Chicago Humanities Festival a feast for the whole family
If "Dancing with the Stars" and "American Idol" are the only performing arts your kids are consuming, consider one or more of the shows or interactive events presented at Stages, Sights & Sound. Formerly known as the Chicago Children's Humanities Festival, the fiesta features family-friendly artists and ensembles from five countries at venues around Chicago. Choose comedy for kids, marionette performances, museum family days, storytelling and many theater performances. Tickets: $5-$12.
Wednesday, April 29, to Sunday, May 17. Tickets: $5-$12. For more details, call (312) 494-9509 or explore chfestival.org.
Object: runway
Bubble skirts and boleros, cowl necks and empire waists, madras and muslin will be sashaying down the runway during the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's Fashion Show 2009. It's the 75th anniversary of the annual fashion show and it moves the runway away from the catwalk and into the school's recently opened Sullivan Galleries. You'll see more than 200 original garments showcased during this multimedia fete of both creative clothing and contemporary art commissioned by students and faculty from the school's performance department.
2 and 7 p.m. Friday, April 24, at the Sullivan Galleries of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 36 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago. For details, strut over to tinyurl.com/saicfs or call the SAIC fashion department at (312) 629-6710.
Muggles, monsters and merpeople
Get an A in Hogwarts hokum when "Harry Potter: The Exhibition" opens at the Museum of Science and Industry. You'll not only learn about the cinematic alchemy that created iconic props and costumes that appeared throughout the Harry Potter series of films, but you can see over 200 authentic artifacts displayed in detailed settings re-creating Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hagrid's hut and the Great Hall. In addition, get a glimpse at items from the next film, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," opening this summer. Get you Quidditch team to the world premiere exhibit which requires a timed-entry ticket, either during regular museum hours or extended evening hours that run until 9 p.m.
Thursday, April 30, to Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Museum of Science and Industry; 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Purchase tickets at msichicago.org, at the museum, or by calling (773) 684-1414.
Midwest
A bloomin' brilliant weekend
To some people, they're weeds. To others, like Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow and Tom Petty, they're the stuff of emotional song lyrics. For you? How about an excuse to get out of town and back to nature during the 24th annual Wildflower Foray? The Foray, set in the forests of southern Indiana, is an engaging combination of collecting spring wildflower data and discovering new species in bloom plus fun bird walks, lake boat trips, nature photography, learning about edible and medicinal plants, trying nature-themed art and crafts, and a stretch of wildflower yoga. All programs and hikes are free, but some DNR properties charge a gate fee.
Friday to Sunday, April 24-26; Brown County, Indiana. Visit fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/docs/events/wildflower.html or call the Brown County Conventions and Visitors Bureau at (800) 753-3255.
Walk Wright in
Each spring the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust offers an acclaimed Wright Plus housewalk that takes visitors on rare interior tours of Wright and his contemporary's residential designs. Hard-core architecture fans may want to book the Ultimate Plus Weekend Package that includes an Exclusively Wright Dinner (created by three celebrated chefs and held in a FLW space); the Chairman's Reception; a Cityscapes tour of Chicago architecture; a tour of Wright's Robie House; and three nights' accommodation at the historic Carleton of Oak Park.
Housewalk, Saturday, May 16; Ultimate Plus Weekend Package, Thursday to Sunday, May 14-17. Tickets for the Ultimate Plus Weekend are on sale now at GoWright.org or call (877) 848-3559.
Beer, wine, cheese and trees
Combine a visit to the Great Mississippi River region with delicious samplings of Wisconsin's finest cheese and beer at the annual Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine & Cheese Festival in La Crosse, Wis. Enjoy an afternoon of sampling with over 40 beer, wine and cheese vendors including brewers like Hub City, Horny Goat Brewing Company, Milwaukee Brewing Company, Sprecher Brewing and Pig's Eye Brewing Company. Wisconsin gourmet artisan cheese will be served including some from local organic farms and family-operated dairy goat farms. Oenophiles can sip the wares of Barefoot wines; Chateau Ste. Michelle (the oldest winery in Washington state); Tola Wines of Italy; and Germany's Weingut Janz Vineyards, among others.
2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at the fest grounds on 2nd Street in downtown La Crosse. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Admission includes a souvenir glass and live music. Visit betweenthebluffsbeerfest.com or explorelacrosse.com for information on lodging and other area attractions.
Worth the trip
The Dolly Parton Homecoming Parade is an annual rite of spring in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and this year it's shifted from early spring to Friday, May 8, to take advantage of longer days and warmer weather. Parton is the official ambassador of the 75h anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its 9 million visitors make it the most visited of all national parks. The parade, with a variety of floats representing Pigeon Forge theaters, car and equestrian clubs, cheerleading teams, twirlers and high school marching bands, is just one of Pigeon Forge's six special events and festivals on the anniversary's official events calendar. Spring is a great time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Tennessee town.
Visit MyPigeonForge.com or call (800) 251-9100.
Images:
See Harry Potter's Wand, Glasses and Marauder's Map (trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR. (s09)) at Harry Potter: The Exhibition opening at the Museum of Science and Industry on April 30.