Observe brilliantly colored trees while enjoying grilled goodies and taffy apples, Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe theatre-hike, Scarecrow Trail, Mystery Dinner and other autumn activities at the Morton Arboretum Fall Color Festival, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, through Oct. 31.

Oct. 11- 31

Fall Color Festival
7 a.m.-sunset
The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle
$14 adults, $12 senior citizens, $9 children

Observe brilliantly colored trees while enjoying grilled goodies and taffy apples, Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe theatre-hike, Scarecrow Trail, Mystery Dinner and other autumn activities. Admission is discounted on Wednesdays.

Oct. 11-31

Pumpkin Fest
9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton
Free with a Wheaton Park District Universal Resident ID or Cosley Zoo membership;
$7 for nonresident adults, ages 18-54; $6 for nonresident adults, ages 55 and older; free for children up to 17 years of age

Take in the fall colors at Cosley Zoo and enjoy seeing animals in the crisp fall air. Enjoy the straw pyramid and corn stalk tunnel, and take in the thousands of pumpkins scattered on the zoo’s lawn. Children’s rides are also available. Apples, gourds, pumpkins, cider, cornstalks and various sizes of straw bales are available to purchase.

Oct. 13

Movie in the Park: “Friday the 13^th”
7 p.m.
Downers Grove Golf Club, 2420 Haddow Ave., Downers Grove
Free

Bring a favorite low-rise chair or blanket and enjoy the movie. Only for those 21 or older. Refreshments, wine and beer will be available for purchase.

Oct. 14

Family Fall Fest
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Wild Meadows Trace, parallel to the Illinois Prairie Path, Elmhurst
Free

Dress in your Halloween best and take in the sights and sounds of autumn at the Elmhurst Park District’s Family Fall Fest with Safety Town trick-or-treating, family photo opportunities, an inflatable corn maze, pumpkin pitch, fall games, balloon animals, crafts and food trucks.

Oct. 14

Fall Festival
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton
Free, with $5 parking fee

Enjoy harvest-time fun at Cantigny Park with a fall craft show, music, hayrides and more. Stop by Bertie’s for a taste of autumn with a cup of hot cider or hot chocolate.

Oct. 14

Victorian House Walk
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Downers Grove Museum, 831 Maple Ave., Downers Grove
$10 for Downers Grove residents; $15 for non-residents

The Victorian Blodgett home is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. As part of the celebration the Downers Grove Museum is offering a leisurely walk of the Victorian homes along Maple Avenue. Learn about the houses’ different architectural features and fun Victorian period facts. 

Oct. 14

Mozart and Beethoven Gems
7 p.m.
Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, 149 W. Brush Hill Road, Elmhurst
$35 adults, $32 senior citizens, $9 children

The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra will perform Mozart’s Overture to La finta giardiniera, K. 196

and Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 Pastoral. Clarinetist Elizandro Garcia-Montoya will be the guest artist.

Oct. 14

Funny, That Doesn’t Sound Jewish
8 p.m.
K.A.M. Isaiah Israel, 1100 Hyde Park Blvd., Naperville
$35-$43

From Mendelssohn to Bernstein, from European courts to Yiddish theater and the Broadway stage, many Jewish composers have wrestled with their faith. This rich musical dynamic will be explored through sublime classical works, church anthems and oratorios, American Songbook hits and Broadway novelties. The resulting music does – and doesn’t – sound Jewish.

Oct. 15

The Essential Edgar Allan Poe
4-5 p.m.
Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville
$10 for adults, $8 for members; $9 for children, $7 for members

In the spirit of Halloween, storyteller, entertainer and historian William Pack will relate Edgar Allan Poe’s life story to the impact he had on American literature with a presentation and reading of some of his works, including the poem “Alone” and selections from “The Raven,” “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar.”

 –DuPage County Calendar of Events Oct. 11 – 15–