Swing into summer: 10 fun things to do in the suburbs and city
With summer right around the corner, it's time to start making plans. From returning festivals to new shows and park attractions, here are some ideas in the suburbs and city to up the fun factor in the coming weeks.
1. Santa's Village Azoosment Park
The East Dundee theme park returns for the summer with four new attractions, including X Treme Elevation, a tower providing a bird's-eye view of the park from 140 feet up.
Younger children can enjoy the new Alaskan Railway or Wacky Worm train rides. In addition, guests can see more than 200 animals, including parakeets, reindeer and tortoises, and experience rides, games and shows.
“The thrilling drop of X Treme Elevation is perfect for the tween crowd. The Wacky Worm and Alaskan Railway are just the thing to excite the little ones,” says park owner and President Jason Sierpien. “And the Tri-Nado, which is set to open midseason, offers another option for the entire family.”
Info: Santa's Village Azoosment Park, 601 Dundee Ave., East Dundee. santasvillagedundee.com
2. “October Sky: A New Musical”
The world premiere of “October Sky: A New Musical” debuts at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire on Aug. 19.
The show — adapted from the 1999 film — runs through Oct. 11. Set in a small mining town in West Virginia, the story features Homer Hickam, the teenage son of a coal miner who is inspired by the world's race to space. He and his friends begin to light up the starry skies with their homemade rockets and dreams of glory. Buy tickets at www.marriottheatre.com or call (847) 634-0200.
Info: Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. marriottheatre.com
3. Cirque du Soleil's “KURIOS — Cabinet of Curiosities”
Cirque du Soleil returns to Chicago after four years with its newest show, “KURIOS — Cabinet of Curiosities,” from Aug. 6 to Sept. 20 at the United Center.
Cirque du Soleil's 35th production transports audiences into a fantasy world. The show's name refers to the strange and otherworldly characters in the Seeker's Cabinet of Curiosities.
Visit cirquedusoleil.com/cirqueclub to sign up for a free membership. Tickets are available online or by calling (877) 924-7783.
Info: cirquedusoleil.com/kurios
4. Bikes & Bites on the Fox Festival
The first Bikes and Bites on the Fox Festival unites foodies and bike enthusiasts for a celebration along Riverside Drive Promenade in downtown Elgin from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 30.
The event kicks off biking season and promotes biking along the Fox River. Guests can enjoy food trucks, bike activities, free family events and a farmers market. Activities include an instrument petting zoo offered by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, a kids craft corner, a bags tournament and a bike corral. Local artists will perform throughout the day. This event is free and open to the public.
Info: bikesandbitesonthefox.com
5. Morton Arboretum Lego exhibit
It's a unique partnership of nature and art. Lego fans won't want to miss 13 nature-inspired displays crafted from Lego pieces from July 17 to Nov. 1 on the east side of Lisle's outdoor tree museum.
The exhibit, titled “Nature Connects: Art with Lego Bricks by Sean Kenney,” features sculptures from nearly half a million pieces. Kenney, the world's first Lego certified professional, and his team spent more than 173 days building the pieces, including the tallest sculpture, a peacock, which stands nearly 7 feet tall. It's the first time the exhibit will be in the Chicago area.
The Arboretum is also hosting a Destination Asia Summer Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 1 and 2. Visitors can explore the diversity of the Asian cultures through live music, dance performances, food and storytelling, as well as discover tree collections from China, Japan and Korea.
Info: Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route. 53, Lisle. mortonarb.org
6. McCormick Museum Servants Tour
Learn about life inside the Robert R. McCormick Museum at Wheaton's Cantigny Park. Specialty tours aim to show a different side of daily life inside the former home of Col. Robert McCormick, Cantigny's benefactor, and his family.
During the guided 45-minute tour, visitors will learn about the typical jobs performed by live-in staff.
McCormick lived in the mansion from around 1910 until his death in 1955. During that time, he employed such positions as butler, cook, chauffeur, ladies' maid and valet.
“McCormick treated his staff very well,” said Jeff Anderson, museum tour coordinator. “The master-servant relationship in the home wasn't typical, and our 'Upstairs, Downstairs' tour will shed light on that.”
The free tour is now being offered at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tours are limited to 10 guests on a first-come, first-served basis. On tour days, ticket distribution is at the McCormick Museum's Gold Theatre starting at 11 a.m. The McCormick Museum is open Tuesday through Friday for free guided tours. Hours vary by season and day of the week.
Info: Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. cantigny.org
7. Japan Festival
Billed as the Midwest's largest Japan showcase, the celebration takes place July 18 and 19 at Arlington Park, 2200 W. Euclid Ave. in Arlington Heights. Visitors will see Japanese drummers and dancers, parades, karate demonstrations, anime movies and more. There are traditional Japanese toys and games in the kids' corner and Japanese dishes in the food court.
The festival, organized by the Chicago Japanese American Council, aims to introduce Japanese culture to local residents. More than 6,000 people visit each year, enjoying dance, music, Taiko drums, tea ceremony demonstrations, martial arts and more.
Info: japandaychicago.org
8. Blackberry Farm
The Aurora living history museum re-creates pioneer life through attractions including a pottery shop, blacksmith shop, a schoolhouse, an early streets museum, farm and more.
New this season are updates to traditional favorites like the steam-engine train, carousel and hay wagon rides, as well as interactive exhibits in the museums. “It's all of Blackberry Farm's historical charm with fresh, new attractions,” says facility supervisor Sandie Gilmer.
A new adventure playground has earned early positive reviews. It features an extensive network of climbing decks, slides, ropes and bridges connecting playhouses, with a 70-foot zip line alongside for thrill seekers. “It's a unique combination of interactive features — a hands-on farm museum where children go from deck-to-deck answering questions and learning about the history of pioneer life,” said Gilmer.
Info: Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/facilities/blackberry-farm
9. Six Flags Great America
The iconic Gurnee theme park celebrates 40 seasons of thrills this summer by looking back at its history and ahead at its growth. When it opened, the park had three roller coasters; today there are 14, a 20-acre water park, shows and children's themed areas. Other notables: the ride Goliath is the world's fastest wooden roller coaster. The Columbia Carousel is the world's tallest, at 100 feet.
This summer, visitors will see the return of classic kiddie rides and the refreshing of the Carousel Plaza and Hometown Square areas. Each week, one of the main rides will have its own festival, with the Batman ride kicking off its celebration on Monday, May 25. Visitors can ride the attraction twice during special times.
Info: Six Flags, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee. sixflags.com/greatamerica
10. Raging Waves Waterpark
Billed as the state's largest water park, the 45-acre site in Yorkville features a wave pool, lazy river and 17 water slides. The park opens May 30, with plenty of special events and promotional days held throughout the season.
On Friday, June 26, animal expert Jim Nesci will make an appearance, along with alligators, snakes, lizards and a tortoise, to help guests explore the world of reptiles for a unique hands-on experience. Other special demonstrations include martial arts and a NASCAR race experience.
Info: Raging Waves, 4000 N. Bridge St., Yorkville. ragingwaves.com