Each year some corners of the world anticipate Nov. 3 with proclamations, banners and festivals to celebrate the coming of a special crop.

La Grange celebrates the season for Beaujolais wine to the benefit of children.

The sixth annual Beaujolais Nouveau Wine Celebration will benefit Child Link, a Chicago-based not-for-profit organization that provides numerous services for children, families and individuals.

Participants will visit three La Grange restaurants — Bella Bacino’s, Emilio’s Sunflower Bistro, Marconi’s Ristorante — and Rocky Mountain Chocolate where they will sample hors’ d’oeuvres, desserts and wines, including Beaujolais Nouveau.

The fundraiser is held in conjunction with the globally celebrated event when the first supply of Beaujolais Nouveau is ready and shipped to wine lovers with great fanfare.

La Grange resident and Child Link spokesperson Natalie Beglen said the event provides a means of sharing some of the bounty enjoyed by people in the La Grange area. 

“This is a way to give back to children who are not that fortunate, and that’s what Child Link does by helping people in our area be foster parents or adoptive parents,” Beglen said. “It provides a lot of support services, like foster care and there are several foster care families in La Grange and La Grange Park.

“It’s a fun event so people can get out before the winter hibernation,” she said. “It’s also nice for the businesses, too, a chance to showcase their restaurants.”

Mary Spagnola who, with her husband Chris, owns and cooks at Emilio’s Sunflower Bistro. She said such delicacies as stuffed olives and miniature beef Wellington will be on the menu for participants to sample. This will be the fourth year the Spagnolas have participated in the event.

“It’s always been a lot of fun. The crowd is always vivacious and everyone has a good time,” she said. “We enjoy taking part in a good cause like this.”

A slide show will be held at Bacino’s that highlights exactly what Child Link is and the children it is assisting.

Additional sponsors include Main Street Liquors, Sam’s Wine and Spirits, Sarah and Doug Holcomb of DJH Investments, Don Degan of the La Grange branch of National City Bank and David Groebe of National City Mortgage.