Fairs & festivals: Get your taste buds ready for Garlic Fest, Elgin Craft Beer Fest

This weekend

45th Annual Gurnee Days: 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11; 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, at Viking Park and band shell, 4374 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee. Music from Gina Glocksen Band at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Hi Infidelity at 8 p.m. Saturday. Ribfest, beer garden, Gurnee Idol at 6 p.m. Friday, 10K race/2 mile fun run/walk at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. Sunday, parade at noon Sunday, live performances, amusement rides, petting zoo and more. Free. gurneedays.com.

Chicago Hot Dog Fest: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Aug. 11-13, at Stockton and LaSalle streets, Chicago. The Chicago History Museum presents a festival featuring music, family activities and hot dogs, prepared in various regional and ethnic styles. $5 suggested gate donation. (312) 642-4600 or chicagohotdogfest.com.

Lakemoor Fest: 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11; 9 a.m. to midnight Saturday, Aug. 12; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, Morrison Park, 233 Rand Road, Lakemoor. Music, food, beer garden, carnival, fishing derby, bean bag tournament and more. Fireworks Saturday, Aug. 12, over Lily Lake. Family Day on Sunday, Aug. 13. Free admission. lakemoor.net.

The Fest for Beatles Fans: 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 11; noon to midnight Saturday, Aug. 12; noon to 11 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, The Hyatt Regency O'Hare, 9300 Bryan Mawr Ave., Rosemont. Beatles tribute bands, marketplace with memorabilia and more. $26-$78. Children ages 5 and younger are free. thefest.com.

Meadows Cruise Night: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, Meadows Christian Fellowship, 2401 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows. Weekly classic car show, with music, food and more. Free. meadowsfamily.org.

Reggae Fest Chicago: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11; noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 12-13, Addams Medill Park, 1400 W. 15th St., Chicago. Music, food, beer, kids' activities, art demonstrations and free trade vendors. reggaefestchicago.com.

Palatine Food Truck Frenzy: 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11, Family Aquatic Center parking lot, 340 E. Palatine Road. Food to purchase from a variety of food trucks, music during the final Sounds of Summer concert featuring Morry Sochat and the Special 20s at 8 p.m. Free admission. palatineparks.org.

Lindenfest: 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11; noon to midnight Saturday, Aug. 12; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, at Village Hall Center, 2301 E. Sand Lake Road, Lindenhurst. Parade at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Music from McCartney Years at 9:30 p.m. Friday and Killer Queen at 7 p.m. Landslide performs at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Carnival, entertainment, Lindenfest Auction, games, food and Little Miss, Junior Miss and Miss Lindenhurst pageants. Free. (847) 356-8252 or lindenhurstil.org.

62nd Annual Ginza Holiday Festival: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11; 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12; 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, in the Old Town area at 435 W. Menomonee St., Chicago. Japanese cultural festival, presented by the Midwest Buddhist Temple in Old Town. Food, cultural exhibits, taiko drumming, Japanese folk dancing, martial arts demonstrations and more. Admission donation is $5. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by a paying adult. (312) 943-7801 or ginzaholiday.com.

Augustfest: 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 11; 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Aug. 12; and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, at St. Zachary Parish, 567 W. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines. Concerts, casino games, carnivals, food and more. Free. (847) 956-7020 or augustfest.net.

Armenian Fest and Grapes Blessing: 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11; 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12; 12:30 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, Armenian All Saints Apostolic Church, 1701 N. Greenwood Road, Glenview. Armenian food, dancing, cigar bar, kids' activities and more. Grape blessing on Sunday, Aug. 13. Free. armenianallsaints.org.

Bristol Renaissance Faire: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 12-13, at 12550 120th Ave., Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kids' quest, pub crawl, entertainment, food, games, rides, jousting, a marketplace and more. $11.50-$25.95; free for kids 4 and younger. (847) 395-7773 or renfair.com.

Touch-A-Truck: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Algonquin Township Highway Department, 3702 Hwy. 14, Crystal Lake. Get an up-close look at a helicopter, police and fire vehicles, tow trucks, tractors and other vehicles. Other highlights include music, balloons, face painting, a bouncy house and more. Free admission. Hot dogs, brats and drinks available for purchase. (847) 639-2700, Ext. 6.

20th Annual Lincolnshire Arts Fest: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and Sunday, Aug. 12-13, Village Green, at Milwaukee Avenue and Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. See the works of 100 juried artists from around the country. Other highlights include music, food, kids' activities and more. Free. amdurproductions.com.

Veggie Fest 2017: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 12-13, on the grounds of Benedictine University, 5700 College Road, Lisle. More than 100 vendors with items related to healthy living, international food court, demonstrations, music, speakers, kids' activities and more. Free. (630) 955-1200 or veggiefestchicago.com.

Waukegan's Blues on the Water Fest: Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 12-13, The Harbor's Edge, 175 N. Harbor Place, Waukegan. Concerts, food, barbecues and more. Free admission. waukeganmainstreet.org.

Elgin Craft Beer Fest: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, Riverside Drive Promenade, 64 S. Grove Ave., Elgin. More than 50 beers from 30 producers. VIP tickets $60 (noon to 5 p.m.). General admission is $40 (1 to 5 p.m.). Designated driver tickets $15. universe.com.

Barrington JourneyCare Duck Race and Pool Party: 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, Aqualusion Water Park at Langendorf Park, 235 Lions Drive, Barrington. Hundreds of plastic ducks take off down the waterslide and race to the finish. Swimming, food and games. Event benefits JourneyCare for Children. Free. journeycare.org.

Gurnee Days fireworks: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, Viking Park and Bandshell, 4374 Old Grand Ave. Free. gurneedays.com.

French Connection Day: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Festival of music, art, food and family activities. Free. Parking $10. cantigny.org.

India Day 2017: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, Knoch Park, 724 S. West St., Naperville. Highlights include an international food court, ethnic Indian bazaar, local talent show, parade, concert by Mika Singh, fireworks and more. Free. indiancommunityoutreach.org/india-day/.

Gurnee Days Parade: Noon Sunday, Aug. 13, Old Grand Avenue, Gurnee. The 2017 Gurnee Days Parade will feature more than 50 entries. Free. gurneedays.com.

St. Matthew Lutheran Church's 27th Annual Pig Roast: Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 24500 N. Old McHenry Road, Hawthorn Woods. Admission is $15 for adults; $5 for children; children younger than 4 are free. (847) 438-7709 or stmatts.net.

Next week

Cort Carpenter at Country in the Park: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, at MB Financial Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. Country concert. Free. rosemont.com.

Garlic Fest: 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, Everts Park, 130 Highwood Ave., Highwood. Sample a variety of creations from garlic ice cream to garlic cocktails. Held during the Evening Market, the fest features a garlic competition and the Garlic Queen and Garlic Princess competitions. Free. celebratehighwood.org.

Daily Herald Cruise Night: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, Stratford Square Mall, at 152 Stratford Drive, Bloomingdale. Motorcycles and cars on display; live music and more. Free. facebook.com/dailyheraldcruisenights/.

Riverfest Express: 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17; 5 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, Panton Mill Park, 10 N. Water St., South Elgin. The 21st annual fest features carnival, trolley rides, entertainment, fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Saturday and more. Annual Special Night for Special Kids on Wednesday. Craft show and small business expo Saturday and Sunday. Car show Sunday. Free. southelgin.com.

Slippery When Wet at Rosemont's Rockin' in the Park: 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at MB Financial Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. Fireworks after the show. Food and beverage tents on the lawn. Free. rosemont.com.