Travel calendar
Near
Fall festival focuses on covered bridges
Indiana's largest festival spans Parke County, drawing thousands of visitors. This year's Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, Oct. 12-21, includes guided tours of the area's covered bridges beginning from Rockville, Ind. Communities along the way stage festivities, including entertainment, demonstrations, flea markets, antique and craft shows, hayrides, a hog roast and other foods, such as apple butter and "buried beef." (175 miles from O'Hare, (765) 569-5226, www.coveredbridges.com)
Welcome autumn in Wisconsin Dells
With trees decked out in brilliant hues setting the scene, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., kicks up the fun and celebrates the autumn harvest season Oct. 13 and 14 during Autumn Harvest Fest. Take part in family activities, including scarecrow-stuffing contests and pumpkin decorating, enjoy music or take a stroll through a craft fair and farmers market. Ride through the fall color display on an amphibious duck boat tour, a tour boat or a train. The weekend also includes plenty of food, along with cheese and mustard tasting and the Wisconsin Dells on Tap microbrew tasting. (179 miles from O'Hare, (800) 223-3557, www.wisdells.com)
Beacons draw visitors to Michigan
Take a tour to Middle Island, Thunder Bay Island and other lighthouses Oct. 11-14 during the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival in Alpena, Mich. This is the 12th annual celebration of this important part of Great Lakes history. The program features speakers and entertainment in addition to the tours of area lighthouses. (444 miles from O'Hare, (586) 566-1603, www.lighthousefestival.org)
Paying tribute to the written word
Stories come to life at the Wisconsin Book Festival, a public celebration of the written word in Madison, Wis., Oct. 10-14. Featuring more than 200 authors from across the nation, including novelists, poets, children's writers, book artists, editors and critics, the festival includes children's events, storytelling, readings, lectures, discussions, exhibits and book signings. Events are held at locations throughout the capital city. (130 miles from O'Hare, (608) 262-0706, www.wisconsinbookfestival.org)
Return to pioneer days of Illinois
Old Settlers Days in Kampsville, Ill., depicts the life and times of early settlers in Calhoun County. Activities on Oct. 13 and 14 will include a Mountain Man Encampment, fiddle contest, live music, carriage rides, children's activities and a quilt drawing. (290 miles from O'Hare, (618) 465-2114, www.greatriverroad.com/RV/kSettle.htm)
Polish your weekend with apple festival
The 28th Annual Apple Festival in Charlevoix, Mich., features more than 30 types of apples, including antique varieties. From Oct. 12-14 you'll also find apple cider, apple butter, pumpkins, squash, jam and honey. An art show and kiddie face painting, pony rides and a petting zoo round out the activities. (370 miles from O'Hare, (800) 951-2101, www.chamberhub.com/cgi/foxweb.dll/wlx/cal/wlxprofile?caleid=1541&cc=CHXCOC)
In Ohio, celebrate all things sauerkraut
Pay tribute to the humble cabbage in Waynesville, Ohio, Oct. 13 and 14 during the Ohio Sauerkraut Festival. Along with a cabbage-growing contest and sauerkraut recipe contest there is stage entertainment and more than 500 craft booths. The annual festival draws about 300,000 visitors. (338 miles from O'Hare, (513) 897-8855, www.sauerkrautfestival.com)
Hunters' Moon recalls fur-trade era
Witness a re-enactment of life during the 18th century at a French, British and American Indian trading post during Feast of the Hunters' Moon in West Lafayette, Ind. The festival on Oct. 13 and 14 is a re-creation of the annual fall gathering at Fort Ouiatenon, a fur-trading outpost on the banks of the Wabash River. Traditional artisans will demonstrate 18th-century crafts, and more than 50 different foods adapted from historic recipes will be served. The grounds will contain an Indian village and serve as the venue for military drills, presentations by French settlers and voyageurs. Programming held on five stages includes French and American Indian music and dance, fife and drum corps performances, fashion shows and puppet shows. Hands-on activities include the children's trade blanket, costume try-on, candle-dipping, storytelling, cross-cut sawing and tomahawk throwing. (139 miles from O'Hare, (765) 476-8411, http://tcha.mus.in.us/feast.htm)
Take a scenic drive in downstate Illinois
Events surrounding two scenic drives will be bringing motorists to several communities on two weekends: Oct. 6, 7, 13 and 14.
The 40th Fall Festival of the Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive takes place in Fulton County, Ill. Fifteen areas and villages will participate this year with food, art, crafts, demonstrations, displays and entertainment. Hosts will wear costumes of the 1890s and early 1900s when Edgar Lee Masters lived in Lewistown, Ill., gathering ideas for his poems. A dramatic performance of his "Spoon River Anthology" will be given at Oak Hill Cemetery. Some visitors eat their way along the scenic drive, sampling cider slush, funnel cakes, butterfly pork chops, apple dumplings, rib-eye steak sandwiches, homemade pies, breads and apple butter. (205 miles from O'Hare, (309) 647-8980, www.spoonriverdrive.org)
The Knox County Scenic Drive travels through several towns in Knox County, Ill., where attractions include crafts, country foods, the Scarecrow Festival in Galesburg (Oct. 6 and 7 only) and horse and dog shows at the Woodland View Farm. Two one-room schoolhouses, four buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a railroad depot, an 1832 log cabin, museums and century-old chapels will be open to explore. (194 miles from O'Hare, (800) 916-3330, http://home.gallatinriver.net/scenicdrive)
Far
Get your motor running in Daytona Beach
Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach, Fla., is a rousing, fun-filled weekend that attracts more than 100,000 motorcycle enthusiasts from near and far. Activities Oct. 18-21 include rides, concerts, food and championship racing. ((386) 255-0415, www.biketoberfest.org)
Dancing in the street in Key West
Two festivals stand out on the calendar next month in Key West, Fla.
"Gnomes, Toads and White Rabbit Tea Parties" is the theme for this year's outrageous Fantasy Fest. The 29th annual festival, Oct. 19-28, has a packed schedule of costume competitions, promenades and street fairs and a grand parade featuring marching groups and lavish floats. ((305) 296-1817, www.fantasyfest.net)
On Oct. 19 and 20, Goombay Festival will be held in the historic Bahama Village neighborhood. The lively festival is known for its island-style food, handmade African arts and crafts, nonstop live entertainment and dancing in the streets. ((305) 797-7225, www.goombay-keywest.org)
* Event details are subject to change; contact organizers for updated information.