AURORA, Ill. — The cooler autumn days are perfect for a visit to decorate a pumpkin at Blackberry Farm’s Pioneer Village Pumpkin Days.

Normally open every day of the week, the living history museum is open only on weekends for the remainder of October. Run by the Fox Valley Park District in Aurora, the museum is situated on 54 scenic acres with a lake, ponds and a meandering stream. The grounds contain an arboretum with more than 200 varieties of trees, and many gardens, floral displays and historic agricultural gardens.

Lake Gregory is open to all for catch-and-release fishing. Fishermen need to supply their own equipment and bait, and an Illinois fishing license for anyone 16 or older. Registration is required at the front desk.

Bird watching is available at no charge. A tree trail guide is available at the front desk, as well.

Visitors may want to start their day with a walk around the lake. The views are beautiful and the road measures one flat mile. Park paths can be added for incline. The park is open to walkers from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and no reservations or check-ins are required.

On top of those amenities, the village contains five large museum collections, including the Carriage House, the Farm Museum, the Early Streets Museum and the Huntoon House. Each contains collections of 19th century artifacts used in every facet of life.

The Farm Museum, for example, displays farm implements and tools - some not so common. Designed as a learning tool for children, the museum displays these tools and gives visitors a chance to guess how they might have been used. Answers are hidden behind small doors or on placards.

Visitors can pet goats, sheep and pigs. See chickens and learn where their milk comes from by “milking” a fiberglass cow. Facility supervisor Sandy Smith said this is the time of year when live at Blackberry Farm slows down, but the park is open to school groups. Along with Pumpkin Weekends remaining on Oct. 22-23 and Oct. 29-30, the village hosts the Polar Express on Dec. 9-11.

Ride the Polar Express train, enjoy thousands of twinkling lights, visit the schoolhouse to hear a storyteller read Polar Express, and visit Santa at the Huntoon House. Admission is $4 per person.

For more information about Blackberry Farm’s Pioneer Village, call 630-892-1550. The village is located at 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora.