Enjoy the Season at Huntley Fall Fest

The nights are cooler. The leaves are changing colors. Pumpkin patches are ready to go. Fall is not just in the air. It officially arrives this weekend.

So celebrate the season at the Huntley Fall Fest.

This year’s Fall Fest starts Friday, Sept. 28 and continues through Sunday, Sept. 30.

“There’s a whole bunch of stuff everybody can come to,” Fall Fest chairman Bryant Haniszewski said. “This is a fun time for everybody.”

New this year is free admission during the day on Friday and Saturday, until 5 p.m., and free admission all day Sunday.

“Hopefully, more people will come because of the free admission,” Haniszewski said. “Obviously, everybody has a tighter wallet, myself included, so I understand what it’s like. It’s good to do this, it helps.”

The Fall Fest committee hopes to stop charging admission altogether in the next few years, he said.

This is Haniszewski’s third year involved in the Fall Fest, which started seven years ago. A major sponsor is the Huntley Park District.

Huntley Fall Fest has all the elements of a summertime festival, including food, a carnival and entertainment. The Fall Fest Car Show is making its return and there will be fireworks at 8:45 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29.

Here’s a look at what to expect at the Huntley Fall Fest:

Main Stage Music

Headliners include: the Suburban Cowboys, The Spazmatics and 7th Heaven. Denny Diamond is also back. Fall Fest has a complete list of performers on its website.

Carnival

There is no admission to the carnival this year, but families need to purchase tickets for each ride or a Carnival Mega Pass to ride all weekend for one low price. The cost is $45 per person if purchased online or before Thursday, Sept. 27. The cost is $60 at the gate.

Fall Fest and the carnival are inviting children with special needs and their families to a preview of the carnival from 4 to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28. To apply, families need to fill out an application available on the website.

Food

This year the food will be a little taste of Huntley. A majority of the food vendors are Huntley restaurants. And making a special return to Huntley just for Fall Fest is Del Toro’s Tex Mex Grill, which closed its doors late last year.

Activities

5K  and 1 mile Run for Opening Doors with Teagan Foundation. The foundation assists children with brain tumors obtain equipment and other necessary treatments. Register on the Fall Fest website.

Scarecrow Contest

A contest application is online. The public will vote on the best scarecrow display and the winners win cash prizes. The Huntley Jaycees will once again be on hand with all the materials to build a scarecrow, all for free.

There will also be a petting zoo, pumpkin bowling and a corn maze for children.

“I’m trying to create some excitement and add more fall to Fall Fest,” Haniszewski said. “Hopefully we will grow it every year.”