Wheaton families have two free events lined up for Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, starting with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's Fall Festival at Danada.
The two-day festival runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at the Danada Equestrian Center, 3S507 Naperville Road. The Discover DuPage tourism bureau calls it the forest preserve district's largest event of the year.
The main arena will host trick riding, vaulting, carriage driving, drill-team routines and therapeutic-riding demonstrations. Performers include the Midwest Renegades, Chicago Vaulting, the Stateline Hotshots Rodeo Drill Team and St. James Pony Club, according to the forest preserve district.
Horse fans can tour the historic barn that once housed Kentucky Derby winner Lucky Debonair. Kids can decorate paper hobbyhorses and ride them in a giddy-up corral, explore a straw maze or take pony rides in the Kids Zone.
Grammy-nominated Wendy and DB Blues Duo and Firefly Family Theatre will perform on the entertainment stage both days. Six food trucks, including La Cocina de Maria, Nick's Pizza and Kona Ice of Wheaton, round out the lineup.
"Fall Festival at Danada has become an autumn tradition for thousands of families," Forest Preserve District President Daniel Hebreard said in a statement. "It's a wonderful way to connect with horses, enjoy the season, and celebrate community in the preserves."
Admission and parking are free. Some activities carry fees, and organizers ask visitors to bring cash or checks. The event runs rain or shine. The full performance schedule is posted at dupageforest.org/fall-festival-danada. For questions, call 630-668-6012.
Museum craft event Saturday afternoon
A block north of the Metra tracks, the DuPage County Historical Museum hosts a free drop-in craft program from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, Shaw Local reported. The DIY Creative Crafting: Accessories session invites visitors to make fashion accessories inspired by the museum's current exhibit, "Out of the Box: History from Head to Toe."
That exhibit, which opened Sept. 12 and runs through May 29, 2027, explores jewelry, shoes, outerwear and handheld items like parasols and fans that shaped personal expression across DuPage County's history, according to the museum's website.
The museum, a Wheaton Park District facility at 102 E. Wesley St., is free to visit. Weekend hours are noon to 4 p.m. A suggested donation of $5 for adults and $2 for children and seniors is appreciated.
Weekend calendar
- Saturday, Oct. 10: Fall Festival at Danada, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Danada Equestrian Center, 3S507 Naperville Road
- Saturday, Oct. 10: DIY Creative Crafting: Accessories, 1–3 p.m., DuPage County Historical Museum, 102 E. Wesley St.
- Sunday, Oct. 11: Fall Festival at Danada, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Danada Equestrian Center, 3S507 Naperville Road
