Free Food, Music, Family Fun At Deerfield's Harvest Fest

DEERFIELD, IL — The third annual Harvest Fest is set to kick off with kids activities Saturday morning at the Deerfield Farmers Market at the intersection of Deerfield Road and Park Avenue. That will be followed by a free dinner at a nighttime party, featuring live music and Deerfield's Annual Bags Tournament.

Morning events for children and families will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. There will be face painting, balloon creations and the ever-popular Touch-A-Truck, offering kids a chance to some up close and personal time with police cars, fire trucks and park district machinery.

After an afternoon break, the doors will open for the evening party starting at 5:30 p.m., where there will be live music from Rosie & the Rivets (5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.) and Hi Infidelity (from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.) and a competitive cornhole (bean bag toss) tournament (Open to ages 15 and up, advance registration required.)

Free hot dogs and corn will be provided by Fresh Thyme, and free dessert will be offered by Nothing Bundt Cakes, according to the village. There will also be water, beer and wine available for sale. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Deerfield — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

The nighttime party, which runs until 9 p.m., is the only village-sponsored event all year at which alcohol is served, Deerfield's assistant village manager told the Deerfield Review, promising everyone will be carded "even if you look 99."

"It's a way for new residents to get to know their neighbors and others to renew friendships in a community setting," Mayor Harriet Rosenthal told the paper.

Children are welcome will be allowed at all of Saturday's events, which are being sponsored by the Village of Deerfield and the Deerfield, Bannockburn, Riverwoods Chamber of Commerce.

The event began in 2012 as a way to highlight the fall harvest and the end of summer and has always included family-friendly activities, the Deerfield Review reported. Among this year's events for kids are a pumpkin ring toss and a contest to guess the amount of Halloween candy in a jar.

_{Top photo: Deerfield Harvest Fest logo via Village of Deerfield}