Pumpkin Fest crawls out of fall soup

Rain relents on third try

GRAYSLAKE -- They tried once on Oct. 15. They tried again on Oct. 22. The relentless rains of fall 2009 had other plans.

But Tuesday's weather finally agreed with outdoor activity, and the second annual Grayslake Pumpkin Fest got off the ground at a slightly soggy Central Park.

"This was our third attempt, and basically, we were running it no matter what," said Kris Splitt, superintendent of recreation for the Grayslake Park District, which hosted the event. "So we're thrilled with the turnout -- on the third try, you never know what to expect."

Parking lots around the park were filled to capacity as families rolled in for the 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. festival, which featured pumpkin crafts, hayrides, free snacks and a scavenger hunt for kids.

With a cool breeze out of the east, conditions were on the edge of requiring the dreaded coat over costumes, but most participants toughed it out in the name of Halloween fashion.

"I've got a T-shirt and jeans under this. That's all I could fit," said Grayslake Central High School senior Mitch Tielke, wearing a Superman costume adorned with what he insisted were genuine muscles.

"I am the real Superman -- much stronger than The Hulk," Tielke said loudly, for the benefit of classmate Josh Majewski, who was dressed as a certain green anti-hero.

Other volunteers from Grayslake Central's National Honor Society who were on hand to greet arrivals included Megan Ross (as Genie from "Aladdin"), Seul Oh (a dalmatian) and Sarah Taria, fortunate to be wearing a wool-heavy costume in honor of Sesame Street character Abby Cadabby.

Sitting nearby, Ragan Wilson (as Cinderella) and Ashley Barillas (as a princess) shivered a bit in costumes that weren't designed for use outside of a castle. But they wisely stayed close to a fire pit tended by park district worker Hal Young.

"It's warm, but you don't want too much of that smoke," said Young, standing strategically upwind of the fire.

The only scheduled event that was completely undone by Mother Nature was a family scavenger hunt planned for the Central Park woods, which was afflicted with mud from the aforementioned rains.

Otherwise, participants like Lisa Pucher, wrapped in a fleece blanket, and Vickie Wicinski, dressed in an adult-sized Tigger outfit, had no worries beyond an autumnal chill.

"My feet are cold -- once your feet go, everything goes," Wicinski said. "But it's only two-and-a-half hours, and it's for the kids, so I'll be fine."