Uncategorized

Each year when Becky Harling considers adding special touches to sweeten the Holiday Express experience, the facility manager at Blackberry Farm turns to her own family for inspiration. Because with three little girls – a 4-year-old (to whom Santa carries Bluey status) and 1-year-old twins (believers-in-training) – Harling is raising cheat codes. “My focus is… Read More

Add a dash of adventure to your season’s festivities by checking out holiday events and activities across the Fox Valley Park District! Peep a few stocking stuffers below to get you started and be sure to visit the Events Calendar for a full lineup of holiday-themed fun! Fall Craft Fair  Shop local this holiday season… Read More

It’s late spring of 1993 at the intersection of Galena Boulevard and Orchard Road on Aurora’s far west side. At the northwest corner stands a golf hole like no other in the area, its two-tiered green surrounded by a large pond with waterfalls cascading down granite ledges. The cobblestone seawall in front – a player’s… Read More

From pumpkins (oh, are there pumpkins!) to the paranormal (eeek!), October features themed activities to celebrate the spirit – and spirits! – of the season. All events geared toward the younger crowd are costume-friendly, so the kiddos are welcome to stage a dress rehearsal for Halloween! Pumpkin Weekends An annual celebration of all things fall… Read More

A weekday caregiver to five grandkids – a 7-year-old, twin 6s, and a pair of 3-year-old cousins – Aurora resident Becky Burkhalter finds a trusty oasis in Blackberry Farm. “It’s a place that provides sheer joy for the kids,” says Becky, a Blackberry season passholder who’s a safe bet to ‘go live’ on Facebook a… Read More

He may’ve eluded capture yet again, but the sightings? Oh, they were there – we’ve got the proof. And when the Bigfoot Trail Run 5K returns to the woods and wilderness of Red Oak in North Aurora at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 28, race enthusiasts of all levels will get another crack at cornering… Read More

Celebrate all things pumpkins, catch a Chicago vs. New York ballgame on the lakefront, hit the trails in a unique 5K – and so much more – this Fall in the FVPD! Here’s a quick lineup of fun to consider, and be sure to check out the full Events Calendar for more Fall activities and… Read More

Olivia Morton had just stepped off Turtle Trail, where she’d wound up a mega-strand of purple yarn that was used in an “imagination hike” after 2- and 3-year-old campers at Red Oak’s Imagination Station camp listened to the tale of Harold and the Purple Crayon. “I think about belonging a lot,” said Olivia, 15. “If… Read More

When it comes to "first fish" pics, chances of squealing are high, sometimes Dad has to step in and do the heavy lifting, and those jack-o'-lantern smiles quite often indicate the tooth fairy's been around recently. Here's hoping digital scrapbooks get filled with more memories during the Fox Valley Park District’s Free Youth Fishing Derby… Read More

Summer tunes at sunset return to iconic Blackberry Farm for the 11th season of Live & Uncorked – the Fox Valley Park District’s outdoor concert series that plays on Thursdays at our 55-year-old living history museum. For eight weeks beginning Thursday, June 6, through Thursday, August 1, summer concertgoers can enjoy the sounds of Chicagoland’s… Read More