Hundreds gathered in the golden warmth of an autumn afternoon on Sunday for a multi-generational celebration of nature.
Bagpipes & Bonfire, generally held on the last Sunday in September, is Lake Forest Open Lands’ largest annual fundraiser, giving area families the chance to celebrate the gift of the land together as a community.
The event, located at the Middlefork Farm Nature Preserve in Lake Forest, offered an assortment of Scottish-style entertainment, cultural performances, Highland Games, kilted skydivers, a procession of Chicago-area bagpipe bands across the prairie, a picnic feast for purchase, and the ceremonial lighting of the bonfire.
Sisters Katherine and Connie Saville of Lake Forest say they have been members of Lake Forest Open Lands for many years, and the event always offers something new.
“We’ve started bringing our grandchildren, so this has become an important family tradition, to support and to hold onto the open spaces in our community,” Katherine Saville said.
Paula Clair-Gould, Lake Forest Open Lands vice president and director of development, says Bagpipes & Bonfire began in 1988, inspired by neighbors living along the nature preserve who would gather invasive brush and burn a bonfire every year.
“The event has grown substantially over the years, to become a celebration for the City of Lake Forest, and with its increased size, moving to its current location in 2003,” Clair-Gould said.
“Now local arborists collect brush to be burned, and along with the celebration of the Scottish ancestry of Lake Forest, we honor Native American traditions and history of this land through dance and drum demonstrations, and cultural engagement presented by the Trickster Native American Indian Cultural Center in Schaumburg,” Clair-Gould added.
Additional activities included an Apple Launcher, Fly Casting, a Children’s craft table, face painting, Firecakes donuts for all, a petting zoo, live music, and a selfie photo station.
Dean Thuente of Lake Forest says he has been a member of Lake Forest Open Lands for 10 years.
Bagpipes & Bonfire always marks the end of summer and the start of fall — a time for all of us to celebrate the protection and the expansion of Lake Forest Open Lands,” Thuente said.
According to a news release, this fundraiser supports Lake Forest Open Lands in their acquisition and stewardship of the community’s natural landscapes, ensuring the connection of future generations to nature and the land.
Northern Trust acted as lead presenting sponsor for the event, Nancy and Ron Fletcher were event co-chairs, and the Magnuson/Shaw Family were torch carriers in the lighting of the bonfire.
In his remarks to the crowd, Ryan London, Lake Forest Open Lands Association president, said by this time next year, LFOL will have a brand new accessible trail system at West Skokie Nature Preserve, including a new bridge over Middlefork.
Also next year, London says they will be underway with their largest restoration project to date, a nature-based bluff and living shoreline restoration at Greene Nature Preserve, and for their 60th anniversary in 2027, they will build a new conservation center to transform, educate, and inspire future generations.
“So tonight as the sun sets, as we light the fire together, let’s celebrate all that we can achieve when community and conservation flow as one,” London said.
Gina Grillo is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
