Registration is open for the sixth annual Aurora Pooch Parade set for 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, at Phillips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive.
The event will feature a DJ playing music about dogs, a splash pad to keep pets and people cool, pet-themed vendors, adoptable dogs from Aurora Animal Care and Control and a parade of pooches.
During the parade, dogs will compete for the top prizes in categories such as best themed entry, smallest dog, biggest dog, most energetic and best costume.
To register, go to www.aurora-il.org/PoochParade.
Festival set at farm in Montgomery
Beer, Bands and Barns, an outdoor music and beer festival, will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at The Conservation Foundation’s Dickson-Murst Farm at 2550 Dickson Road in Montgomery.
The event will feature three local musical acts: Jason Hubbard from 3 to 5 p.m., The Telltale Hearts from 5 to 7 p.m. and Ron Porter Band from 7 to 9 p.m.
There will be a beverage tent featuring beer and wine, and food provided by Burritoville Food Truck, Stray Dog Food Truck and Scoops Ice Cream Truck.
Parking and admission are free, and the event will be held rain or shine, organizers said.
The Conservation Foundation is one of the region’s oldest and largest not-for-profit land and watershed conservation organizations, with more than 6,000 members, group officials said. For more information, go to theconservationfoundation.org.
Events planned at Senior Services in Aurora
A number of upcoming events are planned at Senior Services in Aurora at 2111 Plum St.
The facility will host a free senior resource fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, which will feature a number of exhibitors serving seniors in Kane County.
At 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, the center will celebrate Mexican Independence Day with food and entertainment provided by dancers from Ballet Folklorico. Advance registration is required for the event, which will cost $6 for members and $10 for non-members. Registration will be accepted at the Senior Services offices at 2111 Plum St.
Also on Sept. 20, a vaccination clinic will be hosted by Osco pharmacy from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the facility. Various shots will be given including the high dose flu shot, new COVID booster, shots for shingles and tetanus, and others. There is no charge for the clinic. Seniors will need to bring their insurance card to receive a vaccine.
The center is also accepting registration for Bingocize, a free program beginning Sept. 26 that will meet at 11 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursdays at the facility.
Bingocize combines exercise and health information with bingo, officials said. Advance registration is required to take part in the program.
For more information on any of the programs, call the Senior Services center at 630-897-4035 and ask for activity coordinators Amanda Creighton or Paul Heinkel.
Autumn Fair scheduled in Geneva
The Geneva Park District Foundation will hold its annual Autumn Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road in Geneva.
The event will feature pony rides, family activities, children’s games, crafts, a wildlife presentation by Flying Fox Conservation Fund and musical entertainment by Liz Berg. Visitors can also mingle with animals in a petting zoo, purchase pumpkins and mums, and more, according to a press release about the event.
Dozens of prizes will be awarded at the gift basket raffle table during the event, with tickets available for $5 each or five for $20. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the event, or prior to the Autumn Fair at Sunset Community Center, Peck Farm Park Interpretive Center and the Stephen D. Persinger Recreation Center.
Raffle winners will be announced at Autumn Fair, and do not need to be present to win.
Admission to Autumn Fair is free, with fees for some activities, food and beverages, officials said. All proceeds from the event will benefit special projects of the Geneva Park District Foundation.
Chamber music group to perform
Chamber Music on the Fox will launch its 11th season with a set of three concerts featuring the Chicago-based KAIA String Quartet.
The concerts, called “A Celebration of Latin American Women,” will explore the rich legacy of Latin American women throughout history.
Concerts are set for 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, in the Packard Room at Ballydoyle, 428 W. New York St. in Aurora; 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, at The Haight, 166 Symphony Way in Elgin; and 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St. in Woodstock.
Tickets for the Aurora and Elgin performances are now available for $25 at www.chambermusiconthefox.org or by calling 224-276-8881. Students with a valid student ID qualify for $15 concert tickets.
Tickets for the Woodstock concert are available exclusively through the Woodstock Opera House, online at www.woodstockoperahouse.com or by calling 815-338-5300.
Shredding event to be held in Montgomery
The village of Montgomery and Earthmover Credit Union are partnering to offer the community a free drive-thru paper shredding event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Montgomery Police Station, 10 Civic Center Ave. on the west side of Montgomery.
The event is being offered as a way for community members to recycle and destroy papers containing sensitive material and information at no charge.
A four-box shredding limit applys to each vehicle, event organizers said.
The event does not require advance registration, and will be run on a first come, first served basis.
Earthmover Credit Union volunteers will be onsite collecting donations for CASA of Kendall County.
“As a local credit union, supporting the community is important to our organization and its employees. CASA is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse and neglect in our community. They train and support dedicated community volunteers who serve and protect a child’s right to a safe and permanent home,” said Alex Morales, Business Development representative for the local credit union serving Montgomery, Oswego and surrounding areas.
Participants must enter from Griffin and Baseline Road, also known as the south entrance to the Stuart Sports Complex. Signage will direct traffic into a line toward the shredding truck parked in the police department parking lot.
For more information on the shredding event, go to montgomeryil.org.
Seed dispersal topic of program
The Kane County Forest Preserve District will offer a program for children and young adults on Saturday, Sept. 28, on the ways that different plants disperse their seeds.
The program, “EcoLab: Science of Seed Dispersal,” will run from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Creek Bend Nature Center, located at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve at 37W700 Dean St. in St. Charles.
After a study of the various methods of seed transportation, participants will go on a hike to see real-life examples of seed dispersal techniques, organizers said. The program will culminate with each participant creating a craft that demonstrates a seed dispersal approach.
EcoLab is a quarterly, environmental education program through the district that offers children and young adults the opportunity to analyze and learn about the natural world through a science-based approach, officials said.
Advance registration is required for this free program. To register, go to www.kaneforest.com/register, call 630-444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com.
To view a full roster of Forest Preserve District of Kane County programs, go to www.kaneforest.com or find the district on social media by searching @forestpreserve.