Harvest Fest 2026

Presented by

State Farm, Steve Ostrowski

About Harvest Fest

Wildwood Park District’s annual Harvest Fest event is a free, one-day event that typically draws between 1,000-1,500 attendees. This year’s event is especially meaningful as the Wildwood Park District proudly celebrates 50 years! Harvest Fest is a fun day to celebrate the beginning of the fall season filled with live music and entertainment on the main stage, a beer tent, multiple local food trucks and vendors, a dunk tank featuring local celebrities, bingo, games, kids activities, a petting zoo, pony rides, pumpkin and face painting, an antique and special-interest car show, tractor rides, Wildwood history museum, vendor and sponsor booths, and more.

Thanks to the dedication of our Harvest Fest Planning Committee, the enthusiasm of our community, and the generosity of our volunteers, Harvest Fest has flourished year after year. Now a beloved and well-attended staple of the Wildwood community, Harvest Fest draws more excitement and attendance than ever. As the event continues to expand, so does our need for committed sponsors who want to be part of something truly special.

 

 


What’s New This Year?

Harvest Fest 2026 will be extra special as we celebrate the Wildwood Park District’s 50th Anniversary! Check out what’s new this year:

  • 50th Anniversary Celebration:
    • A bigger and better Wildwood History Museum experience
    • Exclusive 50th Anniversary t-shirts and merchandise
    • Fun games and activities themed around the 50th Anniversary
    • A celebratory speech on the main stage
    • Fun 50th Anniversary photo props at the lake front pavilion photo op area
  • Judson Brown Band headlining the main stage from 4-6pm – get ready to rock!
  • Rica Arepa food truck featuring delicious Colombian cuisine, owned and operated by local Wildwood residents

It’s shaping up to be a memorable fall celebration you won’t want to miss!

 


 

Schedule of Events

Main Stage Entertainment

1:00-2:00pm: Bingo

2:15-3:00pm: TBD

3:00-3:30pm: Wildwood Park District 50th Anniversary Celebration Speech

4:00-6:00pm: Judson Brown Band

Food & Beverage

12:00-6:00pm:

  • Beer Tent
  • Wildwood Park District Popcorn and Water Tent
  • Gagewood Lions Club Food Tent
  • Kiki’s Cotton Candy Food Truck
  • Lumpia Lady Food Truck
  • Rica Arepa Food Truck
  • Awesome Mini Donuts Food Truck

Vendor & Sponsor Booths

12:00-6:00pm: Local business vendor and sponsor booths to browse and shop from

Activities & Games

10am-3pm: Gagewood Lions Club Car Show

12:00-6:00pm:

  • Wildwood History Museum
  • Pony Rides
  • Petting Farm
  • Warren Township Highway Department Touch-A-Truck
  • Face Painting
  • Hair Tinsel
  • Henna Tattoos
  • Dunk Tank
  • Pumpkin Painting
  • Troop 671 Rope Bridge
  • Troop 672 Wild Wild West
  • Bounce House
  • Gages Lake Conservation Committee Minnow Races
  • Photo Op Area

 

 

 


 

Event Map

Event map coming soon!

 


Vendors

Becoming a vendor in our vendor area at Harvest Fest is an easy way for you to sell your product(s)/service(s), market your business, gain exposure, connect directly with your target audience, and find new customers. As a vendor, you will have the chance to meet people in your area and let them know that you are their local connection for your business. Harvest Fest is a very well attended event and can have a high return on your investment.

What to Know

  • Applications will open for returning vendors on April 1, 2026, while applications for the public will open on May 1, 2026.
  • Booth spaces are 10′ X 10′ and the cost of each booth is $50.00.
  • Vendor area is open from 12pm – 6pm.
  • Vendors will be approved on a first-come first-served basis, and applications will be date and time stamped once received.
  • A Wildwood Park District staff member will reach out to you once your application has been reviewed to let you know whether your application has been approved/denied. Application denials may be due to a duplicate vendor, or a vendor’s products, services, goals, or mission offers competing programs and/or services or is in conflict with the Wildwood Park District’s mission and vision statements and core values.
  • No duplicate vendors will be accepted, with the exception of accessories, jewelry, garden, produce, and/or floral.
  • Vendor registration closes at 4:00pm on Friday, July 31, 2026, or until spots are filled.

