Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest supports grassroots autism organization
HIGHWOOD, Ill. (WLS) -- Fall is all about pumpkins, and one north suburban community has set the goal of carving out and lighting 52,000 of them! The fifth annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival also features food and drinks, live music, pony rides, a pumpkin maze and more.
While the event offers fun for the whole family, it also supports a great cause. The Autism Society of Illinois is the nation's leading grassroots autism organization. The carved-out pumpkins at the festival represent the 52,000 individuals impacted by autism in Illinois.
Mary Kay Betz, executive director of the Autism Society of Illinois (www.autismillinois.org), and Chris Grice, City of Highwood alderman, came into our ABC7 Eyewitness News studio to tell us about the festival, which includes an autism-friendly sensory quiet area.
Fifth annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival
Oct. 17-19
Friday: 4-9 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Everts Park, downtown Highwood: The Highwood Library parking lot; along Highwood Avenue, North Avenue and Green Bay Road; from North Avenue to Highwood Avenue.
Sensory quiet area: Highwood Library, 102 Highwood Ave.
Admission:
$2/day
$10/day for unlimited kid activity wristbands
