Porter County's festive life

Jennifer Gonzalez, of Valparaiso, laughs with Margaret Pellegrini, one of the last living munchkins from the film "The Wizard of Oz," during an autograph session last September at the start of the Oz Fest in Chesterton.

One of last surviving film Munchkins at Oz Fest

A large "Oz" sign is displayed Friday in Thomas Centenial Park in Chesteton for the start of Oz Fest.

One of last surviving film Munchkins at Oz Fest

Mike King and his wife, Raejean, and daughter, Octavia, from Cincinnati, look at an autograph from "The Wizard of Oz" Munchkin actress Margaret Pellegrini on Friday during Oz Fest in Chesterton.

One of last surviving film Munchkins at Oz Fest

Jennifer Gonzalez, right, of Valparaiso, laughs with Margaret Pellegrini, one of the last living Munchkins from the film "The WIzard of Oz," during an autograph session Friday at Chelle's during the start of Oz Fest in Chesterton.

One of last surviving film Munchkins at Oz Fest

Margaret Pellegrini, one of the last living Munchkins from the film "The WIzard of Oz," enjoys a musical movie toy Friday with Marissa Fransik, of Ann Arbor, Mich., during an autograph session during the start of Oz Fest in Chesterton.

One of last surviving film Munchkins at Oz Fest

Bella Shadden, 7, of Lyons, Ill., poses with a scared face Friday in front of a wood cut-out of the Wicked Witch of the West during the start of Oz Fest in Chesterton.

One of last surviving film Munchkins at Oz Fest

Todd Valley, of Cody, Wyo., displays his Wizard of Oz jacket Friday during the first day of Oz Fest in Chesterton.

One of last surviving film Munchkins at Oz Fest

Maryann Porcelli, of Villa Park, Ill., and her granddaugher Bella Shadden walk past a window painting of the Wicked Witch of the West on Friday during Oz Fest in Chesterton.

Oz Fest opens

Original Munchkin Margaret Pelligrini, left, signs autographs while longtime friend Julie Laderoot, center, and Ashlynn Klabunda help her Friday during the Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton.

Oz Fest opens

Fred Radtke, right, and wife Cindy, of Rhinelander, Wis., show their Wizard of Oz tatoos while attending an autograph session at the beginning of the Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton.

Oz Fest opens

Julie Laderoot, of Michigan, hugs Wizard of Oz Munchkin Margaret Pelligrini, left, during an autograph session Firday for the Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton.

Oz Fest opens

Karl Slover receives a hug from longtime fan Phyllis Turner while signing autographs Friday at the beginning of the Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton.

Oz Fest opens

Vanessa Ferguson, right, of Flint, Mich., talks to Caren Marsh-Doll, the stand-in for Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz," during the opening of the Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton.

Oz Fest opens

Karl Slover, a Munchkin in "The Wizard of Oz," pretends to blow a trumpet in September during an autograph session for the opening of the 2011 Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton. Slover had played the part of four different Munchkins, including a trumpeter.

Riding Down The Yellow Brick Road

Characters from "The Wizard of Oz" are heralded by parade-goers as they travel by carriage during the annual Saturday morning parade which is one of the highlights of Chesterton's annual Wizard of Oz Festival, which is celebrating 30 years in 2011.