Pumpkins galore will light up the autumn nights during the 9th Annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival, Oct. 4-7, in Downtown Highwood.

COUNTY

Household chemical waste collection date set

The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) will collect household chemical waste from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Mundelein Metra Train Station, 205 N. Archer Ave.

Acceptable materials include aerosol products, antifreeze and motor oil, fertilizers/herbicides/pesticides, fluorescent light bulbs/CFLs, furniture stripper and varnishes, gasoline and kerosene, household batteries (lithium and rechargeable only), household cleaners, oil-based paints and paint removers, prescription and over-the-counter medicines and supplements (people and pet).

Materials that will not be accepted include latex paint, empty paint cans or “treated” paint, DEA controlled substances, business wastes, farm chemicals, propane tanks, lab chemicals, lead-acid and alkaline batteries, explosives, medical wastes, construction/demolition debris, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and household electronics.

For additional information, visit swalco.org or call 847-336-9340.

LIBERTYVILLE

Photo exhibit features the work of women

The Adler Center in Libertyville is staging a photo exhibit of boundary-pushing work by women. This month’s Adler Exhibition Series features “Women Undefined,” a collective show of 13 women who use photography to express their diverse personal visions, feelings and ideas. 

The artists featured in “Women Undefined” push boundaries to create abstractions in photography, send a message, convey a feeling and inspire the viewer. Using the alchemy of photography, their images explore the dimensions of their imaginations, break the rules of classic photography and challenge the viewer’s perception of what a photograph can represent. 

Sponsored by Whole Foods, this photography exhibit is open for viewing at the Adler Center, 1700 N. Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville, between Oct. 3-30. The gallery is open 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Two Meet-the-Artists events will be held:

• An opening reception will be held 6-8 p.m. Oct. 5. The Adler Center will launch the exhibit with live music, wine and refreshments. Free Admission.
• A special Gallery Night will be held 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 24. Join this collective of artists as they lead a gallery tour of their photographs and share stories about their creative process. Free Admission.  

HIGHWOOD

Pumpkin festival returns benefitting Make-A-Wish Illinois

The City of Highwood and Celebrate Highwood will host the 9th Annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival, Oct. 4-7, in Downtown Highwood, benefitting Make-A-Wish Illinois, and featuring an attempt to break the world record for the largest display of lit jack-o’-lanterns.

Because every single pumpkin counts toward the grand total to break a world record, festival organizers are inviting the community to come and carve Oct. 2-Oct. 4 from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. at City Hall, 17 Highwood Ave. And as an additional incentive, those who bring their own pumpkin onsite will receive free weekend admission. All lit jack-o-lanterns will be placed on pumpkin walls throughout the festival grounds, with the grand lighting the evening of Oct. 7.

This year will kick off with a Community Appreciation Night from 5-10 p.m. Oct. 4. With a relaxed atmosphere, this preview night features free admission, carnival rides, live music, a full bar and more.

The rest of the schedule is:

• 4-10 p.m. Oct. 5,
• 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 6, and
• 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 7.

The weekend will feature costume contests, pie eating contest, carnival, horse drawn hay rides, pony and camel rides, a petting zoo, kids’ crafts, three stages for music, food and beverages galore, the 2nd annual Superhero 5k Run/Walk honoring “Superman Sam” Sommer, Highwood resident and Make-A-Wish child that lost his battle with cancer in 2013, and more.

Updates of activities, events and music schedule will be posted at highwoodpumpkinfest.com.

Admission is $3 per day and $5 for the weekend. Tickets will be sold at the door; all major credit cards accepted. Children 6 years old and under will be admitted free. This is a rain-or-shine event.

–Lake County News Briefs–