Northbrook Autumnfest got a blast of summer Saturday afternoon as the sunny weather neared 80 degrees at Meadowhill Park for the Northbrook Park District-sponsored event.
Nancy Eschker, the park district’s recreation manager, estimated that Northbrook Autumnfest attracted 3,000 attendees.
The autumn equinox was Sunday, Sept. 22 this year.
“We are celebrating the beginning of fall, just families coming out for one last hurrah before the weather gets a little too cool,” Eschker said.
“We’ve been really fortunate the last few years with absolutely gorgeous weather for Autumnfest.”
Eschker said that recent year attendance numbers for an event such as this, “do keep going up since COVID.”
Last year’s turnout was 2,000 attendees and more amenities were offered this year to accommodate demand at the free event. Some food items were available for purchase.
“We added extra inflatables, we added a few other attractions just to help keep the lines from being so long because of the increase in numbers,” Eschker said.
“We’re just happy to see all these families back out and even though it’s officially fall, it does still seem like we’re wrapping up summer right now because of our gorgeous weather and what better place than at lovely Meadowhill Park.”
The drum circle, co-presented by the park district and Northbrook Arts Commission, was located in the Velodrome.
Joy Popa, 5, of Northbrook played with percussion instruments at the drum circle.
“She is really joyful,” said Joy’s mother Adela Popa. “It’s a beautiful day, it’s October and it’s still nice and sunny, so I think everybody’s happy.”
Other attractions included pumpkin chucking, when small pumpkins are catapulted into a fenced field using a long slingshot. Pumpkins were retrieved by event staff.
Rylan Mazurek, 7, a second-grader from Northbrook, said the pumpkin chucking was “easy.”
Rylan’s mother Jill Mazurek said the pumpkin chucking, as a rare entertainment opportunity, “is amazing; this is our favorite activity.
“We’re having a blast.”
There was also the sapling giveaway of native bur and pin oak tree varieties.
Patrons could visit a tent to select their trees and where they could also float acorns in a bowl of water to determine the science of which acorns are viable to produce and grow an oak tree and which acorns aren’t.
Terry Cichocki, village forester for the Village of Northbrook, greeted people and explained the acorn contest challenge.
“When the oak tree acorns sink, they’re viable, meaning they can grow a tree, but if they float, there’s something wrong with them so they won’t grow,” Cichocki said.
Evie Chen, 6, a kindergartner from Northbrook, was among children learning about acorns. Evie’s family includes parents George and Sherry Chen and sibling Harrison, 8, a third-grader.
The pumpkin patch is among the Chen family’s favorite attractions, where kids could select medium-sized pumpkins this year while supplies lasted.
“This is where we get our pumpkins for our porch every year,” Sherry Chen said with a smile, calling it a tradition.
Also fans of the pumpkin patch were Charles and Trina Gruner of Northbrook and children Audriana, 5, a kindergartner, Charles, 11, a fifth-grader and Dylan, 7, a second-grader. All three Gruner kids each had a pumpkin.
The younger Charles explained what to look for when selecting a pumpkin.
“Big pumpkins, because I like pumpkin seeds,” Charles said. The Gruner family roasts pumpkin seeds at home during the Halloween season.
A sensory-friendly hour for children who benefit from a quieter environment also took place. Other amenities included trolley rides around an adjacent neighborhood block powered by two Percheron draft horses.
Gerardo and Maya Castineiras of Glenview and their daughter Maya took the horse trolley ride.
“We really love this,” Maya’s mother said about Northbrook Autumnfest. “Even though we are from Glenview, we every year come here because we know that it’s amazing.”
Visiting the petting zoo was Barry Wineberg of Northbrook, who held granddaughter Eliana, 5, of Deerfield on his shoulders while waiting for her to enter the petting zoo.
“This is great; it’s a very nice event,” Wineberg said. “It’s nice that they sponsor it and it’s free.”
