Get outside
The 2008 annual spring cleanup of the Round Lake shoreline and channels will take place on Saturday.
The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Round Lake Park lakefront park, at Washington and Lake Shore Drive.
Volunteers of all ages and skills are needed. Workers will start at the park across from the Round Lake Park village hall and work around the shoreline to the Round Lake Beach lake front park.
All volunteers will receive a free lunch from noon to 1 p.m.
Also, the Chain O' Lakes Sail & Power Squadron will perform free vessel safety checks to help boaters receive voluntary compliance with boating laws. The checks take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the boat launch at the Round Lake Beach boat launch.
For information, call (847) 644-3976.
The Waukegan Park District's debut and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new "Forest Findings" playground takes place at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Located on the northwest hillside of Bowen Park, at 1800 N. Sheridan Road, parents and children can partake in the park district's largest playground renovation project ever.
The environmental theme playground offers tiered play areas, learning stations and a six-station fitness and exercise trail.
Grab your bicycle this weekend for the 27th Annual Bicycle Club of Lake County's Ramble Bicycle event.
Bring your family and friends and pedal across the countryside roads of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin Sunday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Families can enjoy a family-friendly 12-mile course while more experienced bikers can choose from 30-, 50-, 70- or 100-mile routes.
Bikers start at the Kenosha County Fairgrounds just three miles north of the Illinois/Wisconsin border off of I-94.
Register at Active.com or bikebclc.com for $18 before the event or on-site for $22 from 6 to 10 a.m. For more information, call 847-566-8523.
A free guided bird walk will take place this Sunday at the Rollins Savanna near Grayslake.
Participants are invited to bring field guides and binoculars, and dress for the weather. The walk will be led by members of the Illinois Audubon Society.
The walk is from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
The main entrance and parking area for Rollins Savanna is on Washington Street at Atkinson Road, just west of Route 45 and east of Route 83. A second parking area is off of Drury Lane south of Rollins RoaINDId.
Gone fishin'
Anglers can take advantage of fishing without a license this weekend throughout Lake County.
For four days - Friday through Monday - the Illinois Department of Natural Resources waives its fishing license requirements.
Check out all the places to fish by visiting the Lake County Forest Preserve District's Web site at www.lcfpd.org.
The Gages Lake Conservation Committee (GLCC) along with Wildwood Park District, will host the annual Carp Fishing Derby Saturday.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Gages Lake.
Check in for the event will take place at Willow Point Park (off John Mogg Road and Deerpath) in Wildwood. This event is free and is held in conjunction with the IDNR Free Fishing Day so a fishing license is not necessary for this day.
All ages are welcome and prizes will be awarded to winners in a variety of categories. Some poles are available or you can bring your own. Basic instruction will also be available for beginners.
Those wishing to enter the contest are asked to sign in between 8:45 and 9 a.m. at the registration table in Willow Point Park. You may then fish anywhere on Gages Lake until the time of check-in (before noon).
For additional information, call (847) 223-7275.
Try to catch the grand prize albino catfish at the pond in Waukegan's Bevier Park during the 18th Annual Fishing Derby from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Stocked with more than 700 pounds of catfish, participants will try to catch the longest fish for a prize within their age group.
Long lines are expected, so pre-register for $3 at the Belvidere Recreation Center or at Hinkston Park's Field House by Friday. Registration at the event will cost $5 per participant and commence at 7:30 a.m.
For more information, call the Waukegan Park District at (847) 360-4700, or visit the Web site at www.waukeganparks.org.
The 16th annual fishing derby will be held Sunday in Lake Zurich.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Road.
Admission is free.
Shows and more
Bring your family and friends out to watch "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" on the big screen during the Warren Township Center's Movie in the Park event on Saturday.
The movie will be on the ball field at 1701 W. Washington St. in Gurnee.
Before the event, kids can learn Hip Hop dance moves from 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. with members of the Gangi Martial Arts center. Parking and snack food concessions will be available.
The monthly antique collectibles and flea market will be held on Sunday in Grayslake.
The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lake County Fairgrounds, near the intersections of routes 45 and 120.
Admission is $5 for adults and free for kids under 12.
Even if it looks like rain on Sunday, The Kids' Funfest at the Greenbelt Cultural Center at 1215 Green Bay Road in North Chicago will still be going on.
This indoor event - from 2 to 5 p.m. - features crafting with the Girl Scouts of America, face painting, wagon rides, a petting zoo, moonwalk, music, sports, prizes and loads of more entertainment.
Parking is available with shuttle service on Dugdale Road. Free to the public, visitors can look forward to free popcorn and snow cones. For more information on Kids' Funfest or the Sounds of Summer event series call (847) 968-3477.
Brooke Barrettsmith, a 2006 American Idol finalist will perform at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
The concerts will take place at St. Mary of Vernon Parish Center, 236 Route 45, Indian Creek.
Barrettsmith will perform in honor of her uncle, H. Straten Barrettsmith, a five-year pancreatic cancer survivor.
Tickets cost $20 each or three for $50 and are available online at www.pancan.org/brookebarrettsmith. Tickets are free for pancreatic cancer survivors.