THE GREAT HIGHWOOD PUMPKIN FEST’S PET COSTUME CONTEST - BENEFITING PLACING PAWS RESCUE, SPONSORED BY CAMP DOGWOOD, ROOT DOG TRAINING & HIGH HOPES

HIGHWOOD, IL
(OCTOBER 19, 2013) – The Fourth Annual
Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest is back, and the ever-popular Pet
Costume Contest will grace the festival once again on
Saturday, October 19th at Noon at the Main Stage (Waukegan Road and
Highwood Avenue). Participants are invited to bring their pet “dressed to kill”
and ready to strut their stuff! The event is sponsored by Camp Dogwood, ROOT Dog Training, and
High Hopes, with
100% of proceeds benefiting the Placing Paws
Rescue organization.

“We are honored to be a part of such a great festival and grateful to be
the beneficiary of the Pet Costume Contest,” says Cindy Falstad, Vice President
of Placing Paws Rescue. “Events like this generate a greater awareness for our
cause, and of course every dollar raised goes towards saving dogs and cats that
are in danger of being euthanized.”

“Pumpkin Fest is a perfect venue for pet owners to come out and showcase
their decorated dogs. Last years’ Pet Costume Contest was a smashing success,
and we are looking forward to being a part of it again this year,” says Alysa
Slay, Director at Camp Dogwood, a special place for dogs and their owners
alike.

Registration fee is $10 per entry. Contestants can pre-register their
pets at www.PlacingPawsRescue.org. All registrants
will receive a “doggy bag”, including fun items for their pups such as a Pumpkin
Fest bandana, treats, and more! Day-of registration will begin at 10am at the
Placing Paws booth at Pumpkin Fest on Waukegan Road. Space is limited, and
registration will close when capacity is at the maximum.

From Thursday through Saturday, October 17th-19th,
The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest will attract people from across the country to
share in a wonderful community experience. Highwood is going for two Guinness
World Records attempts this year, including the Most People Carving at Once on Thursday, October 17th at 7pm,
and the
sought-after Most Pumpkins Carved and Lit and Once, with a first attempt on
Friday, October 18th at 8pm, and the second attempt on Saturday, October 19th at 7:30pm.  In addition to breaking records,
Highwood's massive three-day festival is full of family-friendly events every
day including pumpkin carving, massive pumpkin displays, grand lighting
ceremonies, hay rides, the light up the night parade, a pet costume contest,
pumpkin pie eating contest, and 5K Pumpkin Run, Walk and Kids’ Dash and head
shaving event to benefit St.
Baldrick's Foundation, an organization created to raise awareness and
funding of childhood cancers.  The
festival will culminate with the 5K/Kids’ Dash on October 20th at
9am, also benefitting the Foundation.

General admission to Highwood Pumpkin Fest is free, with a
suggested donation of $2 per person, per day. For more information on the
festival or the other contests, please visit www.highwoodpumpkinfest.com, or
call 847-432-6000.

ABOUT PLACING PAWS

Placing Paws of
Illinois (PPI) was established in 2008 in Lake County, Illinois with the
goal of saving animals from high-risk situations. One of our primary
goals is to take animals from rural shelters that have a high euthanasia
rate. Rural shelters are often over crowded, under funded and the animals
there have little or no hope of finding an adoptive home. Often times
their best hope of finding a happy forever home is to be taken into
the care of a rescue such as PPI. All of the animals that
are taken into the care and comfort of PPI receive proper veterinary
care and a loving foster home while they wait to be placed in
the "Hearts of their Forever Homes." For more information,
visit www.placingpawsrescue.org, or contact placingpaws@yahoo.com or 224-433-6537.

ABOUT CAMP DOGWOOD

Camp Dogwood, Where You and Your Dog Stay and
Play is a camp experience for people and their dogs. Established in 2001, Camp Dogwood is
the premiere Midwest dog camp, with programs located in Northern Illinois and
the Wisconsin Dells. Camp Dogwood offers overnight camps in Winter, Spring, and
Fall, as well as single day specialty camps for Senior Dogs and K9 Holistic
Health & Healing. Each day of Camp Dogwood is filled with opportunities for
training, recreation, learning, having fun, and most importantly bonding time
with your dog. Since its inception, Camp Dogwood has been dedicated
to: the Dog by providing
educational programs regarding the health, behavior, and emotions of our canine
friends; the Bond through
offering a range of activities that enhance the relationship between you and
your dog; and the Community in our commitment to supporting
programs which improve the quality of canine life within society. Additional
Camp Dogwood information can be accessed by telephone at (312) 458-9549 or www.campdogwood.com.

ABOUT HIGH HOPES

High Hopes
all-natural dog treats are as nutritious as they are delicious, and every
sale gives hope to homeless pets. High Hopes donates a portion from every
sale (up to 15% of the company's profits) to the High Hopes for Pets
Foundation, who in turn donate the funds to local rescue/shelter groups via
grants. Since September 2011, The Foundation has given 23 grants to shelter and
rescue groups. For more information, please call 312-624-8904 or visit www.highhopesforpets.com.

ABOUT THE HIGHWOOD
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Highwood Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting
and improving the business community in Highwood, Illinois. The Chamber
continues to improve the unique and vibrant city through special events,
cultivating new business, and implementing successful business strategies.
Known as a “regional chamber”, Highwood provides businesses from all over
Illinois and Wisconsin with valuable networking opportunities. 2013 marks the
50th anniversary for the Highwood Chamber.

The Highwood Chamber of Commerce is located at 445 Sheridan
Road, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 305, Highwood, IL 60040. For more
information, please visit www.highwoodchamberofcommerce.com,
www.celebratehighwood.com, or
call 847.433.2100.