Fall Festival Draws Pirates, Princesses and Crowds

Pirates, goblins and princesses paid a visit to the annual Fall Festival at Heritage Park on Saturday for an evening of music, stories, games and haunted trails. The park and historic Serrano Adobe were decked in festive orange lights while candy was handed out at every attraction and show.

“Heritage Hill is the optimal place to have a fall festival because of the history,” said Mayor Pro Tem Scott Voigts. “It’s part of Lake Forest, something we never forget. Heritage Hill is truly a gem of Orange County.”

Heritage Hill Park, one of Orange County’s first historical parks, is home to the Serrano family Adobe from 1853 as well as the El Toro Grammar School.

“Community members realized they had these cool buildings they didn’t want to get rid of,” said Parks and Recreation Historic Resource Specialist Amy Erickson. “So the community created what was Orange County’s first historical park.”

As the sun set, people lined up to visit the El Toro Grammar School, which was transformed into Harry Potter’s Hogwarts School of Wizardry. Cobwebs were draped over vintage school desks while skeleton props played piano. A haunted pirate maze, games, candy prizes and American adventure stories entertained the families.

The evening concluded with a glow light dance where children danced to songs in costume. The fall festival is one out of the community’s five seasonal events, which will include a Victorian Christmas celebration.