Budget-friendly events: It's Long Grove Apple Fest time
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An apple a day
Apples are in season, which means it's time for Long Grove Apple Fest. This year, don't miss the pie-eating contest, plus apple treats like apple doughnuts, apple cotton candy, apple pie fudge and more. Music headliners include Trippin' Billies at 8 p.m. Friday, Lucky Boys Confusion at 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Suburban Cowboys at 5 p.m. Sunday. Family activities round out the fun at Robert Park Coffin and Old McHenry roads in downtown Long Grove. $5-$8; free for kids 12 and younger. (847) 634-0888 or visitlonggrove.com. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25-26, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27
Free
Celebrating the 'Harvest'
Glendale Heights celebrates the newly arrived autumn season with its Harvest Fest. Featuring a chili cook-off, a bags tournament, music, crafts, hay rides, face painting and other family activities, it all takes place in Heritage Park, 1736 Paul Ave., Glendale Heights. Free. ghprf.com. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26
Teddy's world
Learn about the life of the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, in the Sundays on Stage program "An Afternoon With Theodore Roosevelt" at the Batavia Public Library, 10 S Batavia Ave., Batavia. Actor Joe Wiegand portrays Roosevelt and follows his life in Washington, D.C., and his travels throughout the world. Free. Registration is required. Register online at bataviapubliclibrary.org or call (630) 879-1393, ext. 200. 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27
'The Accidental Empress'
Actress Barbara Rinella performs excerpts from Allison Pataki's book "The Accidental Empress" in the John & Nancy Hughes Theater at the Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. Free. No reservations required. For program information, call the Lake Forest Library at (847) 234-0636. Doors open at 3 p.m.; program at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30
$15 and under
Country Folk Art Festival
See the work of 50 artisans at the juried Country Folk Art Festival at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Admission is $8 Friday; $6 Saturday; and $4 Sunday. (630) 387-1151 or artoftheheartland.com. 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27
'LOVE4'
The Independent Players group opens its 2015-2016 season with the new musical revue "LOVE4" (Love to the 4th Power) at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., Elgin. The program, directed by Douglas Orlyk, looks at four different experiences of love: wanting love, finding it, keeping it and then losing it. $10-$15. Purchase tickets online at independentplayers.org; tickets at the door are cash or check only. (847) 697-7374. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25-26 (and again Oct. 2-3 and 9-10)
Tavern Day Celebration
Learn about life in the days of the pioneers at the Tavern Day Celebration 2015 at Historic Stacy's Corners, 800 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. Highlights include music, scarecrow and rope-making events, log sawing, kraut-making demonstrations, pioneer games, food, animals from the Trails End Farm and more. $3-$8. (630) 469-1867 or glenellynhistory.org. 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27
'The Poseidon Adventure'
See the 1972 action/adventure film "The Poseidon Adventure" at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. The PG-rated film, starring Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine and Shelley Winters, follows the harrowing tale of the passengers in the luxury liner Poseidon as the boat is flipped upside-down in the ocean by a tsunami. Admission is $1. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28