On the cheap: Cuneo tours, Poi Dog Pondering, Prairie Arts fest
Free
Cuneo Gardens Art Festival
Peruse fine arts and crafts from across the United States at the Cuneo Gardens Art Festival. View paintings, ceramics, jewelry and sculpture while listening to live musical entertainment. Food is available for purchase. Cuneo mansion tours can be taken for a fee.
Facts: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, at the Cuneo Museum and Gardens, 1350 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills. Free admission. (847) 362-3042 or cuneomuseum.org.
Rock the night away
Relay for Life hosts a barbecue with free music from live blues and rock bands to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Burgers and beverages are available for purchase.
Facts: 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 22, through 12:30 a.m. Saturday, May 23, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 15 N. Hickory St., Arlington Heights. Free admission. There is a charge for food and beverages. (847) 255-4483.
Step out with Poi Dog Pondering
The popular rock group Poi Dog Pondering presents a free concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 23, as part of The Arboretum of South Barrington's Memorial Weekend Block Party. The concert takes place by the Munao Fountain Plaza at The Arboretum of South Barrington. Bring a blanket or chair for seating. Other free events at the two-day Weekend Block Party include a sidewalk sale, a concert by children's performer Dave Rudolf, face painters and rides and inflatable games.
Events begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 23, and at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday May 24, at the Arboretum of South Barrington, at Route 59 and Route 72 in South Barrington. Free admission. Visit shopthearboretumsb.com.
'Prairie Arts Festival'
Visit the Prairie Arts Festival, a fine arts show and sale with works by more than 150 artists. See creations of glass, fiber, sculpture, jewelry, photography and paintings. Entertainment, a children's activity tent and food are part of the fun.
Facts: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, at the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center, 101 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Free admission. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org.
$10 and under
Greek to me
St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church of Aurora hosts its annual Flavors of Greece Festival at the Kane County Fairgrounds. Everyone is Greek for the day at this indoor celebration of Greek food, music and dance. Dive into a plate of sweet Greek pastries such as baklava. Try Greek folk dancing or whip up a dish at a cooking class. Kids can head up the play area's climbing wall.
Facts: 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 22, and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, 24, at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and kids under age 12. Note: There is an additional charge for food. (630) 851-6106. Visit stathanasios.org for a free-admission coupon.
Nothing fishy
Husband and wife musical team Stephen Dawson and Diane Christiansen and their band, Dolly Varden, star at FitzGerald's. Dolly Varden, named for a species of trout, performs pop/rock tunes for humans.
Facts: 9 p.m. Friday, May 22, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. (708) 788-2118 or visit fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.
A celebration of spring
Enjoy spring afternoon activities at Bonner Heritage Farm's Spring Fling. Guests can take wagon rides, try out hands-on exhibits and meet some animal friends at a petting zoo, Other highlights include a barn raising, some old-fashioned farm games, live entertainment by folk singer Jim Kanas and plenty of food and crafts.
Facts: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Bonner Heritage Farm, on the north side of Sand Lake Road, west of Route 45, Lake County Forest Preserve, Lindenhurst. Admission is $3; free for children ages 3 and younger (847) 968-3400 or lcfpd.org.
Fairs and festivals
• Elgin Wine Festival, Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave., Elgin: Featuring wine tasting, food sampling and live music, 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 23. $20 in advance, $30 at door, $10 designated driver ticket. (847) 382-1480 or elginwinefestival.com.
• Mount Prospect Jaycees Memorial Day Carnival, |Mount Prospect Plaza, Rand and Central roads, Mount Prospect: Runs through Monday, May 25. Opens at 6 p.m. Friday, May 22, and at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25. Ride tickets cost $1.25 each, or 20 for $20. Unlimited rides for $16 from 6 p.m. to close May 20-21. Free parking. (847) 289-4395.
• St. Charles Fine Art Show, on First Avenue between Main Street and Illinois Avenue, St. Charles: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 23, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 24. Art sale, demonstrations, silent auctions and more. Free. (630) 513-5386 or dtown.org.
• Tavern Days, |Lisle Station Park, 921 School St., Lisle: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 23. Includes 19th century tavern games and samples of beer. Ages 21 and older. (630) 968-0499.