On the road: Celebration honors U.S. Grant

Chicago

The outsiders

Chicago can boast about having the only nonprofit organization in the country that is dedicated solely to presenting self-taught and outsider art. Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, offers exhibitions, a permanent collection of more than 1,100 works of art and educational programming for all interest levels and backgrounds. Public workshops range from creating sculpture from salvaged objects to needle felting.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, until 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 756 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Admission $5. (312) 243-9088 or art.org.

Midwest

Take it for granted

Celebrate the birthday of U.S. Grant, symbol of Union victory during the Civil War and our 18th president, in Galena, Ill. General and Mrs. Grant will welcome guests into their home, now known as the Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site, during the Grant Birthday Weekend commemoration. Other activities include a lamplight tour, Civil War re-enactors, Galena History Museum exhibits, performances of “2nd Kentucky Cavalry and the Cunning Kidnapper Trial” and “From Shiloh to Vicksburg: The General and Mrs. Grant,” a homemade pie auction and a Sunday morning church service hearkening back to the days of 1860 followed by a potluck luncheon.

Event times vary Friday through Sunday, April 19-21, at Galena History Museum, 211 S. Bench St., Galena. (815) 777-9129 or galenahistorymuseum.org or galena.org.

Horsing around

Whether your enchantment with equines is more of the Mr. Ed or Secretariat variety, the Midwest Horse Show offers acres of information, demonstrations and education on horses from Appaloosas to Zangersheides. There will be clinicians, entertainers and trainers, horse shows, activities for little wranglers and even an equine fashion show. Browse vendors selling Western apparel and boots, barn equipment, crafts, horse food and gear, photography and much more.

8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 19-20, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, Wis. One-day admission $12 in advance, $17 at the gate, kids 7 and under free. (920) 623-5515 or midwesthorsefair.com.

A very dairy day

There's no need to wait until summer for a Midwestern food fest. The sixth annual Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival in Kenosha, Wis., offers some of the most notable beer and cheese from around the state of Wisconsin. Purchase festival items like shirts and pint glasses. Live music by Beef Tea, Squeezettes and The New Chevelles will keep things lively.

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Brat Stop, 12304 75th St., Kenosha, at the intersection of Highway 50 and I-94. Tickets $40 per person in advance, $45 at the door and all purchases include beer glass. (262) 654-6200 or kenoshabeerfest.com.