What is Included in the Booth Fee?

  • 10 X 10 booth space. Vendors are responsible for providing their own tent, signage, chairs, table (6-8 foot, max).
  • The Park District can provide a 6-8 foot table and two chairs for an additional $10 flat fee.
  • Electricity will not be provided.

Application

All applications will go through a review process and are approved/denied on a first-come first-served basis. To apply to become a vendor, please download and complete the Vendor Application and submit to:

Download Vendor Application

Attending Vendors & Booth Map

Attending vendors and booth map coming soon!

 


Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsoring Wildwood Park District’s Harvest Fest event provides many benefits to your business, as well as the local community.

Increase Exposure and Visibility

By becoming a sponsor, your company name and logo will be featured in digital and printed promotional materials and publications that reach thousands of people in the Wildwood, Gages Lake and Grayslake area.

Connect with the Community

The Wildwood Park District offers programs and events for all ages, youth to seniors. Each sponsor level provides businesses the opportunity to directly interact with community members so you can connect with your specific target audience.

Find the Right Fit

Our flexible tiered sponsor levels offer businesses of all sizes the opportunity to be involved. Starting as low as $100, we work with you to find the right fit for your budget.

Build Company Reputation

It’s always good to see businesses use their platform for good, especially within their own community. Share your values and make a positive impact by showing your customers the human side of your business through the sponsorships you endorse.

Interested?

Download our 2026 Harvest Fest Sponsorship Guide, which details:

  • About Harvest Fest
  • About Wildwood
  • Why Sponsor?
  • Sponsorship Levels and Benefits
  • In-Kind Sponsorship
  • Seasonal Program Guide Advertising
  • Sponsor Application

For questions, please reach out to Maggie Woznick at mwoznick@wildwoodparkdistrict.com or 847.223.7275.

Download Sponsorship Guide


Know Before You Go

Below is a parking map, helpful information regarding parking, what to bring/what not to bring, accepted payment methods, activity and game tickets, and emergency action plan that will help ensure you have the best possible and safest experience at Harvest Fest. Additional questions can be directed to the Wildwood Park District office at 847.223.7275 or info@wildwoodparkdistrict.com.

Parking map coming soon!

Wildwood Residents- We HIGHLY encourage walking for all Wildwood residents as Harvest Fest has seen significant growth each year and typically brings about 1,000 attendees, both resident and non-resident. Wildwood residents who choose to park at a Wildwood Park District park parking lot must have a current Wildwood Park District parking sticker properly displayed on their windshield. Vehicles that are parked in a Wildwood Park District park parking lot without a current Wildwood Park District resident parking sticker, are improperly parked on a right-of-way (street parking), or that are blocking a fire hydrant, mailbox, driveway, etc. are subject to towing.

Non-Residents- Per Wildwood Park District ordinance, parking in a Wildwood Park District park parking lot is for Wildwood residents only and requires a current Wildwood Park District resident parking sticker properly displayed in their windshield. Parking for non-residents is located at the Cornerstone Presbyterian Church (33428 N. Sears Blvd., Wildwood, IL 60030) or in the grass at Willow Point Park (33666 N. Cove Rd., Wildwood, IL 60030). See details below. Vehicles that are parked in a Wildwood Park District park parking lot without a current Wildwood Park District resident parking sticker, are improperly parked on a right-of-way (street parking), or that are blocking a fire hydrant, mailbox, driveway, etc. are subject to towing.

On-Site Parking

  • General Parking- there will be no general parking at Rule Park where the event takes place as all of Rule Park is closed to vehicle traffic and the parking lot is used for the festival's food area.
  • ADA Parking: there will be 10 grass ADA designated parking spaces located at the Rule Park entrance on Sears Blvd. ADA drop-off is also available at the Rule Park entrance on Sears Blvd.

