Although the autumnal equinox is still a couple weeks away, pumpkin-spice-everythings have been on the shelves for a month and everyone can generally agree it is finally fall.
With that, there is no shortage of fall festivals and harvest happenings to take in this season, from celebrating all things that can grow on a vine in Geneva to the perennial Scarecrow Festival in St. Charles.
Here’s a handy guide to many local fall events. As always, play it safe and check the event’s website or social media before heading out.
Festival of the Vine: 12-10 p.m. Sept. 8-9; 12-5 p.m. Sept. 10. South Fourth and James streets, Geneva. Tickets: free admission; tickets cost $1 and are sold in sheets of $10 and $20. Food, wine, seltzer and beer cost 4-16 tickets per item). 630-232-6060; genevachamber.com.
The Festival of the Vine will have wine, food, live music, face painting and balloon making for the kids on Sept. 9 as well as an arts and crafts show and free carriage rides Sept. 9-10. Other events during the festival include merchant wine events and business booths.
Fiestas Patrias Festival: 3 p.m. Sept. 9-10. RiverEdge Park. 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. Tickets are $5-$20. 630-896-6666; paramountaurora.com/events/fiestas-patrias.
The 11th annual fest features the Latin Grammy Award-winning band Los Tucanes de Tijuana headlining a full day of music Sept. 10. Sunday’s headliners are Mi Banda El Mexicano and Banda Maguey, two pioneers of the technobanda sound. The fest will include a parade of nations and food vendors.
Scandinavian Day Festival: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 10. Vasa Park, 35W217 Route 31, South Elgin. Tickets: $10; 12 and under free. 847-695-6720; scandinaviandayil.com.
The 43rd Scandinavian Day Festival celebrates the heritage of the five Nordic countries with music, food, vendors, children’s activities and living history stations.
West Dundee Heritage Fest: 6-11 p.m. Sept. 15, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sept. 16, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 17. Downtown along the river, near Main and South Second streets in West Dundee. Tickets: free. 844-551-3800; wdundeeheritagefest.org.
The fest includes a craft fair and business expo, car show, 5K race, pancake breakfast, kid’s activities and live music. Fireworks will be at 8 p.m. Sept. 15.
Naperville Riverwalk Fine Art Fair: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 16-17. Riverwalk Park, 171 Jackson Ave., Naperville. Tickets: free. 630-355-2530; napervilleartleague.com/riverwalk-fine-art-fair.html.
The 38th annual Riverwalk Fine Art Fair will host artists in a variety of media.
Water Lantern Festival: 4:30 p.m. Sept. 16. RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. Tickets: $26.98-$55.99; kids 7 and under free. 630-896-6666; waterlanternfestival.com.
Thousands of floating lanterns reflect messages of love, hope and happiness. Tickets include a floating lantern kit, marker, drawstring bag, playing cards, conversation cards and scavenger hunt giveaway entry. Concessions available, including beer and wine. Food trucks will be on-site. Outside food is welcome.
Two Brothers Oktoberfest: 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Sept. 17, Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, Aurora; and 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Sept. 23, Two Brothers Tap House, 30W315 Calumet Ave, Warrenville. Tickets: free admission. 630-264-2739; twobrothersbrewing.com.
Break out the lederhosen and dirndls for the Two Brothers Oktoberfest in two locations; featuring German food, oompah music and steins full of the Brothers’ Atom Smasher beer.
Greek Fall Festival: 12-9 p.m. Sept. 22-23 and 12-7 p.m. Sept. 24. Saint Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church, 1855 W. 5th Ave., Aurora. Tickets: free. 630-851-6106; auroragreekfest.com.
There will be plenty of Greek food available for dine-in or carryout.
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East Dundee Oktoberfest: 5-10 p.m. Sept. 22 and 2-10 p.m. Sept. 23. East Dundee Downtown Depot, 319 N. River St. Tickets: free. 847-426-2822; facebook.com/eastdundeeoktoberfest.
There will be bands, food, beer and activities like inflatables, scarecrows, face painting and balloon twisting.
Lyon Farm Fall Festival and Car Show: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 23-24. Lyon Farm, 7935 Illinois 71., Yorkville. Tickets: $4-$6. 630-553-6777. lyonfarmkchs.org/index.html.
Tour the museum and buildings, take a hayride, visit the craft fair and enjoy the demonstrations. There will also be a bake sale, kid’s activities and a car show Sept. 24.
Yorktoberfest: 4-10 p.m. Sept. 29 and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 30. Riverfront Park East, 301 E. Hydraulic St. Tickets: free admission; $5 for wristband to drink alcohol. 815-553-4357; kiwanisyorktoberfest.org.
Presented by the Yorkville Kiwanis, activities include a scarecrow walk, face-painting, food trucks and beer tent, live music, stein holding contest and craft and vendor fair.
Huntley Fall Festival: 5-11 p.m. Sept. 29, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sept. 30 and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 1. Deicke Park and the Huntley Park District Recreation Center Complex, 12015 Mill St., Huntley. Tickets: free admission. 847-669-8935; huntleyfallfest.com.
The fest includes a carnival, car and tractor show, craft fair and business expo, scarecrow building and kid’s activities. Bands include the Boy Band Night, Modern Day Romeos, Radio Gaga, The Chain and the Gooroos.
Fox Fall Fest: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 1. Downtown Oswego, 76 Main St., Oswego. Tickets: free. 630-554-3505; facebook.com/FoxFallFest.
There will be a craft fair, live music, food trucks, kid’s activities and more.
Cosley Zoo Pumpkin Fest: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Oct. 1-31. Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton. Tickets: $9-$10; kids 17 and under free. 630-665-5534; cosleyzoo.org.
Hundreds of pumpkins will be on display along with a variety of fall decorations. Children’s rides available for an additional fee.
Morton Arboretum Scarecrow Trail: 9 a.m.-sunset Oct. 1-31. Morton Arboretum, 4100 Lincoln Ave., Lisle. Tickets: $9-$17; 2 and under free. 630-968-0074; mortonarb.org.
The path along Meadow Lake will be lined with nearly 50 scarecrows handmade by a local scout troop.
Scarecrow Weekend: 12-6 p.m. Oct. 6, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 7 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 8. Lincoln Park, 450 W. Main St., St. Charles. Tickets: free. 630-443-3967; scarecrowfest.com.
The 38th annual Scarecrow Weekend includes a scarecrow contest, live music and entertainment and Autumn on the Fox Art and Craft Show.
Naper Settlement Oktoberfest: 5-10 p.m. Oct. 6 and 3-10 p.m. Oct. 7. Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Tickets: $15-$20. 630-420-6010; napersettlement.org.
The event includes traditional German food and beer, lawn games, a professional pumpkin carver, stein holding contest and live music.
Midwest SOARRING Foundation Harvest Powwow: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 14 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 15. DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 N. Manchester Road, Wheaton. Tickets: $7-$15; children 3 and under free. 773-585-8613; midwestsoarring.org/eventinfo.html.
There will be arts and crafts, a native flute player, Native American dancing and drumming, Aztec dancers and cultural activities.
Flannel Fest: 12-2 p.m. Oct. 21. The Wilds at Red Oak, 1400 N. River Road, North Aurora. Tickets: $14. 630-892-1550; foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/event/flannel-fest.
Tickets include a catered lunch, live music, activities and lawn games. Those over 21 can BYOB.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.