for immediate release

Celebrate Sukkot with Family Activities

Sunday, October 16

Media Only:
Julie McCaffrey
(847) 835-8213
jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org

GLENCOE, Ill. (July 5, 2011) — In honor of the Jewish harvest holiday Sukkot, the Chicago North Shore Section of the National Council of Jewish Women will display their annual sukkah at the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden from Thursday, Oct. 13, through Wednesday, Oct. 19. Families are invited to take part in arts and crafts activities to decorate the sukkah from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 16.

Sukkot, or "Festival of Booths," is a seven-day harvest holiday considered one of the most joyous in Judaism. Sukkot celebrates the end of the harvest and commemorates the many days the Hebrews dwelt in the wilderness before finding the Promised Land. Many followers of the faith build sukkahs, makeshift booths or huts, which are covered in fall fruits and vegetables, including dried corn, squash, and gourds. Visitors to the Garden will have the opportunity to make their own sukkah decorations and add their own fruits and vegetables to the Garden's sukkah. While in the Garden, visitors will also learn about plant-oriented Sukkot traditions, including the waving of the lulav, a long, palm-like branch of myrtle, palm, and willow, and the etrog, a lemon-like fruit.

The Chicago North Shore Section of the National Council of Jewish Women is a volunteer organization inspired by Jewish values. NCJW strives to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families, and works to champion the individual rights and freedoms of all people. The Chicago North Shore Section focuses its charitable and philanthropic goals on advocacy and community service projects. In addition to the Sukkot event, NCJW also sponsors the annual Tu B'shevat activities that educate the public about the Jewish Festival of Trees. Sukkot and Tu B'shevat are all part of the many drop-in activities offered at the Garden throughout the year.

The Garden is open 8 a.m. until sunset daily. Admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden is free. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. For information about Garden programs and events, call (847) 835-5440, or visit www.chicagobotanic.org.

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Editors, please note: The Chicago Botanic Garden's newsroom is online at www.chicagobotanic.org/pr. For digital images, contact Julie McCaffrey at (847) 835-8213 or at jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org.

Admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden is free. Select event fees apply. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. For information about Garden programs and events, call (847) 835-5440, or visit www.chicagobotanic.org.

Interact with the Garden for this and other Garden events and programs:

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The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 24 distinct display gardens and four natural areas. With events, programs and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org, or call (847) 835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design and gardening arts. Through the Division of Plant Science and Conservation, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens and teachers. The Garden's Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening programs provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. A program of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Windy City Harvest is an organic vegetable and plant production enterprise that provides instruction in sustainable horticulture and urban agriculture to residents of Chicago’s North Lawndale and West Side neighborhoods.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). The Chicago Botanic Garden is also host to Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S., and a member of the Center for Plant Conservation. In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.