Pumpkins, rescue workers, fairytales and more. Read on for highlights of this weekend’s North Shore events:
HIGHWOOD: Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest The City of Highwood is hosting the 7th Annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival that will be held Oct. 7-9, and will benefit Make-A-Wish Illinois. The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest will boast fan favorites including all you can carve onsite pumpkins, Trick or Treating, Costume Contests, Pumpkin Parade, hay rides, pony rides, petting zoo, carnival rides, kids crafts, two stages jam packed with solid entertainment, food and beverage vendors galore and a Superhero 5K Pumpkin Run, Walk/Walk. As always, all lit jack-o-lanterns will be placed on pumpkin walls throughout the Festival grounds, with a ceremonial wall lightings Friday and Saturday nights, and the grand lighting on Sunday evening.
WILMETTE: Wilmette Fire Department Open House Come out on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to Fire Station 26 (located at 1304 Lake Avenue). Fire Prevention Week marks the anniversary of the Chicago Fire. “Sparky the Fire Dog” and the Wilmette Fire Department invite all youngsters to bring their parents to the Fire Department Open House. You’ll see firetrucks, firefighting and paramedic equipment as well as water rescue, special rescue and hazardous materials response equipment. Kids, bring your favorite stuffed animal along for a “check-up” by a specially trained paramedic, so you can experience what it would be like to be a patient.
Families can visit the Family Safety House, a mobile home designed to teach home fire safety. Fire Prevention Week is October 9-15. The theme this year is “Don’t Wait! Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years”. Special teams will also be checking child/baby car seats. Look for signs in designated areas.
Free parking is available in the Metra Lot adjacent to the Fire Station.
WINNETKA: Fun, Food, Friendship Sacred Heart Parish welcomes everyone in the community to its annual Oktoberfest celebration, with festive, family-friendly activities and games, authentic Bavarian cuisine and live entertainment on Saturday, October 8th in Winnetka. All are invited to join in the fun.
The festival takes place outdoors on Gage and Burr streets in front of Sacred Heart School. The event begins with an outdoor mass at 4 p.m. followed by the festival, which will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Oktoberfest enthusiasts can look forward to authentic German entertainment, food and beer. For kids there will be hot dogs, kids beverages and an official “root beer” garden, as well as an inflatable jump houses and other fun games and activities. Live music will feature Chicagoland’s renowned, authentic “Oompah” band “The Royal Blue Tinkertoy Dixieland Band,” to be followed by local band “Who’s Your Daddy.”
“Sacred Heart’s Oktoberfest has become an annual event in the community and a wonderful way to celebrate with our entire parish as well as extend a ‘thank you’ to the community for having the parish as neighbors,” said Sacred Heart pastor Father Steve Lanza. Proceeds from the event go to support the parish’s ministry and outreach programs. To learn more please visit www.sacredheartwinnetka.com
GLENCOE: Fairytale Art Class Our fun art class features art instruction for all ages from 12 months and up. Art instruction and all art supplies are included! Free tasty treat for each student! The event will be held Saturday, Oct. 8 from 10 to 11 a.m. The art will focus on fairytales, costumes are optional. All students receive a piece of candy for completion of class. RSVP is required email us at info@heartartkidz.com
NORTHFIELD: Author/Attorney/Boxer Kenneth N. Green to Speak Temple Jeremiah’s Adult Learning Program will host Kenneth N. Green, author of I’m From Division Street, on Sunday, Oct. 9. Mr. Green will speak about his book from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Temple Jeremiah is located at 937 Happ Rd. in Northfield. There is no charge to attend. For more information, contact the temple at 847-441-5760. Kenneth Green’s book tells his comeback story of growing up in Chicago’s Humboldt Park area where he faced poverty, antisemitism, and academic problems. I’m from Division Street describes his rebound of professional and personal success. The book will give a nostalgic trip to the Humboldt Park neighborhood where Mr. Green grew up and profiles famous and successful Jewish people who had their roots in the neighborhood. This is a Free event.
EVANSTON: Bach Week Festival ‘Bachtoberfest’ Expert pairings of music of the Baroque era and beyond with wine and hearty hors d’oeuvres from France, Germany, Italy, and Spain will take center stage at the Bach Week Festival’s “Bachtoberfest Bachanalia” fundraiser at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9, at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston.
“The music of J. S. Bach and others will be matched with specially selected bottles of the beverage beloved by Bacchus, Roman god of wine,” says Richard Webster, Bach Week’s longtime music director and emcee for the fundraiser. “It’ll be a high-spirited event.”
Chicago wine expert Mike Baker, an Advanced Sommelier in the Court of Master Sommeliers and lead buyer for retailer Vin Chicago, will select regional wines that guests can consume with hors d’oeuvres before hearing music from the corresponding countries. The program will unfold in segments devoted to each nationality. The musicians will briefly discuss the music and Baker will talk about the wine, followed by a performance.
Have a FABULOUS weekend, everyone!