The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes will host a free magical evening in the forest this Saturday, Oct. 7, celebrating the beauty of nature this fall season at AutumnFest Powered by PNC. This is the second year PNC has sponsored the event, making it free and accessible to everyone.

The afternoon and early evening, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., will include activities for all ages and abilities, a Fall perennial sale, and food and drinks.

Costumes are welcomed and encouraged while guests decorate magic pumpkins, climb the enchanted beanstalk (tree climbing), take a spooktacular evening hike, or make children’s crafts.

There will be face painting and s’mores at the fire-breathing dragon pit. Guests can feast on fairy food at food trucks or grab witches’ brew at the libation station, which will include EDWINS Restaurant, Dawg Bowl Food Truck, Good Times Mobile Catering, and Patterson's Fruit Farm Donuts and Cider.

The Fall Perennial Sale (a min-version of the Nature Center’s popular Spring Plant Sale in the pavilion, but with plants suited for fall planting), will happen from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be a limited selection of Ohio native perennial species available to add fall color, many of which are not available at the spring sale. There will be several types of milkweed, ironweed, blue lobelia, among other selections.

A parking shuttle will run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. from the Shaker Heights Board of Education parking lot, 15600 Parkland Drive in Shaker Heights, and drop off guests at the Nature Center driveway. The Nature Center is located at 2600 South Park Blvd.