Summer's slipping away -- give these picks a whirl for one final season celebration
One last spin
With school starting, fall looming and temperatures dropping, summer won't last much longer.
So make the most of the season's last long weekend, no matter what you like to do; take in a local festival, go on a city tour, spend some time in the great outdoors or even check out a local winery.
Here are our picks:
Need one last fest fix?
Buffalo Grove Days
Where: Buffalo Grove Village Campus, Raupp Boulevard and Lake-Cook Road, Buffalo Grove
When: 5 p.m. to midnight today, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, noon to 6:30 p.m. Monday
Tickets: Free
Info: (847) 459-2411 or www.vbg.org
Think fireworks, carnival rides and cook-offs only take place in June and July? Think again.
Buffalo Grove Days, in its 49th year, is bigger than ever, said Deputy Village Clerk Jane Olsen.
Highlights of the five-day event include a Grill Challenge that starts at 1 p.m. Saturday. Committee Chairman Church Posniak expects about 25 entries this year.
"Last year was our first year, and we had nine contestants -- but this year it really seems like the word got out early."
Contestants compete in four categories -- burgers, poultry, steaks and chops, and ribs, Posniak said.
"Our judges are a mix of barbecue professionals, village firemen and a couple of residents who just really like barbecue."
Live entertainment includes Od Tapo Imi, a steel drum band, at 7 p.m. Saturday, followed by Chuck Negron, formerly of Three Dog Night, at 9 p.m.
Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Sunday can be viewed from the Rotary Village Green, Willow Stream Park and the Buffalo Grove Golf Course.
"Another big event is Buddy Baseball, a baseball game for children with disabilities," Olsen said. The game starts at the conclusion of the 1 p.m. parade on Sunday. Played at Kendrigan Field on Aptakisic Road, there will be shuttle buses running to and from the Buddy Baseball game and the main fairgrounds beginning at 3:30 p.m.
"(The festival) is something for all ages and personalities -- every year we see it grow," she said.
Naperville's Last Fling
Where: Main Street and Jackson Avenue in downtown Naperville
When: 5 to 11 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday
Tickets: $5-10 for Mainstage events; free on Monday and for kids 3 and under
Info: (630) 961-4143 or www.lastfling.org
Naperville's Last Fling, a four-day downtown bash, has been a Labor Day tradition in Naperville for decades.
Created by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, the festival has been guided by the Naperville Jaycees since the 1980s the City of Naperville and the Naperville Park District.
Brian Scott of the Jaycee's festival executive committee, says the Fling Mile, a 9:30 a.m. 1-mile race, is one of this year's "don't miss" events.
"The race runs the Labor Day parade route, and we've pushed the start time back to just a half-hour before the parade starts, so there will be lots of spectators lining the streets," he said.
Mainstage performances include Cheap Trick, the BoDeans and Colin Hay of Men at Work.
"We've really expanded our family area this year -- there's a rock-climbing wall, performances by the McNulty Irish Dancers, a petting zoo and arts and crafts."
Schaumburg Septemberfest
Where: Schaumburg Road at Summit Drive, 101 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg
When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
Tickets: Free admission.
Info: (847.923.3636) or www.septemberfest.org
Schaumburg's 37th Septemberfest packs three nights of fireworks, an arts and crafts fair, the Taste of Schaumburg and dozens of music and dance performances between Saturday and Monday.
Kevin Giragosian, frontman and manager for the Neverly Brothers, is psyched for the group's 5:30 p.m. performance on Sunday.
"It's a 90-minute show that's split in two parts. The first half features songs and acts from America's rockabilly roots and to the beginning of the British Invasion, and the second part covers the early years of the British invasion."
Though this is Neverly's first Septemberfest performance, numerous gigs in Schaumburg have always proved to be "awesome."
"The crowds in this town are fabulous," Giragosian said.
