Moms, dads and plenty of kids stopped by Olson’s Ace Hardware in Park Ridge Saturday for the annual “Harvest Festival” the store hosts and opens to the greater community.
The event included a storewide one-day sale, an inflatable pumpkin kids could jump inside of, a Rita’s Ice truck out front, vendors from around the community, a pumpkin patch, face painting and cornhole.
For the last few years, the store has held some kind of fall celebration for area families, both in a bid to promote the store and to promote the community overall. The Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce supports the event.
Chamber President Jackie Matthews explained that the city’s North Park area doesn’t always get the attention of other business districts in Park Ridge.
“The reality is, we need to have things here to bring people up here,” she said.
This year’s fall event was in the afternoon.
“We’ve had a couple of these in the past and it’s been well received,” said store owner Dan Olson.
He said he’s happy to be part of the community and support the area, and residents said they enjoy the festival.
“It’s wonderful,” said Mauricio Camacho, who attended with his daughter and wife. His daughter, Autumn Rose Camacho, was getting her face painted in the pumpkin patch where kids were allowed to pick out a free pumpkin to paint.
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“We love going to stuff like this. She loves decorating pumpkins and fall activities,” Camacho said of his daughter.
Nearby, a grandfather and his grandson tossed beanbags into cornhole boards.
“It’s great, it’s a beautiful day,” said Chuck Maher.
He explained that he’s from Naperville and Lucas Wilmsen, his young competitor, is from Oswego and they’re visiting more family in Park Ridge.
Beyond the usual sales and fall festivities, the Harvest Festival also gave neighbors a chance to connect with area services and businesses, like Wright Way Rescue, an animal rescue out of Morton Grove. They had dogs out for folks to meet and pet — and maybe take home.
“Everyone stops by to pet them,” said Carol Macejak, the volunteer coordinator.
Besides dogs, the group also has cats for adoption, and Macejack said people can also come and volunteer.
Matthews said she was thrilled to see so many people out on a Saturday afternoon. The scene was packed.
“We’re loving it,” she said. “We’re so happy to be here and we’re excited to see things happening in North Park.”
Matthews said “Winterfest” is coming the day after Thanksgiving. That’s one of the bigger shopping events in Park Ridge and it starts with a visit from Santa at City Hall and includes trolleys to all shopping districts in the city with sales and refreshments.
Jesse Wright is a freelancer.