Travel calendar
Near
Counting down to the Derby
The Kentucky Derby Festival, now through May 2 in Louisville, Ky., is held during the weeks immediately preceding the Kentucky Derby, set for May 3 this year. This communitywide celebration features more than 70 events and attracts crowds in excess of 1.5 million. The Kentucky Derby Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront & Chow Wagon, April 24 through May 2, will feature national, regional and local music acts, walk-in movies, interactive children's areas, traveling displays and ethnic food concessions in a 500,000-square-foot venue on the banks of the Ohio River. The Derby Festival Great BalloonFest, April 24-26, will feature up to 50 chase balloons with one hare in morning races. During the evening Balloon Glow the illumination of the balloons will be choreographed to live music. The Great Steamboat Race on April 30 pits the Belle of Louisville and the Delta Queen on a race of 14 miles up the Ohio River and back. Other events include the Derby Festival Pegasus Parade on May 1, Great Bed Races on April 28 and the Run for the Rosȩ on April 29, when restaurant servers and corporate teams race around a half-mile obstacle course while trying to balance six full glasses of wine. (312 miles from O'Hare, (800) 626-5646, (502) 584-3378, www.kdf.org)
Pack your binoculars and head to Alton
Wings of Spring Confluence Birding Festival on April 26 will bring bird lovers together with migratory birds drawn to the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers near Alton, Ill. Plan on off-site birding trips, arts and entertainment, family-centered educational activities and live bird meet and greets. Birding cruises and kayak trips also are available. (285 miles from O'Hare, (800) 258-6645, www.wingsofspring.org)
Events bring history alive in Indiana
History buffs should mark April 26 and 27 on their calendars and plan a trip to Indiana.
In Bridgeton, Ind., you can tour encampments of early 1800s living conditions during the Mountain Man Rendezvous. There will be trading posts, a canoe race, antiques, muzzle loaders and tomahawk- and knife-throwing demonstrations. (218 miles from O'Hare, (765) 548-2136)
The Redbud Trail Rendezvous in Rochester, Ind., is a gathering of fur traders and re-enactors in historic tepees and camps. There will be muzzle-loading shoots, foods cooked over wood fires, blanket trading, music, dance and frontier crafts. (139 miles from O'Hare, (574-223-4436, www.icss.net/~fchs)
Free sassafras tea and cookies, plus hundreds of homemade pies and breads offered at a bake sale, will fuel visitors to the Sassafras Tea Festival and Civil War Living History in Vernon, Ind. There will be battle re-enactments and a blue and gray ball. (277 miles from O'Hare, (812) 346-8989, www.jenningscohs.org)
Tour studios in Iowa and Minnesota
From April 25-27, art enthusiasts can find treasures in the hills and valleys of the Bluff Country region of southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa, during the eighth annual Studio Art Tour. Enjoy the emergence of spring when traveling scenic back roads to the studios of this area's finest artists. Many of these artists only open their studios occasionally throughout the year and rarely share the tricks of their trade. Artists will be demonstrating bead making, wood carving, wheel-thrown ceramics and more. Galleries are located in Decorah, Dorchester and Burr Oak, Iowa, and in Harmony, Lanesboro and Winona, Minn. (303 miles from O'Hare, (800) 428-2030, www.bluffcountryarttour.com)
Trappers and traders gather again
The Gathering at Macktown is a celebration of the first non-native American settlement in Northern Illinois with traders, trappers, voyagers, militia, re-enactors and demonstrators, historic food, music and games. It all takes place April 26 and 27 at Macktown Forest Preserve in Rockton, Ill. (81 miles from O'Hare, (815) 624-4200, www.macktownlivinghistory.com)
Fish stories are the order of the day
Kalkaska, Mich., surrounded by 225 miles of trout streams and more than 80 lakes near Michigan's Little Finger, is serious about trout. For more than 40 years a 600-pound, 11-foot-tall statue of the fish has stood proudly in the heart of the town, which is the setting for the National Trout Festival April 23-27. The long weekend features a midway, talent and arts and crafts shows, a classic car cruise, fireworks, fishing contests, fish fry, pig roast and a parade. (328 miles from O'Hare, (800) 487-6880, www.kalkaskami.com, www.nationaltroutfestival.com)
Movie buffs gather at annual Ebertfest
Roger Ebert's Film Festival will be held in Champaign, Ill., April 23-27 with film critic Roger Ebert, who went to college at the University of Illinois, as critic and host. More than a dozen films will be screened and there will be panel discussions with writers, directors and actors, including directors Ang Lee and Paul Schrader and actors Christine Lahti and Joey Pantoliano. (152 miles from O'Hare, (217) 244-0552, www.ebertfest.com)
Ride the rails during Depot Days
"Speeder Car" rides and model railroad displays are part of the fun of Brooklyn Depot Days in Brooklyn, Wis. This year's festival, April 26 and 27, will also include artwork on display, citywide garage sales, a carnival and parade. (118 miles from O'Hare, (608) 455-1503, www.depotdays.info, www.brooklynwisconsin.com)
Peek inside artists' studios in St. Paul
The 25th Saint Paul Crawl will be held April 25-27 in St. Paul, Minn. One of the largest events of its type in the Twin Cities, the "crawl" is a self-guided tour of more than 250 artists' studios and galleries in more than 26 buildings. It continues to be based in Lowertown and downtown, but this year will extend up University Avenue and onto Harriet Island. Along with galleries, restaurants and coffee shops will be featured artists and performances. A silent auction will feature donations from local businesses and participating artists. Free bus transportation is available to carry visitors to venues. (390 miles from O'Hare, (651) 292-4373, www.stpaulartcrawl.org)
Far
In Canada, tulips spell friendship
The Canadian Tulip Festival in Gatineau, Quebec, seeks to preserve the heritage and character of its 55-year-old history around its original founding idea: international friendship. The International Pavilion, which featured embassies and community groups from 15 countries, attracting a record 125,000 visitors in 11 days last year, will be expanded to the entire run of the festival, May 2-19. More countries will be added and international entertainment enhanced. The focus of the festival, however, is the kaleidoscope of more than 3 million tulips in Canada's Capital Region. The Tulip Route follows the historic Rideau Canal to the Parliament buildings and across the Ottawa River to the Outaouais. Events during the festival include a parade, live music and an art festival. ((800) 265-7822, www.tulipfestival.ca)
Motor maniacs get their fix in Missouri
The Magic Dragon Street Meet Car Show is the largest show of its kind in central Missouri. From May 2-4, more than 600 street rods, customs, trucks, street machines and motorcycles will grace Bagnell Dam Boulevard in Lake Ozark, Mo. There also will be live entertainment, vendors and auto-related activities. ((800) 451-4117, www.lakeareachamber.com, www.magicdragonstreetmeet.com)
• Event details are subject to change; contact organizers for updated information.