For the wine snob
Lynfred Winery
Where: 15 S. Roselle Road, Roselle
When: Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; tours at 2 and 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Tickets: Free
Info: (630) 529-9463 or www.lynfredwinery.com
Located off of Roselle Road, Lynfred Winery is set in a handsome 1912 house with rich oak floors and intricate stained glass. The family-owned establishment, which began producing wine in 1979, is still managed by founder Fred Koehler, with help from his daughter and son.
Free tours, available on weekends at 2 and 4 p.m., include a visit to Lynfred's original winery and insight into the grape's journey from seed to bottle. Afterward, you can sip seven different Lynfred wines for $7.
Though reservations aren't required, retail sales manager Lori Lange strongly recommends calling ahead to reserve a spot.
"The tours have really filled up this summer -- we've had visitors from Japan, the Philippines and Puerto Rico," she said.
After the tour, you can sip seven different Lynfred wines for $7.
"Our wine-tasting menu, which changes every month, typically consists of three white wines, three reds and a fruit wine," she said.
For the 'staycationers'
Chicago Architecture Foundation's River Cruise
Where: Dock at southeast corner of Michigan Avenue bridge and Wacker Drive, Chicago
When: 90-minute tours run on the half-hour from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tickets: $28; $14 members.
Info: (312) 902-1500 or www.architecture.org.
Ever heard of a staycation? That's a native's practice of devoting a weekend, or just a day, to exploring little-known facets of the Chicago area?
Though the Chicago Architecture Foundation's river tours are attended by visitors from all over the world, foundation spokesperson Susan Ross said she's "always surprised by how many Chicago-area families are on board."
The 90-minute narrated tours spotlight more than 50 architecturally significant sites in a city world famous for its buildings, from Sullivan to Adler.
"You go west from Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive and travel to the Merchandise Mart before going on the North Branch of the Chicago River," Ross said.
The volunteer docents, a group composed of stay-at-home moms, philosophy professors, lawyers, architects and public relations executives, "each give tours in a different style -- no one is the same," Ross said.
Vessels are Chicago's First Lady, Chicago's Little Lady and Chicago's Fair Lady, each of which feature outdoor open-air and indoor climate-controlled seating. Though young children are certainly welcome, Ross advises that the boats are not a place to run around.
"It's great for school-aged children interested in boats and architecture," she said.
Tours (including Labor Day) start at 10 a.m. and run on the half-hour until 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.architecture.org.
For the outdoorsman (or woman)
Biking, hiking, swimming and camping at Chain of Lakes State Park and Rock Cut State Park
Chain of Lakes State Park
Where: 8916 Wilmot Road, Spring Grove
When: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
Cost: Free
Info: www.stateparks.com
Rock Cut State Park
Where: 7318 Harlem Road, Loves Park
When: Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Cost: Free
Info: www.stateparks.com
For those who spend their weekends biking, hiking, swimming and camping, the end of summer hits the hardest.
Maximize your time with a day-trip to the Chain of Lakes or Rock Cut State Park.
Chain of Lakes State Park in Antioch off of Route 173, is just four miles south of the Illinois/Wisconsin border. The park's 6,023 acres of wilderness features several trail systems -- 2½ miles of Nature's Way hiking trails; 8 miles of equestrian trails; and another 5 miles of biking/hiking trails.
Chain O'Lakes also offers boating, canoeing, horseback riding and camping. There are 151 class-A campsites with electricity and 87 non-electric, class-B campground sites (of which the park allots 25 percent for advanced registration).
In addition, there are canoe and rowboat rentals and 6 class-A campsites accessible to the physically challenged, including adapted restrooms and showers.
Traveling northeast to Lowes Park is Rock Cut State Park. Nearby are other "rocky" landmarks -- the mighty, and recently overflowing, Rock River and the place where wagons once forded it, Rockford. Two lakes set off the park's 3,092 acres. Pierce Lake, with 162 acres, is a retreat for people wanting to fish. A second 50-acre Olson Lake is especially for swimmers. Rounding out the park's recreational options are hiking, horseback trails and camping, featuring 28 Class-A Premium sites for reservation, 180 Class-A Premium sites and 60 Class-B Premium sites on a first-come first-served basis. www.stateparks.com.