The cooler months are upon us and as temperatures drop and pumpkin spice crops up in coffee drinks, so too, area events reflect that change in the season.
If you’ve caught fall fever, there’s plenty of area activities to fill your free time from now until Halloween. Here’s a list of just some of the autumn activities perfect for people of all ages.
–The Enchanted Pumpkin Festival is happening this weekend on Saturday, Oct. 21 in downtown Kewanee from 10 am to 5 pm. Get out, enjoy the weather, which is predicted to be mild, mostly sunny and in the mid-60s. Shop the vendors, have some food and beverages and listen to live music. There is also a 50/50 drawing planned, as well as family activities.
-Goods Furniture “Trunk or Treat” is part of the Enchanted Pumpkin Festival but gives kids and adults an excuse to dress up in their Halloween costume and haul in some candy early. The trick or treat fun starts at 3 pm and goes until 5 pm at the Good’s parking lot on Main Street. Over 35 cars are expected to be participating.
-Carve a pumpkin this week and display it at the Enchanted Pumpkin Festival on Saturday. Free pumpkins are available, courtesy of Frank Pumpkin Farm, as Reiman’s Harley-Davidson on North Main Street. You can pick up a pumpkin during business hours and deliver it to Berrien Park downtown in time for the festival by 10 am. Once there, festival attendees will be able to view your work of art.
-Warm up and get a hot bowl of chili at the Kewanee First United Methodist Church fundraiser. The chili supper will be held at the church on Friday, Oct. 20 from 4 to 7 pm. The dinner is sponsored by the United Women in Faith and includes chili or vegetable soup, a relish tray, dessert and a drink. The cost for adults is $10 and children 5-10 eat for just $5. Carry outs are also available.
-Take in a craft show. The Beta Sigma Phi sororities of Galva will host the 43rd annual event at the Galva High School from 9 am until 3 pm on Saturday, Oct. 21. Browse over 80 vendors for handmade and crafted items. A homemade BBQ lunch that includes a sandwich, chips, drink and a homemade dessert will also be offered. The proceeds of the craft show will be donated back into the community.
-Ride the scary “Trick or Treat” trail at the TriCo Equestrian “Spooktacular Trail Ride” located at 7341 E. 2350th St. in Kewanee. The ride is set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27-29. The “Trick or Treat” event includes a pony/horse ride through the themed trail complete with stops to collect candy treats. The 15-minute ride requires a prepaid reservation. Reservations can be made by calling or texting TriCo at (309) 507-8492 or by messaging them on their Facebook page. But spaces are limited. The cost is $25 and cash or local checks are accepted.
-Bid on a pumpkin item. Get yourself a gorgeous gourd at the 2023 Stampede Auction of Champion Pumpkins on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at the Black Hawk College East Campus. Money raised will go to the Kewanee Area United Way. Ten lots of pumpkin-themed items will be on display starting at 11:30 a.m. in the cafeteria in Building A. At noon, BHC Livestock Judging Team members will evaluate and critique the pumpkins, and long-time event auctioneer and BHC alum Bill LeSage will auction off the gourds. The public is invited to attend and watch the action, join in the bidding and enjoy lunch sponsored by the Agri-Business Club Alumni.
-Take a drive. The leaves are turning colors but around Kewanee, homeowners have put up their frightening Halloween displays and taking a ride around town with a cup of hot chocolate is a great way to spend an evening. Here are just a few pics of some creative Halloween and fall yard displays. Have you found others? Send us a photo through The Kewanee Voice Facebook messenger or send it by email to news@kewaneevoice.com.
-Visit a pumpkin patch or apple orchard. There’s plenty of great patches and orchards and a short drive is all it takes to get there. Here’s a few to start you off:
-Franks Pumpkin Farm is open on the weekends from 9 am to 5 pm. The farm is located at 21730 Moens Road near Atkinson and offers pumpkins, gourds, mums, edible squash and more.
-Tanners Orchard is a family favorite and once there, you can pick apples, find food at the food court, peruse the farm animal area, get lost in a corn maze, take a pony ride and shop. The orchard is located at 740 IL 40 in Speer. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm and closed on Sundays.
-Arends Orchard is located at 22001 State HWY 78 in Laura. The orchard offers 18 varieties of apples and is open from July 1 through Dec. 15 from 8 am to 6 pm daily.
-Farmgate Market is outside of Galva at 2774 IL 17. The hours are Monday through Friday from 7 am to 9 pm and weekends 11 am to 5 pm. The market offers a variety of fall items including pumpkins and gourds and a fall fun park for kids of all ages.
-Nature’s Creation Greenhouse and Farm is open on Saturdays and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm and sells pumpkins, gourds and mums, along with other fall items. It’s located at 21229 N. South Ave. just outside of Kewanee.
-Sunnyfield Greenhouse and Garden Center has mums, mixed fall planters, pumpkins and gourds. The hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm, and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. The greenhouse is located outside Kewanee at 2440 E. 2550th St.
