The festival offers many opportunities for students, faculty, the community and the Center. It allows ISU horticulture and agriculture students to engage in alternative agriculture, and also provides opportunities to build relationships throughout the community as several businesses or groups have offered to participate at the event. The event also serves as a fundraiser for the Horticulture Center as it sells many of the fall amenities it has grown this past season. Those include over 40 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and squash as well as Indian corn, mums, and corn stalks.
The event starts with a Bird Stroll with Dr. Capparella at 8:00am at Heartland Community College. Dr. Capparella requests that everyone rendezvous at the southeastern parking area at HCC which is by the eastern entrance off of Raab Road (the one without a stoplight). We can then walk to the trailhead from there. Our walks usually last two hours, but you can leave whenever you need to, or want to. Bring binoculars and a field guide; and wear boots or shoes that are sturdy. Two of our favorite field guides are the Sibley Field Guide to Birds / Eastern North America by David Sibley and Peterson's Field Guide to Eastern Birds by Roger Tory Peterson. If you are new to bird watching, these fall walks are a great way to learn about local and migrating birds.
The central parking area for the event is located just to the west of the Horticulture Center off of Rabb Road, please follow the signs. The entrance on the east side of the Center (where the ISU Horticulture Center sign and service road are located) has limited parking for those individuals needing close parking for medical reasons. There is some parking for the general public at this entrance.
Parents: the Horticulture Center has some rough terrain. Wagons and strollers may be difficult to push or pull at times. Back or front packs are highly recommended. There is also a short walk to the pumpkin patch and to the activity site from the parking area.
Family Activities:
- 9am - noon: There will be free children's activities under the big white tent. These activities are sponsored by the Children's Discovery Museum, the Ecology Action Center, the Normal Public Library's Children's Department, University of Illinois Extension McLean County Master Gardeners and the ISU Horticulture Center.
- Reggie the Redbird will come for a visit between 9:30 and 10:00.
- Tori Melican, the Director of Children Services at the Normal Public Library will read some fall favorites at 10:30 in the Fairytale Garden of the Children's Garden.
- Toddler Maze: free and open all day. Toddlers can scrambled in and out of small straw bales.
- Corn Maze: $1.00 - We have a 3 acre corn maze that kids of all ages can get lost in!
"Scarecrows on Parade"
This exhibition of original, one- of-a kind scarecrows is an opportunity for local businesses, organizations, university departments, individuals or families to showcase their own unique work or talent while at the same time capturing the flavor of the autumn season in central Illinois.
“Scarecrows on Parade” is a fundraiser for the Children’s Garden at the Horticulture Center. Scarecrows will be auctioned off in a silent auction process from 9-11:30 am. Scarecrows may then be taken home by the highest bidder and used as autumnal decoration in their own yards!
Cooking Demo: Cooking Cucurbits with Susan
Susan Waltrip is a graduate student in Family and Consumer Sciences. She will demonstrate how to make four dishes using Cucurbits (squashes and pumpkins). Those include Acorn Squash Soup, Butternut Risotto, Spaghetti Squash with Pesto, and Pumpkin Frozen Yogurt.
There is a $10.00 registration fee. The event takes place at 1:00 under the big white tent. Susan will demonstrate how to make the dishes and then have samples to share. You will also have typed recipes to take home of all four dishes and have all your questions answered! Please email Jessica Chambers at horticulture@ilstu.edu to obtain more information or to register.
Autumn Floral Arrangement
Join us as we learn how to create an autumnal floral arrangement using Cucurbits. There is a $10.00 registration fee for materials. The event takes place at 3:00 under the big white tent. To obtain more information or to register contact Jessica Chambers at 438-3496 or by email at horticulture@ilstu.edu.
A limited amount of food and drink will be available throughout the day..
Please contact us (see home page) with any questions regarding the festival. See you on October 6th!