The 15th annual Homewood Fall Fest will celebrate the change of season from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17. The event the popular Chili Cook-off, the third annual Scarecrow Contest, PopUp Science, live music, food, a pumpkin patch, a magic act, a movie for kids and more.
Community Relations Committee is on display
at the Homewood Giant Block Party on Aug. 20
to promote this year’s Scarecrow Contest.
(Photos by Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
The 15th annual Homewood Fall Fest will celebrate the change of season from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17.
waits for the chance to
sample entries in the 2015
Chili Cook-off.
Activities in downtown Homewood get started before the festival begins with the weekly farmers market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Martin Avenue from Chestnut Road to Ridge Road. Fresh produce, food and live music will pave the way for the festival across Ridge Road to the south.
Martin Avenue from Ridge Road to Hickory Road will be filled with live music, the third annual scarecrow contest, a PopUp Science event, a pumpkin patch, a movie for kids and the always popular Chili Cook-off.
The cook-off determines who will be Homewood’s Top Chef for both professional and amateur cooks.
The contest begins at 2 p.m. when a panel of judges will sample the entries and determine the spicy winner. Fall Fest attendees will get to sample the entrees themselves at 3 p.m. Chili Cook-off entrees require advanced registration at www.HomeSweetHomewood.com.
The Homewood Science Center is presenting the PopUp Science activity “HF’s Life Aquatic” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the center, 18022 Dixie Highway.
Homewood residents and University of Chicago marine biologists Cathy Pfister and Tim Wootton will lead the activity. Participants will explore the rich biodiversity teeming in neighborhood creeks and waterways.
The activities will demonstrate why those life systems are in trouble and what residents can do to help.
The annual scarecrow decorating contest brings out the creativity of local residents, who in the past have created scarecrows ranging from simple to complex designs and representing diversity ideas and characters.
youngsters at the 2015
Fall Fest. The show will
return for this year’s
festival.
Anyone interested in participating can pick up their scarecrow frame from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Homewood Public Works Department, 17755 Ashland Ave., and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Village Hall, 2020 Chestnut Road.
Space is limited to 50 contestants. Cash prizes are awarded for first, second and third place. After Fall Fest, the scarecrows will be placed around the downtown area, showing off Homewood’s unique creative style. The contest is hosted by the village along with the Homewood Beautification Committee.
The music begins at noon with Ralph’s World, created by Ralph Covert, an accomplished indie rocker, songwriter, playwright and children’s book author.
Homewood’s own Work In Progress (WIP) will follow from 3 to 5 p.m., playing its original folk and bluegrass songs. The band features guitar, mandolin, harmonica, lap steel, banjo and dobro.
during the 2015 Fall Fest.
The popular band will return
for this year’s festival.
Latin Satin Soul, a Homewood favorite, closes the festival with a performance from 7 to 10 p.m. The band always gets people dancing with its lively sound that includes everything from Motown to salsa.
Kids activities will include a magic show, a pumpkin patch for pumpkin decorating, face painting, a movie and more.
The ever-popular Mr. D’s magic show will amaze the crowd from 2 to 4 p.m. A petting zoo and pony rides are available from noon to 4 p.m. and the pumpkin patch is open for creative decorations from 4 to 6 p.m. This year the outdoor movie “Hotel Transylvania 2” begins at dusk, expected to be about 7:30 p.m.
Attendees can also experience a charming tour of downtown Homewood on horse-drawn wagon rides from 6 to 9 p.m.
Homewood Fall Fest 2016 also boasts a wide variety of unique artisan vendors presenting home goods, vintage finds, and more. In addition, local caricaturist artist Ernest Posey will be set up ready to sketch family and friends.
Fest participants will also experience a “taste of Homewood” with local food vendors such as Aurelio’s Pizza, The Cottage on Dixie, Fratello’s Cafe and Deli, Grady’s Grille, La Voute Bistro + Bar, Ridgewood Tap, 5th Quarter and Press Room Eatery and more.
Homewood Fall Fest 2016 is free and open to the public. For more information visit www.HomeSweetHomewood.com or call 708-798-3000.
Schedule
| 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Farmers Market |
| 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | PopUp Science, “HF’s Life Aquatic” |
| 11 a.m. | Judging Scarecrow Contest (Winner announced at noon) |
| 12 to 2 p.m. | Ralph’s World |
| 12 to 4 p.m. | Petting Zoo and Pony Rides |
| 2 to 4 p.m. | Mr. D’s Magic Show |
| 2 p.m. | Chili Cook-off contest, public tasting begins at 3 p.m. |
| 4 to 6 p.m. | Pumpkin Patch |
| 3 to 5 p.m. | Work In Progress |
| 6 to 9 p.m. | Horse Drawn Wagon |
| 7 to 10 p.m. | Latin Satin Soul |
| Dusk | Hotel Transylvania 2 |
Homewood Fall Fest 2016 is sponsored by the Community Relations Committee.
Front page photo: Gabriella Siegmeyer introduces her scarecrow, Madame Murderfly, during the 2015 Fall Fest Scarecrow Contest.