Falling for Fall in Geneva
There’s so much to love about autumn in the Midwest: crisp air, toasty drinks, bonfires, plentiful harvests and cozy sweater weather. For many, though, the highlight is when Mother Nature puts on a show with a palette of rich, vibrant colors typically peaking in mid-October. To enjoy the season, you don’t have to go far. Fortunately, there’s an abundance of fall festivals and activities right here in Geneva and the surrounding area.
Celebrate the Beauty of the Season in Geneva
As part of GreenField’s ” Gems of Geneva ” program, we encourage our residents to participate in and support local businesses and community events. It’s a great way to discover some of Geneva’s many prized offerings.
Festival of the Vine
Geneva restaurants create an array of specialties under an outdoor tent, paired with wine and live musical entertainment at the annual Festival of the Vine . An arts and crafts show, horse-drawn carriage rides, and several wine-tasting and dinner events also take place around the historic downtown from September 8-10.
Autumn Fair
The Geneva Park District Foundation’s Autumn Fair on September 16 at Peck Farm Park is the perfect place to bring the grandkids or feel like a kid yourself. Participants will enjoy an array of activities ranging from hayrides to a petting zoo to pumpkin carving and much more. Test your luck at winning one of 15 baskets filled with a variety of awesome prizes. That morning, run through the park’s prairie at the Harvest Hustle 5K . Registered participants (ages 21+) receive a ticket for a free meal and beer following the race. Proceeds support the Geneva Park District Scholarship Fund, which provides recreational opportunities to community members in need.
Windy Acres Farm Fall Fest
From September 16 to October 31, Windy Acres Farm puts on Fall Fest that includes fun for all ages. Enjoy a variety of foods and sweet treats like apple cider donuts or visit the Beer Garden , which features fall ales, seasonal cider, pumpkin-spiked beverages and apple cider slushies. Bring a lawn chair or sit at picnic tables and listen to DJs and local musicians . Search for the perfect pumpkin in their expansive pumpkin patches or pick your favorite apples in the orchard.
Fabyan Forest Preserve
Take in the fall colors at this riverside nature preserve that includes a museum, historical windmill and Japanese Tea Garden. Amenities include bike and nature trails, boat and canoe launches, fishing, and picnic areas.
Gunnar Anderson Forest Preserve
Spend time outdoors in the crisp fall air at Gunnar Anderson Forest Preserve , which runs along the Fox River. This 20-acre preserve includes a picnic shelter, bike and nature trails, fishing, picnic areas and shelters, and a restroom facility. And, if you follow the footpath into the woods on the western edge of the property, you’ll discover the Scared Heart Grotto.
Geneva French Market
Gather the fall harvests of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and more at this open-air market held each Sunday through mid-November in the commuter parking lot in downtown Geneva.
Fall Activities in Neighboring Communities
Not too far from GreenFields, discover other places and events that celebrate this beautiful season.
Scarecrow Weekend, St. Charles
The 38th annual Scarecrow Weekend will be held October 6-8 in downtown St. Charles. More than 85 handmade scarecrows will be showcased around town for visitors to view and vote on their favorites. In addition to lots of family activities, you will find many sales, specials and events throughout town, including the autumn on the Fox Craft Show in Pottawatomie Park.
Cantigny Fall Festival, Wheaton
The Fall Festival includes two days of harvest-time fun from October 14-15. Enjoy a craft show, music, hayrides and more. While you are there, walk the 500-acre grounds and take in colorful autumn flowers, seasonal displays or the fall foliage on towering trees.
Morton Arboretum, Lisle
Revel in the magic of the season with the arboretum’s Fall Color Festival . Stroll the path along Meadow Lake throughout October to view the Scarecrow Trail or take a guided tour on the Acorn Express Tram to experience some of the arboretum’s 1,700 acres. There are a variety of autumn activities, including an outdoor Fall Color Wine Tasting in the Grand Garden on September 28, a Fall Color 5K Run and Walk on October 7, a Glass Pumpkin Patch from October 12-15, and a Cider and Ale Festival on October 21.
There’s something deeper to autumn than the season’s colors and flavors. Cooler temps and spectacular foliage prompt us to spend time outdoors and in nature. In turn, we often find that fall improves our mood, well-being and happiness. So be sure to get out there and enjoy all that fall and our local area has to offer!
