World Music Festival has attracted thousands since 1999
Chicago
We've got the whole world (in our ears)
The citywide, multivenue, one-week World Music Festival is a study in numbers: attracting more than 500,000 people since its inception in 1999. This year's fest features 57 artists from 32 countries performing traditional and contemporary music from diverse cultures spanning the globe. Witness everything from Japanese balladeers to French hip-hop artists as well as pop, folk, power drumming and trance tunes from Algeria, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Congo, Croatia, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Hungary, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Syria, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States. Many events are family-friendly with some performances free and others costing $15 or less. Events will be held in museums, parks, cultural centers, plazas, theaters, clubs and other venues throughout Chicago. Don't miss the U.S. debut of Turkey's Mehter Ottoman Turkish Military Band in Millennium Park and take advantage of five free noontime concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
Various locations and times Friday, Sept. 18, to Thursday, Sept. 24. For schedule information, call (312) 742-1938 or visit WorldMusicFestivalChicago.org.
Omp, pah-pah
The great tradition of robust meals and Berghoff beer began in 1882 and although many lamented the passing of the original Berghoff's restaurant a few years ago, you can still wet the pipes with private label Berghoff beer and root beer in the heart of Chicago's Loop. Berghoff Oktoberfest 2009 is a spirited outdoor celebration that takes place during the week. Expect only the finest brats, apple strudel and other German dishes, raffles and plenty of Bavarian music by the Johnny Wagner Band, Maggie Speaks, Sixteen Candles and Modern Day Romeos.
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, Sept. 16-18, at Federal Plaza, 219 S. Dearborn St. Free admission. (312) 427-3170 or berghoff.com.
Dig it, Daddy-O
The Obama family's old stomping grounds play host to 15 hours of dazzling grooves, melancholy meditations and improvised joy during the Third Annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival. More than 100 jazz musicians including world-class headliners and local emerging artists converge upon a dozen creative and unexpected indoor and outdoor cultural venues such as the Hyde Park Bank and Trust, DuSable Museum, Hyde Park Art Center, Oriental Robie House and Rockefeller Chapel. Don't miss Cassandra Wilson, 2009 Grammy Award winner for Best Jazz Vocal Album, performing at the University of Chicago's Rockefeller Chapel. All performances are free.
11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood from East 47th Street to East 61st Street. For the concert schedule, call (773) 834-3534 or visit hydeparkjazzfestival.org.
Midwest
Get a trophy wife
So you weren't the star quarterback in high school. You can still get a trophy for battling your way through sand, water and log hurdles, albeit with your wife on your back, during the 2009 Wisconsin Wife Carrying-Wife Ferrying-Pike Carrying Championships.
Teams compete on a track that is sand, grass and gravel with log hurdles and a water obstacle for a grand prize of the wife's weight prize(s) and five-times the wife's weight in cash. Kids can compete in the pike carrying contest to win $50 in cash. Stay for the brat fry.
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Torpy Park, downtown Minocqua, Wis. (715) 356-3309 or minocquawinterpark.org.
You show, girl
Leave it all behind for a girls' weekend in Michigan at the Grand Traverse Woman Expo, two days of browsing more than 100 unique vendors, watching health, fitness and beauty demos, speakers and special events. Taking place in the Governor's Ballroom at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City, the expo costs an easy $7 and includes a party pass to the Turtle Creek Casino Girls Night Out, the Chico's Fashion Show and both days of the expo.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, Acme, Mich. Make it into a girlfriend getaway with lodging packages at the resort. E-mail expo@grandtraversewoman.com for info on getaway packages or call (616) 293-9552. Tickets are available online at grandtraversewoman.com or at the door.
A weekend full of fun
Looking for a boatload of action in one weekend? Get out the GPS and head to the Quad Cities for five big events next weekend. All eyes are on the skies for the Quad Cities Kite Festival in Davenport, Iowa, with kite battles, kite making, candy drops and stunt kites at Centennial Park. Find details about the free event at qckites.com.
Taming of the Slough takes place on Saturday morning with canoeing or kayaking, mountain biking and running adventure races in downtown Moline, Ill. Details at riveraction.org.
Quench your thirst at Brew Ha Ha on Saturday with 200 samples of beer, live music, comedians and food in downtown Davenport. Tickets cost $25 at the gate. Details at wqpt.org/brew.
Artsy types will gravitate to the Riverssance Festival held both days. It's an outdoor art fair with 100 regional artists paired with live music, gourmet food, wine tasting and kid's activities in Lindsay Park in East Davenport, Iowa. Details at midcoast.org. Finally, get to downtown Rock Island, Ill., for Erin Feis, an Irish heritage festival on Sunday for live entertainment, food and displays. Details at stpatsqc.com.
Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19-20, times and locations vary. For details and lodging information, contact the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 747-7800 or visitquadcities.com.
Have a taste for something different? There's the 18th annual West Virginia Road Kill Cook-off, one of Pocahontas County's most popular events. Sample possum, groundhog, polecat and more as top chefs compete for cash prizes with their best recipes. It's not all about squirrel gravy over biscuits and teriyaki marinated bear. The Roadkill Cook-Off is held in conjunction with the Annual Autumn Harvest Festival that offers country crafts, wagon rides through historic Marlinton, W.Va., apple pressing, a farmers market, live music, games and contests and a youth fiddle contest. Known as the "Birthplace of Rivers," Pocahontas County is in the Allegheny Mountains and offers five state parks, two state forests and more than 800 miles of hiking and biking trails.
9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 26, in Marlinton, W.Va. Visit pccocwv.com/festival.htm.