Fall Festival

Barn yard during Fall Fest

Great Family Event - Come Early Stay All Day

Leave no child inside logo

Buckley Fall Festival "An old time tradition"

2021 Fall Fest is ON!

Saturday & Sunday, October 9 & 10 

More details with what activities, demonstrations, and vendors will be happening this year coming soon. Read below for some highlights from years past!

Belshaw Road between Clark Street and Chase Street is closed. Hendricks Street is open to Festival parking at the visitor center located on Hendricks Street accessible ONLY from Route 2. GPS coordinates: 41.283566,-87.377509. Using the Buckley Homestead mailing address will take you to the wrong location.

Old Time Traditions

Fall Fest is full of family fun, great food, wonderful entertainment and traditional arts and crafts! Along the trail to the pioneer cabin reenactors portray military, civilians and artisans of various time periods. 

Wood crafters, china painter, spinners, quilters, weavers, black smiths, and others will demonstrate their skills and may even sell their wares. The farmers are in the west pasture and Lake County Master Gardeners are in the garden and the root cellar.

Entertainment for all

Dr. and Mrs. Quackenbush return with their quick wit and slight-of-hand *Coles County Regulators Cowboys roam the countryside looking for the bad guys and host the Pony Express *Pan for Gold with the Gold Miner *Pony Express Riders *Susan and Gary Brown entertain with old-fashion music and dancing at the pioneer farm *Liars Bench *Storytellers and music in the schoolhouse.

Old-fashioned fun for young and old alike

‘Sheep Toss’ ‘Frying Pan Toss’ and ‘Rolling Pin Toss’ Pan for Gold with the Gold Miner *Pony Express for the youngins’ at the Cowboy camp *Handson activities for the kids: farm chore relay race *rope making *candle dipping *and lots more! Come have a good time, where everyone’s a kid.

Great treats and hardy eats 

Come hungry and eat often! Sandwiches, baked potatoes with all the fixings, apple dumplings, kettle corn, pierogies, and lots more.

Hayride Shuttle

Take a hayride shuttle around the historic areas of the park for only $1 per person. Get off the wagon at the pioneer farm and schoolhouse and catch the next shuttle back to the barnyard. Purchase tickets in the west field.

Historic Locations

  • 1916 Buckley Barn
  • Buckley Homestead Main House
  • Hired Hands Quarters
  • One-room schoolhouse
  • Pioneer Log House
Panning for Gold

Buckley Homestead

Buckley Homestead is located 4.5 miles west of Interstate 65 just south of Route 2 on Hendricks Road in Lowell. Exit I-65 west at Route 2 toward Lowell to Hendricks, then south for 1/4 mile to the visitor center parking lot. The farmstead is a short walk along the trail. GPS coordinates: Visitor's Center: 41.283566,-87.377509 Using the Buckley Homestead mailing address will take you to the wrong location.

Please note that pets are not permitted at this special event. For more information, please call 219-769-7275.

LCPRD Severe Weather Information

This is an outdoor program. Visitors need to be aware that weather conditions may change necessitating program adjustments. If weather conditions present a safety hazard it may be necessary to close the event. Refunds will not be issued.

vendors Booths

Old Time and Traditional Craftsmen should call Megan at 219-947-7275 if interested in a booth.