Calendar
Near
Strawberries draw downstate visitors
Elmwood Strawberry Festival, Elmwood, Ill., May 31. Family event featuring 3-on-3 basketball, car show, entertainment, crafts, strawberry delicacies and pork chops. (194 miles from O'Hare, (309) 742-8272, www.peoria.org/events/index.php?category=Festivals)
See Indy racing stars in West Allis, Wis.
IndyCar Series at The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wis., June 1. Get your engines revving for the return of the stars of the Indy 500 racing at 170 mph. Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti, Helio Castroneves, defending race winner Tony Kanaan and all the IndyCar Series stars will be competing on the oval on the Wisconsin State Fair grounds. (78 miles from O'Hare, (414) 453-8277, www.milwaukeemile.com)
Jackson, Mich., marks 50 years of roses
Jackson County Rose Festival, Jackson, Mich., June 1. The 50th anniversary of this fragrant fest, which includes fireworks, parade and Party in the Park. (225 miles from O'Hare, (517) 787-2065, www.jacksonrosefestival.org)
Splash down in Milwaukee
Riversplash!, Milwaukee, Wis., May 30 through June 1. Celebration along 10 blocks of Milwaukee's downtown river, Pere Marquette Park and RiverWalk includes food, fireworks and music. Free admission. Eight stage areas feature music from more than 40 local, regional and national bands in a musical mix of rock, pop, R&B, country, jazz, calypso, reggae, salsa, swing and Latin. The Kid's Stage includes song, dance, theater and activities. In the Great Paddle-Off, local politicians and media square off in a paddleboat race across the Milwaukee River. Street performers juggle everything from fire to chainsaws, lie on beds of nails, ride tiny bicycles, race on flaming skateboards and perform amazing feats of acrobalance. About 30 restaurants participate in the festival, offering festival-goers everything from spicy veggie Singapore noodles to savory German knackwurst with sauerkraut. The Marketplace features about 20 merchants who offer jewelry, contemporary works of art, clothing, pottery and one-of-a-kind treasures. (80 miles from O'Hare, (414) 297-9855, www.riversplash.com)
One man's trash is another's treasure
Historic National Road Yard Sale, Dublin, Ind., May 28 through June 1. The 2008 Historic U.S. Route 40 Yard Sale is headquartered in Indiana, but actually extends from St. Louis, Mo., to Baltimore, Md. Sales are held dawn to dusk. The route travels 824 miles along part of a National Scenic byway. Look for furniture, fresh produce, antiques, collectibles and glassware. (253 miles from O'Hare, (765) 478-4809, www.oldstorefrontantiques.com)
Annual rodeo gets bigger this year
U.P. Pro Rodeo, Iron River, Mich., June 5-7. The Upper Peninsula Championship Pro Rodeo has joined with Lincoln County Rodeo Days of Merrill, Wis., for a bigger and more exciting event at the Iron County Fairgrounds. (336 miles from O'Hare, (888) 879-4766, www.upprorodeo.com)
Attend the big party in the North Woods
Rice Lake Aquafest, Rice Lake, Wis., June 6-15. More than 30,000 people attend this annual event with nationally known entertainers, kids games, petitions, grand parade, art festival, carnival, auto demolition derby, dances, pancake breakfast, tractor pull and duck chase. (357 miles from O'Hare, (800) 523-6318, www.ricelaketourism.com)
Lilac lovers head to Mackinac Island
Annual Lilac Festival, Mackinac Island, Mich., June 6-15. Some of the oldest living lilacs in North America show their colors and fragrance during this celebration that includes concerts, tours, talks, 10K run and Father's Day parade. (415 miles from O'Hare, (800) 454-5227, www.mackinacislandlilacfestival.com)
Far
Get a moove on in Vermont
Strolling of the Heifers, Brattleboro, Vt., June 6-8. Vermont's light-hearted version of Spain's Running of the Bulls features the Strolling of the Heifers Parade with 100 flower-bedecked bovine beauties ambling up Main Street, followed by nationally renowned acts and entertainment. It also includes a Dairy Fest, Contra Dance, Royal Farmers' Feast and Farm Tour. ((877) 254-4565, www.strollingoftheheifers.com)
Lift your glass and toast Napa Valley
Napa Valley Wine Auction, Napa Valley, Calif., June 5-8. Celebrate the wines, people and land of Napa Valley with hundreds of wine auction lots and scores of vintner-hosted events that include tastings, music and food. ((707) 963-3388, www.napavintners.com/auctionnapavalley)
Country music fan fair hits Nashville
Country Music Association Music Festival, Nashville, Tenn., June 5-8. Thirty hours of autograph signings, 100 hours of live music, 400 Country Music artists and celebrities in one of the largest country music fan experiences in the nation. Includes daily and nightly concerts, celebrity sporting events, parade and block party. ((800) 262-3378, www.cmafest.com)
• Event details are subject to change; contact organizers for updated information.