Fall Market & Music Fest

in a month

When

Sunday, September 13th 2026 at 13:00 US/Central

Join us at McDonald Farm for a delightful day at our annual Fall Market & Music Fest, where we are blending two of our community’s favorite events — Music on the Farm and Green Earth Fall Community Market! Discover all the wonderful things happening on the farm, including a local-farms-only mini-farmer’s market featuring Green Earth Harvest’s certified organic veggies plus an array of other local goods from our farmshare partners including fruit, organic sourdough bread, local eggs, organic flour, grains and beans, specialty flowers, and more!

Drop in for a bit or spend the afternoon enjoying live music, children’s activities, farm tours, Tent Talks, and plenty of delicious, local food. We can’t wait to see you on the farm!

Mini-Farmer’s Market:

Green Earth Harvest: Certified organic veggies and UPick tomatoes
Flat Tire Farm: Benton Harbor, MI fruits
Matteli’s: Organic sourdough bread (pre-orders available)
Brian Severson Farms: Organic grains, oats, flours, and beans (pre-orders available)
Sweet Pea’s Stems: Specialty flower bouquets (pre-orders available)

Music on the Lawn

1:00 – 3:30pm: Live music by Triple Replay Band, an acoustic guitar and vocal harmony group, bringing you a variety of your favorite tunes from all genres!

Food Trucks

Fernando’s Street Kitchen

Children’s Activities

1:00 — 3:30pm: Meet our educators in the Sensory Garden for nature-inspired, self-directed activities for kids of all ages!

Tent Talks

The Buzz About Bees
1:00pm, 2:00pm & 3:00pm
Join Beekeeper, Pete Soltesz of Illinois Bee Rescue, to explore the fascinating world of bees, from the social structure of colonies — with female workers running the hive — to the role of nutrition and pollination in honey production and the larger human food system. Each session will be around 20 minutes.
Location: Meet Pete at his bee booth around the circle drive

Conservation@Home: Easy Ways to Help Nature Thrive
1:00pm, 2:00pm & 3:00pm
Join our Conservation@Home expert Beth Peluse for a fifteen-minute chat including top tips to support pollinators and quick wins for conservation, right in your own yard.
Location: Meet Beth at The Conservation Foundation booth around the circle drive

Explore the Edible Forest Garden Guided Tours
1:30pm & 2:30pm
Join Connie Kollmeyer, The Conservation Foundation Educator, in McDonald Farm’s Edible Forest Garden for a 20-minute guided tour of all that’s growing in this unique space.
Location: Meet Connie in the Edible Forest Garden located behind the Clow House on the north side of the event near the parking area

Ask a Green Earth Harvest Farmer
3:00pm
Chat with your local farmer to learn about growing here on the farm.
Location: Meet us at our booth next to our farm stand in the circle drive

Farm Tours

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Local, Organic Farming
2:00 — 2:45pm
Tour McDonald Farm with farm manager Russ Cerocke to learn the ins and outs, the ups and the downs of how we sustainably and organically grow 40+ crops to feed our community clean, delicious produce.

Conservation@Home Tour of McDonald Farm and Gardens
3:00 — 3:45pm
Join our Conservation@Home staff to explore McDonald Farm’s rich history, prairie and wetlands restoration, multiple gardens, sustainability projects, and more!

We do our best to offer programs, rain or shine. You can review our Rain Policy here.

FAQ Did you know?

Local Sustainability Conservation Family Music

Where

10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville, IL, USA

To attend this event and discover more service opportunities, please login.

Organizer

The Conservation Foundation

Simply put, we save land and we save rivers, and we’ve been at it for more than 50 years. Founded in 1972, The Conservation Foundation is one of the region’s oldest and largest not-for-profit land and watershed conservation organizations dedicated to preserving and restoring open space, protecting rivers and watersheds and promoting stewardship of the environment in northeastern Illinois. We focus our work in DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties, but have also had the honor of working on significant projects in Cook, DeKalb, Grundy and LaSalle Counties.

FAQ

How can I best support The Conservation Foundation and the local farmers while I'm at the Fall Market & Music Fest?

Buy local: purchase produce and goods from the mini-farmer’s market and pre-order items (Matteli’s, Brian Severson Farms, Sweet Pea’s Stems). Talk with farmers at the “Ask a Green Earth Harvest Farmer” booth and on farm tours to learn about their needs. Make a donation or become a member of The Conservation Foundation, sign up for volunteer opportunities or programs at the Foundation’s booth, and share your experience on social media to boost visibility for the growers and conservation work.

What are the most effective ways I can help pollinators and conservation after attending the event?

Attend the Conservation@Home Tent Talks and Ask a Farmer sessions to collect practical tips. At home: plant native flowers and pollinator-friendly plants, reduce or eliminate pesticide use, provide water and shelter (e.g., bee hotels, brush piles), and create seasonal food sources. Consider joining Conservation@Home programs or local restoration projects promoted at the event to amplify your impact.

How should I prepare to shop and reduce waste while supporting vendors?

Bring reusable bags, produce bags, and containers for bulk items; bring a cooler or ice pack if you plan to take home perishable goods. Have small bills and a card handy — not every vendor may have card readers. Ask vendors about minimal packaging options and whether composting or recycling stations are available. Buying directly from farmers and choosing minimal-packaging items maximizes benefit to growers and reduces waste.

I want to get more involved beyond the day of the festival — what are practical next steps?

Sign up at The Conservation Foundation booth for newsletters, volunteer lists, and Conservation@Home resources. Join a CSA or purchase seasonal shares from local farms, attend workshops and farm tours, and consider volunteering for restoration projects or future events. Regular involvement (donations, volunteering, advocacy) helps sustain local farms and restoration efforts year-round.

What weather- and health-related precautions should I take for an outdoor farm event?

The event runs rain or shine; check the Foundation’s Rain Policy if conditions are severe. Wear layered clothing and sturdy shoes, bring sun protection (hat, sunscreen), and a refillable water bottle. Bring a light rain jacket or umbrella in case of showers. If you have health concerns, bring necessary medications and consider a mask in crowded areas; follow any on-site guidance from organizers.

Did you know?

Animal pollinators (bees, butterflies, etc.) support the production of roughly one‑third of the global crop volume and affect about 75% of the world’s leading food crops—protecting pollinators helps secure the food on our plates.

https://www.fao.org/pollination/en/

Buying from local farms and farm markets keeps more money in the regional economy, strengthens small farms, and builds more resilient local food systems—shopping local directly supports your neighbors and the landscape around you.

https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/local-foods/

Native plants typically provide more reliable nectar and pollen for native pollinators than many non‑native ornamentals—planting natives in yards and community spaces is one of the easiest ways to boost pollinator populations.

https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/native-plants

Conservation-minded and organic farming practices build healthier soils and can increase soil organic carbon, improving crop resilience and helping mitigate climate change over time.

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/health/

Access to green spaces, farms, and community gardens is linked to lower stress, better mental and physical health, and stronger community ties—spending time outdoors is good for people as well as nature.

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/urban-green-spaces-and-health

Volunteering with conservation organizations not only helps habitat and species protection but also builds skills, social connections, and personal wellbeing—getting involved benefits both the environment and you.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-health-benefits-of-volunteering-2018021513322