Free art fun at Museum of Contemporary Art

Chicago

Art project

Remember snipping construction paper, coloring with crayons or whiling away an hour or two creating a masterpiece? Art is as good a mental release for adults as children, but before you start hitting up Junior for his Sharpies, head to Tuesday Evenings in the Café at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The MCA presents a new collection of free Tuesday evenings in Puck's Cafe from doodle-focused art gatherings to curiously curated "variety shows" and artist talk after-parties. Drinks and refreshments are available for purchase. Admission to the museum is free on Tuesdays and it's open until 8 p.m.

6 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 6, to April 27 at Puck's Café, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave.

Fantasy foodie fete

Brats and beer are de rigueur for October, but when you live near a city like Chicago, you just may want to take advantage of the first OctoberFeast. River North teems with fabulous restaurants and OctoberFeast allows you a progressive stroll among some of Chicago's best restaurant, bar and entertainment venues each featuring signature food and drink tastings along the way. With 25 venues and eight routes in all, you can sample Japanese, Mediterranean, Italian and other cuisines. You have 45 minutes at each of five venues on the route. The last stop is at Martini Park where all meet for an after-party (included in the price of admission).

5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6. Tickets cost $50 per person and are available at (312) 645-1047 or rivernorth association.com.

Fall for it

Enjoy a stay at one of Chicago's most elegant landmarks - the InterContinental Chicago. The hotel, with a front entrance on the prestigious Magnificent Mile, is offering several money-saving packages that range from romantic getaways and jazz-lovers' adventures to sports- and movie-lover packages. Packages start at $234 per couple and many include extras like freshly prepared breakfast for two, MagMile gift certificates and gift cards to the ESPN Zone.

Through Dec. 31 at 505 N. Michigan Ave. For reservations and information on packages, call (312) 944-4100 or visit icchicagohotel.com.

Midwest

Ozark Mountain fair devils

Leaf peepers usually think "north," but when you head south you can really feast on the season's color banquet throughout the month of October. Consider Missouri and the Chateau On The Lake Resort & Spa's Fall Foliage Package. The package includes two nights of deluxe accommodations, $50 food credit at the resort, and use of the resort's pool and facilities. In addition, the package includes two-day passes for two adults and one child to the Silver Dollar City theme park. The package starts at $510 per room and is available through Oct. 31 based on space availability.

For reservations or details, call (888) 333-5253 or Chateau OnTheLake.com.

Fangs for the memories

Vampires and werewolves descend on Six Flags Great America weekends starting Saturday, Oct. 3, for the 19th annual Fright Fest. There will be special shows and parades for the whole family, haunted houses, scare-free children's areas and a free Character Candy Trail. Show up on Saturday, Oct. 24, when Six Flags Great America hosts Thrill the World that will attempt to break the world record for the most people simultaneously dancing the "Thriller" dance.

Weekends in October and the first Sunday in November. 5 to 11 p.m. Fridays, (not open Friday, Oct. 2); 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12. Buy online and save $25 off admission. $29.99 (available online Saturday, Oct. 3, to Monday, Oct. 12) or Everyone Pays Kids Price $34.99 (available online Oct. 16 to Nov. 1).

Get a (ski) jump on winter

Ski, snow and boarding buddies might want to consider Boyne Mountain's newest event, Skitoberfest, a weekend that celebrates the coming winter season with a Snowsports Summit in an Oktoberfest setting. Meet and greet Winter X-games gold medalist Simon Dumont and former U.S. Ski Team coach Greg Needell. The brewfest will feature a dozen Michigan breweries and homemade bratwurst grilled by Tannery Creek Meat Market of Petoskey, Mich. There also will be live music and dancing, kids' art, a bounce house and instrument making.

2 p.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3-4. Admission is $20 and includes 12 tickets for beer sampling and wine tasting. For complete Skitoberfest details or information on lodging packages, call (800) 462-6963 or visit BOYNE.com.

Worth the trip

There are foodie fests with local musicians strolling around the grounds and then there's the 14th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival at Walt Disney World Resort. The global-tasting experience is six weeks of daily sampling of fine cuisine and wines from cities of the world, culinary demonstrations, seminars, programs and concerts. Among the 17 acts scheduled to appear are Spyro Gyra, Vanessa Carlton, Kool & The Gang, Boyz II Men and En Vogue.

Times of programs vary now until Nov. 8 at Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fl. Call (407) 939-3378 for information and to make reservations. Festival details available at disneyworld.com/ foodandwine.