Donley's Wild West Town Reinvents Pumpkin Patch for Fall Festival, Now thru 10/27

Donley's Wild West Town has announced the return of Fall Festival, a fan favorite that attracts families looking for good old fashioned fun from all over Illinois taking place every Saturday and Sunday from today, September 28 through October 27. Fall Festival is more than the average pumpkin patch, offering a variety of Halloween festivities including spooky train rides, entertaining attractions and a pumpkin painting contest.

In addition to the regular rides and activities offered at Wild West Town, guests can hop aboard the C.P. Huntington Train for a family friendly spooky ride through the old mine tunnel. Another stop takes them to meet Chief Great Eagle. A mountain man introduces the children to the Chief and the children exchange beads with the Chief to receive a pumpkin of their choice from the Chief's private patch. Attendees are also encouraged to show off their artistic talents at the pumpkin painting station. Creations will be showcased for all to see, and the most creative pumpkins are rewarded prizes. If arts and crafts aren't your forte, take center stage at Clayton's Sasparilla Saloon and sing Halloween classics with Ms. Lorrieann's Karaoke. After working up an appetite guests can savor the scrumptious fall treats Clayton's has to offer, including fresh pies, muffins and cookies.

A family-owned business, Larry Donley, his wife, Helene, and their sons, Mike and Randy, started Donley's Wild West Town in 1974 because of their passion for antiques. As their collections grew, they built the Wild West Town, the South Union Roadhouse restaurant, and Village Hall Banquets as additional attractions in McHenry County. Today, Donley's welcomes families to explore a variety of rides and shows, including three daily Wild West shows, a vintage carousel from 1951, panning for gold, Runaway Mine Cars roller coaster, pony rides, a petting zoo, and the C.P. Huntington Train. It also features cowboy roping lessons, a slingshot and archery range, a pop gun shooting gallery, kid-powered handcars, venture canoeing, the Kids Korral playground and the and the fabulous museum displaying the Donley's collection of Americana.

The Museum includes a variety of cowboy memorabilia including wooly chaps, gun belts, guns, spurs lariats, and boots. It also features Law & Order death masks made from famous outlaws' faces, gold and silver mining tools, Civil War collections, and Larry Donley's personal antique phonograph and music box collection. The Charles Edison Foundation has judged the collection as one of the finest Edisonia displays in the U.S.

Whether you're dining with family after a day at Donley's Wild West Town, or enjoying a night out with friends, South Union Roadhouse is the new dining destination in Union, Illinois. Signature items include burgers, ribs and specials like the Beer Cheese Fondue made with Lone Star Beer straight from Texas. South Union Roadhouse is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday . The bar remains open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.

Donley's Village Hall Banquets is a rustic wedding venue that is ideal for country chic and elegant nuptials. The venue, which can accommodate up to 400 guests, with the largest dance floor in McHenry County, provides space for an indoor or outdoor ceremony that can be highly personalized for each bride. From their attention to the bride and groom's wishes and individualized decorating touches to a sophisticated banquet menu and affordable wedding packages, Donley's is the place for one-of-a-kind, unique weddings that your guests will never forget.

Donley's Wild West Town is located in rural McHenry County at the intersection of Route 20 & S. Union Road, 3 miles south of the Village of Union at 8512 S. Union Rd. The park is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. September 28 through October 27. Tickets are $16 which includes all attractions and activities. For more information call 815.923.9000 or go to www.wildwesttown.com.