Colorful leaves, golden sunlight, and a chill in the wind, just in time for Saturday’s Fall Fest at Elawa Farm in Lake Forest.
Laura Calvert, executive director of the Elawa Farm Foundation says this 4th annual Fall Fest celebrates the harvest and the change in the season.
“As farmers, we work so hard to plant and harvest our fields – this is an opportunity for us to celebrate our hard work with the community,” Calvert said.
Event activities included a garden market with fresh produce for sale along with seasonal and local vendors and artisans selling clothing and culinary treats, live music, games in the paddock, pumpkin painting, caramel apple making, a flower crown craft, visits with farm animals and a scavenger hunt, with an open door and outdoor seating available at the new Café at Elawa Farm.
According to Calvert, the Elawa Farm Foundation is dedicated to broadening access to education and nutritious food, while striving to reconnect people, of all ages and abilities with our local food system.
Calvert says Elawa Farm is free to explore every day of the year from sunrise to sunset, and offers a weekly garden market, a learning kitchen, learning gardens, and much more.
“We practice a Seed to Plate curriculum, offering programs that provide education on planting seeds all the way to cooking and eating those foods, both on-site and off-site programs for youth and adults,” Calvert said.
Rick Mayfield of Lake Bluff attended Saturday with family.
“This is just a great way for us to get out and enjoy some of the beautiful fall weather and take part in fun family festivities,” Mayfield said.
Allison McEntee of Winnetka says she and her family love beautiful Elawa Farm.
“The kids enjoy all the wonderful activities and, as a founding member of the Kenilworth Cookbook Club, I am interested in the variety vegetables and herbs grown here, and looking to create a collaboration between our book group and Elawa Farm,” McEntee said.
According to the Elawa Foundation website, the property is a historic landmark owned by the City of Lake Forest and interpreted by Elawa Foundation staff who provide community-based programs and events.
Calvert says Elawa Farm is in the midst of an exciting period of growth.
“We recently opened the café and we are also opening a visitor center and indoor classroom in the year ahead.” Calvert said.
Lake Forest resident and artist, Donna Corazza Williams, participated by selling her paintings during Saturday’s Fall Fest, and says this beautiful natural environment inspires her.
“The sunlight and the sunsets here at Elawa are magical, and I often find inspiration in this place where the Middlefork Savanna and the Middlefork nature preserve, adjoin to the farm’s property,” Williams said.
Gina Grillo is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
