Today

* The annual BatFest will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today in downtown Batavia and along the Riverwalk, off Houston Street and Island Avenue. Daytime fun for the kids begins at 10 a.m. with Downtown Trick-or-Treating. Boy Scouts Troop 6 offers a cash prize for this years Pumpkin Roll down Houston Street. All those who would like to participate can register at the Batavia Depot Museum ($1 per roll). Pumpkins can be purchased for the competition or BYOP (Bring Your Own Pumpkin). For a full schedule of events and activities, visit downtownbatavia.com.

* Kuipers Family Farm, 1N318 Watson Road, Maple Park, is partnering with the Chili Appreciation Society International at its annual Chili Cook-Off today. This years event will benefit Conley Outreach Community Services grief services. About 20 cooks are expected for the event, but walk-ins are welcome. Registration forms and entry requirements can be found at conleyoutreach.org and may be turned in the morning of the event. The cost of registration is $20 per cook/team. Cooks must report to the Kuipers office by 9 a.m. the day of the event. All chili submitted for judging must be made on site from scratch. Extra crockpots of pre-made chili are acceptable for the public tasting portion of the event. Judging begins at 2 p.m. The public is invited to sample entries and vote for their favorites also beginning at 2 p.m. for a $5 donation. For nmore informationm contact Cheryl Hackbarth, (815) 827-5200, ext. 103 or cherylonthefarm@hotmail.com. More information about CASI can be found at chili.org.

* The Batavia Mothers Club Foundation will hold its 27th annual Autumn Arts and Crafts Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Batavia High School, Wilson and Main streets, Batavia, east of Randall Road. There is a $4 admission fee for attendees. You can receive a $1 off admission if you donate a new toy to the Access Toy Drive. The show will include more than 75 artisans, featuring a wide selection of handmade jewelry, personalized and childrens items, seasonal gifts and more. The Autumn Arts & Crafts Show also boasts one of the largest bake sales in the area, featuring a tasty selection of cakes, pies, cookies, breads and more, plus a limited supply of the winning brownies from this years Brownie Bake-off. During the show, Batavia Mothers Club Foundation will offer a limited breakfast, and lunch services will be offered by Jersey Mikes. The show will continue the tradition of a charity raffle, featuring gift packages and crafter packages. For details, email bmccrafteraps@yahoo.com or call (630) 748-1501.

* Nicholas Brooks, Las Vegas headliner and Batavia native, will return home in a one night only engagement at 7:30 p.m. today at the new Batavia Fine Arts Centre, off Wilson Street. This show celebrates Brooks 10 years as a Las Vegas headliner. He has been portraying Sammy Davis Jr. in "The Rat Pack Show" on the Las Vegas Strip and also the national/international tour for the past six years. This Vegas style show is a two act show of Brooks as Sammy David Jr. and as himself. He will be joined onstage by his all star Vegas band and some NIU alumni guest instrumentalists. Brooks attended Batavia High School, where he was an athlete and a member of the SwingSingers Show Choir. After his 1998 graduation, Brooks was recruited to be the singer for the highly acclaimed NIU Jazz Ensemble (Big Band) under the direction of Ron Carter. Tickets are on sale now at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre box office, (630) 937-8930. For more information, visit bataviafineartscentre.org or NicholasBrooks.com.

* St. Charles Episcopal Church, 994 N. Fifth Ave., St. Charles, will hold its seventh annual arts and craft show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. All handmade items for juried sale will include jewelry, autumn and Christmas holiday decorations, handmade garden items, fashion items, baby items, childrens clothes, and toys. Admission will be free and the building is handicapped accessible. …