By Brittaney Beck
Bourbonnais Township Park District
Museum General Manager
Autumn is upon us a little more now with each cool breeze. Perry Farm is arguably one of the best places to work at during this time of year, especially for its magnificent display of nature. Fall is my favorite season of the year for many of the same reasons as most of you, but the beginning is when my heart explodes. With the start of the season, I can feel a rejuvenation of my spirit and excitement arise from deep within me. From the scents and tastes of pumpkin flavored everything at the coffee shop, the leaves changing so gracefully and beautifully on Perry Farm, to the crowds cheering on football games, and the desire to curl up with a warm sweatshirt and cozy slippers…this is my time. Fall also brings for me, the excellent display of scarecrows lining Kennedy Drive and filling Perry Farm with pops of color and creative community collaboration. But my excitement for the legendary A Night in Sleepy Hollow tops it all. For over 20 years this event has invaded the community with much anticipation to create new everlasting memories. Generations relish together what they remember…and fear…from previous years and discuss what may come. This event brings our community together over the course of only two weekends and four days, but our dedicated staff and volunteers live this all year long working to make sure you come and are surprised yet again. We have successfully evolved over the years, and with the constant yearning to exceed expectations, we live to see the faces and reactions of those that attend. This is a one stop, fall fulfilling event for the whole family with the reenactment, the haunted trail and the village.
A Night in Sleepy Hollow means different things to each of our staff and a pivotal member of our village is Kristi Schu, who prepares you for this fun filled area: “You can play a fun game of glow golf, attack an alien with paintballs, get lost in a corn maze, or choose from 14 different games to play (that appeal to all age levels) with some terrific prizes to win. Who doesn’t want an 8 foot inflatable alien? Families can enjoy a leisurely hay ride and kids can take a ride on the barrel train or ride a pony. There is also face painting, monster egg hunts, pictures with a headless horseman, and a bounce house”.
The village is open Fridays, 5:30-10:00 pm and Saturdays 2:00-11:00 pm. Activities range from 1-5 tickets and are $1 each. Pre-sale tickets can be purchased at any BTPD facility 25 for $20-a saving of $5! But beware…the village gets scary after 8:00 pm. Some of our attractions for the younger ones close and our carriage and hayrides become haunted!
A haunted trail ride? You heard that right. Nicole Jenkins, one of our event coordinators gives us her scoop on this haunted attraction that she has helped spearhead: “Take a ride on a suspenseful journey into the dark of night along the Perry Farm Trail. The Haunted Trail of Sleepy Hollow is a mile long hayride of frights and awful sights! See ghosts, zombies, and demented creatures hidden in the woods and shadows. Haunted trail rides run 8-11pm all four days. Tickets are $5 and are sold exclusively at the Night in Sleepy Hollow event. Rides are not for the faint of heart!”
So, as you can read, Fall is an amazing time of year at the Park District. A Night in Sleepy Hollow haunts over two October weekends on Fridays and Saturdays, October 14, 15, 21 & 22 on beautiful and historic Perry Farm Park in Bourbonnais. I really hope that you can come and enjoy all the excitement this year. When you do, PLEASE make sure you check your party before you leave…the headless horseman will be looking for a head, and I hope it’s not YOU!