Things To Do This Weekend October 8-11, 2021
By: Jeff Randolph 10/06/2021
You can feel the autumn breeze in the air. There is so much going on so let's take a look at things to do this weekend October 8-11, 2021.
Share those lovely fall photos with us. You can submit your pictures to our #LetsSnapLake County Photo Contest by clicking here.
They are celebrating the season's most famous gourd in Highwood and Fox Lake. You can build a scarecrow in Historic Downtown Long Grove. An award-winning play continues it's run in Lake Forest. Some of the fastest drivers on two wheels will be in Grayslake. Let's take a look at the top five things to do this weekend October 8-11.
Everyone just wants to have a gourd time! The 11th annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest makes its triumphant return this weekend. The Lake County autumn staple is highlighted by carnival rides, pumpkin-carving stations, food vendors, full bar, live music, a kids’ costume contest, trick-or-treating, a pumpkin pie-eating contest, the Scare Run 5K, a pet costume contest and more. Each night, three Great Pumpkin Walls showcased as they attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for largest display of lit jack-o-lanterns. The band shell in Everts Park will host three days of live music performance and DJs featuring headliners Unity The Band, Spies of the World – A Grateful Tribute, Sneezy and more. Entry into the festival is free, and various activities have separate admissions.
Friday-Sunday, October 8-10; Fri.: 4-11 p.m., Sat.: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. (Scare Run 5K begins at 9 a.m.) and Sun.: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Admission: Free. Downtown Highwood, Various locations on Sheridan Road and North Avenue, Highwood.
American lyricist, Ira Gershwin once stated that “Life is one long jubilee.” When our favorite autumn fruits are added, it gets that much sweeter. The Fox Lake Pumpkin Jubilee takes place this Saturday at the village’s Community Garden Green. The fest features pumpkin carving, live music, fall-themed crafts with the Fox Lake District Library, fare vendors and more. Carve a pumpkin for $2 per squash canvas. Light the pumpkin and leave it on the pumpkin wall to be displayed overnight. Jack-o-lantern artists may pick up their pumpkins on Sunday, October 10 from 10 a.m.-noon. For questions regarding the Pumpkin Jubilee please call the Village of Fox Lake Parks & Recreation Department at 224-225-1404.
Saturday, October 9; 3-7 p.m. Admission: Free. Community Garden Green, 17 E. School Ct., Fox Lake.
It will be hard to find a crow this Saturday in Historic Downtown Long Grove. Do It Yourself Scarecrow Day returns again with an afternoon dedicated to harvesting family fun and charm. The hayman-making event also kicks off the Lake County village’s annual Halloween Town running through October 23. Crafty scarecrow builders are encouraged to flex their creativity muscles and assemble a unique custom straw person. A $10 registration fee includes a wood base, straw for stuffing and building guidance from a team of volunteers. Finished scarecrows will be displayed throughout downtown for the remainder of the month. Scarecrow builders can choose to bring their creation home rather than having it displayed in town. Historic Downtown Long Grove encourages scarecrow makers to register in advance at
LongGrove.org, and to bring clothing and accessories. Visitors can vote online at the aforementioned web address of what scarecrows win the awards for “Scariest,” “Funniest” and “Most Creative” categories through October 25.
Saturday, October 9; 11 a.m. Cost: $10 per scarecrow. Brothers Field, 342 Old McHenry Rd., Long Grove.
It was the last non-musical play to run over 1,000 consecutive performances on Broadway and now you have the chance to see it this weekend in the land of lakes. “Brighton Beach Memoirs” continues its run at Citadel Theatre in Lake Forest. The play by the critically-acclaimed playwright Neil Simon is the first in his autobiographical trilogy (preceding “Biloxi Blues” and “Broadway Bound”) portraying the writer as a young teen in 1937. The story follows protagonist Eugene Morris Jerome, a Polish-American teen living with his family in a crowded, lower middle-class Brooklyn, New York apartment. This slice-of-life comedic story during the Great Depression shows the trials and tribulations of this Jewish family as the events leading up to the Second World War begin to unfurl. The production runs on select days through October 17.
Friday-Sunday, October 8-10; Fri.-Sat.: 8 p.m. Sun.: 3 p.m. Admission: $15-$45. Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest.
Get your motor running, blip the throttle and gear up for some racing. The Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center hosts Jenneration MX Motocross Moto-Toberfest. Being right in the hot bed of the Midwest motocross scene, Jenneration MX is bringing in excitement for the whole family. On Friday and Saturday, the pits will open for trick-or-treating at intermission. View these talented, young daredevils as these bikers race at rapid speeds, and for this edition of the race series, some riders will be dressed in costume. The event showcases live tunes from former MX rider Tim Smith and the High Rollers.
Friday-Saturday, October 8-9; 3-11 p.m. Admission: $10-$50. Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center, 1060 E. Peterson Rd., Grayslake.
For more details on the top things to do this weekend October 8-11 click here. Be sure to check out our Fall Festival Guide in Lake County 2021 by continuing here.
