Blue sky weather in the upper 50 degree range prevailed at Meadowhill Park on Saturday for the Northbrook Park District’s annual Autumnfest.
Nancy Eschker, the park district’s youth program manager, estimated that Autumnfest attracted 2,000 attendees.
A registration only sensory hour was offered this year.
“New this year is a sensory friendly pre-event with the Skokie Police Department’s first ever therapy canine on-site to support our guests,” Eschker said, adding guests could, “experience the event in a smaller, quieter environment with fewer distractions.”
For the event for larger attendance, music, trackless train rides, a petting zoo, pony rides, inflatable attractions including a haunted house, pumpkin chucking, crafts, s’mores, face painting, disc jockey music and a drum circle were among offerings.
“This seasonal event is always a favorite in the community, and we look forward to it every year,” Eschker said. “It is such a pleasure to see all our families enjoying a beautiful day outside and away from technology.
“Seeing all the smiles on the children’s faces is what makes all we do worthwhile,” Eschker said.
Parents were seen using technology appropriately with snapping cellphone photos or recording video footage for family keepsakes.
Lisa Di Lorenzo of Glenview and daughter Lyla, 6, a first-grader, took part in the drum circle on the velodrome cycling track.
Lyla’s mother noted the drum circle offered a sense of, “feeling the rhythm.
“It was awesome, it was fun.”
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Leading the drum circle, a drop in activity, was John Yost of the Jefferson Park based Rhythm Revolution.
“Never to my knowledge have I done a drum circle on a velodrome,” Yost said. “I’ve ridden on them, I did a lot of BMX (cycling) when I was a kid.
“My dad owned a bicycle shop (Jefferson Park Cyclery, no longer there), I started building bikes at seven years old,” Yost said.
Being on a velodrome surface is, “a little bit amazing, right, that it happens like this but that’s the way life is,” Yost said. “It’s cool.”
Trying the pumpkin chuck challenge on the velodrome interior lawn was Natan Deutch, 11, a sixth-grader from Northbrook. Mini white and orange pumpkins were catapulted onto a grassy field.
“It’s hard to pull them back far,” Natan said.
Natan’s mother Becky Deutch watched Natan try the pumpkin slingshot several times.
Of Autumnfest, “We planned his little brother’s birthday party around this,” Natan’s mother said.
“So we’re here first and then when this event is done, we’re going with all his friends who are here all over the place to have pizza and cake.”
Natan’s sibling is named Ezra and his eighth birthday is Monday.
To the Northbrook Park District, “Thank you so much for putting this on because there’s no way I could put a party like this together for my kids,” Becky Deutch said appreciatively.
Nola Bultemeier, 4, of Northbrook rode a pony as her mother Shannon Bultemeier watched.
Shannon Bultemeier said Autumnfest helped the family in, “building memories and enjoying the fall weather.”
Mason Fox, 1, of Northbrook, showed excitement to pet a furry friend in the petting zoo.
Mason was accompanied by his parents Jon and Anna Fox and Mason’s sibling Jordan, 3. Both children wore Halloween themed clothing.
“The kids love it,” Mason’s mother said. “I think this is his (Mason’s) first time with the animals.
“It’s a beautiful day.”
To the Northbrook Park District, Anna Fox added, “They do a great job, thank you for putting on this fun event.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.