Off-Site Parking

Two ADA-accessible shuttle buses will provide continuous transportation between the off-site parking locations- Willow Point Park, Pebble Beach Park, and Cornerstone Presbyterian Church- and the event at Rule Park. Shuttles will run throughout the duration of the event, from 12:00-6:00pm, ensuring convenient and accessible travel for all attendees. Off-site general parking and additional ADA parking is available at the following locations:

  • Willow Point Park (33666 N. Cove Rd., Wildwood, IL 60030)
    • Paved parking lot (for Wildwood Park District residents only)- 32 total parking spaces and an additional 2 ADA parking spaces.
    • Grass where the baseball field is located. For residents and non-residents.
    • The entrance to a paved ADA path is located in the cul-de-sac of Woodland Terrace adjacent to Willow Point Park that leads to the festival.
    • Once parked, follow directional signage or ask a parking attendant how to make your way to the festival.
    • No overnight parking.
  • Pebble Beach Park (33666 N. Cove Rd., Wildwood, IL 60030)- *FOR WILDWOOD PARK DISTRICT RESIDENTS WITH CURRENT RESIDENT PARKING STICKER ONLY*
    • Paved parking lot (10 total parking spaces and an additional 1 ADA parking space).
    • Once parked at Pebble Beach Park, walk south down Sears Blvd. until you reach the festival.
    • No overnight parking.
  • Cornerstone Presbyterian Church (33428 N. Sears Blvd., Wildwood, IL 60030)
    • Parking is for both residents and non-residents and is available on a first-come first-served basis. Please only park in the marked designated parking spaces, as vehicles who are parked outside of designated parking spaces are subject to towing.
    • Once parked, walk south on Sears Blvd. until you reach the festival.
    • No overnight parking.

  • Event is rain or shine so please dress accordingly.
  • Bring lawn chairs, sun screen, bug spray, and cash/card for food, beverages, and tickets.
  • Friendly dogs are allowed, however, they must remain leashed and with their owner at all times. Please make sure to clean up after your pet. A Mutt Mitt dispenser is located near the Rule Park exit to Rule Ct.
  • No motorized vehicles (including but not limited to golf carts, e-bikes, e-scooters, four wheelers, dirt bikes, mopeds/scooters) will be allowed in Rule Park during the event, with the exception of emergency vehicles, Wildwood Park District vehicles, and vendor vehicles who have received prior approval. This, of course, does not apply to ADA mobility devices.
  • Outside alcohol of any kind is strictly prohibited.
  • No firearms allowed.

  • The Wildwood Park District accepts cash or card for ticket sales. Tickets are for activities, games, Wildwood Park District beer tent, and Wildwood Park District food tent.
  • All raffle tickets are cash only.
  • All other third party sales (food trucks, vendor booths, sponsor booths, henna tattoos, and hair tinsel) are cash/card (no tickets) and responsible for their own transactions and accepted payment methods. We suggest having both card and cash on hand.
  • There will not be an ATM on-site.

Ticket information coming soon!

  • Fire or Electrical Related Hazard: the event rally point for safety will be at the Main Stage Tent located at the north-central side of the park and Rule House.
  • Active Threat/Acts of Violence: the event rally point is Willow Point Park pavilion as primary location. If unsafe, secondary rally point is Pebble Beach Park playground.
  • Severe Weather: The Wildwood Park District staff and volunteers will closely monitor the weather in the days leading up to and on the day of the event. Due to the small size of the Wildwood Park District's office/Rule House, it will not serve as an adequate tornado shelter for all patrons. If deemed necessary for the safety of our staff, volunteers, and patrons, we will postpone or cancel the event ahead of time or do our best to give sufficient warning so that people can leave the premises and safely get home. In the event of lighting/thunder, we will have to suspend all activities outdoors based off of 30 minutes of no further lighting/thunder after the last lighting/thunder is observed/heard. Announcements will be communicated from the main stage as well as on our website and social media. If it is a sudden weather situation, please find low ground without trees. Staff and volunteers will take shelter in the interior bathrooms in the Oak Room of Rule House.


 

Volunteer Opportunities

The Wildwood Park District relies heavily on volunteers and is currently seeking volunteers, ages 14+, to help with Harvest Fest to ensure the event runs smoothly and safely. Even a few hours makes a big difference! We offer many different volunteer opportunities, such as helping with set-up, running kids activities, assisting with logistics, working the beer tent, and much more! Whether you’re seeking more social interaction, community service hours, or just looking to get involved and give back, volunteering has many career, educational, personal, and social benefits.

 

Interested? Online sign-up link coming soon! In the meantime, please reach out to Maggie Woznick at mwoznick@wildwoodparkdistrict.com or 847.223.7275.

 


 

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Stage Sponsor

 

Food Court Sponsor

Beer Tent Sponsor

Event Sponsor

In-Kind Sponsor