The Village of Park Forest invites residents to celebrate Fall Fest on Saturday at Somonauk Nature Adventure Park.

The annual community event includes live music, food vendors, games, and giveaways. It showcases the newly remodeled Somonauk Nature Adventure Park, which features new paths, a 2-acre catch-and-release fishing pond, a kayak rental facility, and updated play facilities, including an all-abilities playground and a new pavilion. Recreation, Parks & Community Health Administration Assistant Teresa Brown said Fall Fest is another way to reintroduce the park to the community.

"After last year's grand reopening, some residents still haven't seen the new Somonauk Nature Adventure Park," Brown said. "At Fall Fest, not only can they enjoy the offerings here, but we're also having a lot of other stuff going on, too."

Brown said the Main Street Market is relocating for Fall Fest and will open at 8 a.m. Fall Fest will kick off shortly after at 10 a.m. with live music, the RowGers Duo and Amiel's sound/band, and a DJ will be on hand. 

Somonauk Nature Adventure Park was completed in the Fall of 2023. The project was funded through a combination of Village funds and an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant. Brown said that while the project was delayed due to the pandemic and supply chain issues, once completed, this state-of-the-art facility added a unique development to the southland. Brown said she believed it was worth the wait.

Brown asked, "Where else can you kayak in the middle of a neighborhood park? It's a beautiful park with towering trees sprinkled with nature throughout. Park Foresters can be proud to call this park their own, and hopefully, residents will get a chance to experience it this weekend at Fall Fest."