worlds” when they win a Hannah Montana costume—youth small (wig and microphone not included)—from the Disney Store. For more information, visit disneystore.com. To win, visit our discussion board.
