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Wildwood Park District’s Harvest Fest is a free one-day event where residents and non-residents come out for a fun filled day to celebrate the beginning of the fall season. Attendees can enjoy live music and entertainment on the main stage, beer tent, delicious food, antique car show, dunk tank with local celebrities, games, kids activities, petting zoo, pony rides, pumpkin and face painting, decorated lake front photo op area, vendor booths, sponsor booths, and more!
Thanks to the hard work of the Harvest Fest Planning Committee, the Harvest Fest event has seen tremendous growth year after year. Now a well-know and well-attended staple of the Wildwood community, Harvest Fest typically attracts between 800 – 1,000 festival goers.
10am-3pm: Car Show (Classic, New, and Special Interest Cars)
12-12:30pm: Stillman Nature Center Owl and Hawk Demonstration (Main Stage)
12-6:00pm: Wildwood History Museum (Cottage Building)
12:45-1:45pm: TBD (Main Stage)
2-2:45pm: TOPS K-9 Dog Show (Main Stage)
3-3:30pm: Magic of Gary Kantor (Main Stage)
4-6pm: School of Rock (Main Stage)
12-6pm: Beer Tent (Miller Lite, Coors Light, Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest, Angry Orchard Hard Cider, White Claw, and Water)
Wildwood Park District Apple Cider Donuts (Gurnee Donuts), Popcorn, and Water
Gagewood Lions Club Food Tent (Burgers, Brats, Walking Tacos, Chips, and Soda)
Stone Grill & Catering Food Tent (Assorted Spring Rolls and Fries)
Kiki’s Cotton Candy/Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
12-6pm: Pony Rides and Petting Zoo
Warren Township Highway Department Touch-A-Truck
Dunk Tank
Pumpkin Painting
Gages Lake Conservation Committee Minnow Races
Troop 671 Rope Bridge
Troop 672 Wild Wild West
Bounce House
Photo Op Area (Lake Front Fishing Pavilion)
3:30pm: Water Balloon Toss
12-6pm: Browse and shop from local business vendors and sponsors!
Please check back for the 2024 event map, as it will be posted here once available.
Becoming a vendor in our vendor area at Harvest Fest is an easy way for you to sell your product(s)/service(s), market your business, gain exposure, connect directly with your target audience, and find new customers. Vendors have the chance to meet people in your area and let them know that you are their local connection for your business. Harvest Fest is a very well attended event and can have a high return on your investment.
Vendor registration is now open to the public. All applications will go through a review process and are approved/denied on a first-come first-served basis. To apply to become a vendor, please download and complete the Vendor Application and submit to:
Below is a list of attending 2024 vendors. More vendors will be added as applications are submitted and approved.
A Unique Cookie- Cookies.
Alchemy Clay Studio- Polymer clay jewelry.
Audies Bakery- Homemade baked goods, cakes, cupcakes, breads, brownies, and more!
Barb’s Custom Rocks and Crafts- Hand painted rocks with motivational/inspirational/humorous sayings.
Color Street- 100% dry free nail polish, hand and nail product, lip product, cheek product.
DMC Designs- Woodcrafts, cutting boards, pens, boxes.
Gages Lake Conservation Committee- Minnow racing and water plant sample.
Humble Bee’s Creations- Finished handmade figures made from foam clay. DIY foam clay kits (come with free tutorials).
Not the Butcher, Not the Baker- Hand-turned wooden candlesticks, wine bottle stoppers, and home décor.
Purple Owl Designs- Cups, home décor, car decals, beaded pens and key chains.
Three Legged Brewing- Cold brew coffee, tea, ice cream
Viper Spit Brands- Hot sauce, hot honey, fresh peppers and spice rubs/salt blends.
Warren Special Recreation Association (WSRA)- “Inspiring people with disabilities through meaningful recreation”. Literature handouts.
Wildwood Garden Club- Literature, seeds, and flowers.
Wildwood Handyman- Plywood, tile work, tile saw.
Sponsoring Wildwood Park District’s Harvest Fest event provides many benefits to your business, as well as the local community.
By becoming a sponsor, your company name and logo will be featured in digital and printed promotional materials and publications that reach thousands of people in the Wildwood, Gages Lake and Grayslake area.
The Wildwood Park District offers programs and events for all ages, youth to seniors. Each sponsor level provides businesses the opportunity to directly interact with community members so you can connect with your specific target audience.
Our flexible tiered sponsor levels offer businesses of all sizes the opportunity to be involved. Starting as low as $100, we work with you to find the right fit for your budget.
It’s always good to see businesses use their platform for good, especially within their own community. Share your values and make a positive impact by showing your customers the human side of your business through the sponsorships you endorse.
Download Sponsorship Guide and Application
Below is helpful information regarding parking, what to bring/what not to bring, accepted payment methods, activity and game tickets, and emergency action plan that will help ensure you have the best possible and safest experience at Harvest Fest. Additional questions can be directed to the Wildwood Park District office at 847.223.7275 or info@wildwoodparkdistrict.com.
Wildwood Residents- We HIGHLY encourage walking for all Wildwood residents as Harvest Fest has seen significant growth every year and typically brings about 1,000 attendees, both resident and non-resident. Wildwood residents who choose to park at a Wildwood Park District park parking lot must have a current Wildwood Park District parking sticker properly displayed on their windshield. Vehicles that are parked in a Wildwood Park District park parking lot without a current Wildwood Park District resident parking sticker, or are improperly parked on a right-of-way (street parking) that are blocking a fire hydrant, mailbox, driveway, etc. are subject to towing.
Non-Residents- Per Wildwood Park District ordinance, parking in a Wildwood Park District park parking lot is for Wildwood residents only and requires a current Wildwood Park District resident parking sticker properly displayed in their windshield. Parking for non-residents is located on the Sears Blvd. right-of-way, in the grass at Willow Point Park (33666 N. Cove Rd., Wildwood, IL 60030), or in the parking lot at the Cornerstone Presbyterian Church (33428 N. Sears Blvd., Wildwood, IL 60030). See details below. Vehicles that are parked in a Wildwood Park District park parking lot without a current Wildwood Park District resident parking sticker, or are improperly parked on a right-of-way (street parking) that are blocking a fire hydrant, mailbox, driveway, etc. are subject to towing.
On-Site Parking
Off-Site Parking
Additional ADA and General Parking is available at the following locations:
Activity and game tickets are good for activities and games ONLY. All food, beverage, beer tent, and business vendor and sponsor sales are cash and/or card only. Activity and game tickets will not work at the beer tent, or with food, and/or business vendors and sponsors.
Emergency Action Plan
The Wildwood Park District relies heavily on volunteers and is currently seeking volunteers, ages 14+, to help with Harvest Fest to ensure the event runs smoothly and safely. Even a few hours makes a big difference! We offer many different volunteer opportunities, such as helping with set-up, running kids activities, assisting with logistics, working the beer tent, and much more! Whether you’re seeking more social interaction, community service hours, or just looking to get involved and give back, volunteering has many career, educational, personal, and social benefits.
2. Once you have signed up to volunteer, you will need to fill out and sign a volunteer application/waiver and volunteer manual. Forms can be submitted to info@wildwoodparkdistrict.com, faxed to 847.223.2820, or mailed/drop off at the Park District front desk:
Download the Volunteer Application
Presenting Stage Sponsors
Beer Tent Sponsor
Event Sponsor
In-Kind Sponsor