THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Enjoying Autumn in All Its Colorful Splendor!

If autumn is your favorite season, then it’s time to start enjoying it in all its colorful splendor beginning with this weekend!

The largest cemetery run in the country is back but virtually. Rather than running through a candlelit course in the Victorian-era built historic Rosehill Cemetery, the Virtual Crypt Run/Walk 5K, 10K, 1K can be completed anywhere during the month of October. Participants can design their own course through local haunts in their neighborhood, follow their favorite running or walking route, or register for a curated route in Lincoln Park that will take them through an area that once served as Chicago’s primary cemetery from 1843 to 1859. Registration includes a custom t-shirt, skull-themed mask, and an LED necklace. Participants will also receive special, informative, and frightening audio messages about Chicago’s spooky history while on their run or walk! Plus, your participation will benefit Best Buddies Illinois, which is a non-profit that enriches the lives of people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Illinois. So, why not make this the hallmark of your October season!!

Celebrate what’s left of the dog days of summer with your four-legged friends at Yappy Hour at Dine Out on Sheffield, located at Belmont and Sheffield Avenues. Each day from 12 p.m.-3 p.m., your furry guests can get a special treat with a purchase from one of the participating restaurants. Check the website for updates on what each establishment will be offering! Your dog will want to go back every day!!

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to present an all-new virtual production, Broadway by the Decade, available for streaming until October 25th. Artistic Director Michael Weber takes you on a guided tour of Broadway’s history from the late 1800s to the present. He also shares the story of how the American idiom, the musical, was created decade by decade with songs from Show Boat, A Chorus Line, Les Miserables, Chicago, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Waitress, and more! All viewing links will be available via email for 72 hours post-purchase. Enjoy!!

Lake County’s destination brewery in Long Grove, Buffalo Creek Brewing (360 Historical Lane), will be hosting a subtler Oktoberfest Weekend than in years past. This family-friendly celebration will provide ample space for social distancing, with expansive indoor and outdoor areas featuring sprawling lawns and picnic tables, a tented pavilion and an oversized Biergarten, and different designated seating and gaming zones spread out over an acre. In addition to live German Oompah music (Saturday from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.), guests can enjoy Hammerschlagen (nail driving), horseshoes, and bags. Also, a local food truck will be on-site along with an extensive menu of craft beer offerings from the brewery and highlighted by its featured Oktoberfest brew, the Big Ludwigski. Hand-crafted, non-alcoholic choices like freshly made ginger beer will be available for purchase as well!!

Now through November 1st, step out and away from modern life and make new memories with family and friends at Abbey Farms Pumpkin Daze located at 2855 Hart Road in Aurora. This 40-acre pumpkin farm has everything you need to make your day at the farm special. It’s packed with activities and park attractions from a petting zoo (weekends only), to a log balance beam course, to zip lines, to the largest corn mazes in all Chicagoland, to a community fire pit, and much more! Plus, grab a craft beer or glass of wine under the tent each weekend (Saturdays/Sundays only) while listening to live music from local artists in the afternoons (weekends only). It’s your one-stop shop for fall season fun with limited admissions but tons of outdoor space!!

Our Chicago Bears (3-0-0) will be hosting the Indianapolis Colts (2-1-0) at Soldier Field this Sunday at 12 p.m. Watch the game on CBS! GO BEARS!!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago