Get a taste of maple syrup making or look for birds

Cheap events? Contact Laura Stewart at lstewart@dailyherald.com

Free

These trains keep on rolling

The Lake County Model Railroad Club is hosting its Spring Open House. The club operates a permanent HO-scale model railroad in a 30-by-60-foot room, occupying more than 1,500 square feet. The train layout is 35 years old, but it has been enhanced with the latest in digital technology to simulate real railroad activity.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15, at the Lake County Model Railroad Building (at the rear entrance), 107 S. Main St., Wauconda. Admission is free. Guests who bring a non-perishable food item for the Wauconda Food Pantry will receive a raffle ticket for a door prize. For information, call Norm Kocol at (815) 363-1735 or visit lcmrr.org.

Rise and shine early to see the birds

Take part in the Bird Walk at Cantigny Park and First Division Museum to spot some red-winged blackbirds, killdeer and assorted waterfowl.

8:30 a.m. Saturday, March 14, at Cantigny Park and First Division Museum, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Free, with no parking fee. Guests should tell the gate attendant they are at Cantigny for the walk. Meet at the Visitors Center. (630) 668-5161 or cantignypark.com.

'Pass the syrup, please'

See how 1890s farm families collected and cooked sap to make their own maple syrup and sugar at the Maple Sugaring event at Kline Creek Farm. Participants can try out old-fashioned methods for tapping a tree and then taste the final product. Stop by the farm's visitors center for maple syrup, maple candy and tree-tapping supplies to make syrup at home.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15, at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, Winfield. Free. No reservations are required. (630) 933-7200 or dupageforest.com.

Clara's story

Historian Leslie Goddard portrays Civil War nurse Clara Barton, who helped found the American Red Cross. Barton is often referred to as "the angel of the battlefield."

2 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at Yesterday's Farm Museum, 850 N. Wood Dale Road, Wood Dale. Free, but donations are encouraged. For information, call Ann at (630) 766-4216 or Joanne at (630) 595-0790.

Lake Zurich shows off its business

The Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce hosts its 18th annual Business and Community Expo. The event features more than 120 local businesses and organizations showcasing their newest products and services in the school's field house and gymnasium. Miss Illinois, Katie Lorenz, will make an appearance. Other highlights include dance performances, a magician and Dave Dinaso's Traveling World of Reptiles.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at Lake Zurich High School, 300 Church St., Lake Zurich. Free and open to the public. (847) 438-5155 or lakezurichareachamber.com.

$10 and under

Antique hunting

View and/or purchase antiques from the 17th through the 20th centuries at the Spring Fox Valley Antiques Show and Sale. Mini-lectures about antiques will be given throughout the show. Lecture topics include "Silhouettes and Portrait Miniatures of the 19th Century" and "Antique Jewelry."

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 14, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at the Kane County Fairgrounds, on Randall Raod between Route 38 and Route 64 in St. Charles. Admission is $8. Visit Web site for a $1 coupon. (815) 838-06060 or foxvalleyantiqueshow.com.

Shamrock Shuffle

The Chicago area chapter of the USA Dance group hosts its monthly dance party, the Shamrock Shuffle. A quickstep dance lesson is offered before open dancing. The public is invited.

7 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at The Centre at North Park, 10040 Addison, Franklin Park. Dance lessons run from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. Social dancing runs from 8:15 to 11 p.m. Admission is $8 for members; $10 for non-members; $6 for students. (847) 577-9014 or visit usadancechciago.org.

'Disney's High School Musical'

See "Disney's High School Musical," a theatrical adaptation of the hit Disney Channel TV film about a jock and a brainy girl who risk the judgment of their cliques to audition for the high school musical.

10 a.m. Friday, March 13, 11 a.m. Saturday March 14, and 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 18, and Thursday, March 19, at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. $12 (excludes tax and handling fees). (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.