Fall has arrived! At Street Level Studio, we can tell — not by the 75˚ forecasts — but by the wall of orange outside our office doors. That’s the 6th Annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival getting underway, with thousands of pumpkins being carved, lit, and carefully displayed throughout Highwood.

By the end of this weekend, the number of carved pumpkins will reach roughly 30,000…we hope. The number to beat is 30,581, which is the Guinness World Record for most pumpkins carved in one place (currently held by Keene, New Hampshire). We’ve got our fingers crossed, but we’re also hoping to see the event reach its secondary goal, one jack-o-lantern for every individual affected by autism in Illinois. Proceeds from this event will go to the Autism Society of Illinois, a worthy cause.

So, come on out and join the Highwood community for pie eating contests, the Great Pumpkin Maze, hay rides, carnival rides, live music, and more! The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival takes place October 9-11, 2015.

Visit www.autismillinois.org to learn more about the Autism Society of Illinois.