Cheap fun: Greek fest, live blues, stamp collector show

$10 and under Greek for a day Celebrate the Heritage of Greece at the St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church Flavors of Greece Festival. Highlights include Greek food, music, dance, dance lessons, cooking classes, market and cash raffles.6 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 28, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, May 30, at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. $2-$3 general admission. (630) 851-6106 or stathanasios.org.Eddie Shaw The Wolf GangEddie Shaw The Wolf Gang perform live blues at Harlem Avenue Lounge.9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 29, at the Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn. $6. (708) 484-3610 or harlemavenuelounge.com.Lambs Summer Kick-Off CookoutThe Lambs Summer Kick-Off Cookout features a barbecue lunch, crafts, live music and unlimited entrance to the Lambs Farm farmyard with its petting zoo, miniature golf course and carousel. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 30, at Lambs Farm, I-94 and Route 176, Libertyville. $10 per person. Children younger than age 3 are free. Call (847) 990-3750, or visit lambsfarm.org.Free So many stampsMore than 40 stamp dealers from across the country will display and sell a wide variety of stamps and covers at the Combined Philatelic Exhibition of Chicagoland (COMPEX) Postage Stamp Collectors Show. More than 130 frames of exhibits by collectors will also be on view.10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, May 28; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 29, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 30, at Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights. Free admission. For information, call Charles Berg at (773) 775-2100, or send inquiries to stampkingchicago@hotmail.com.A visit to the 'tropics'The Garfield Park Conservatory hosts its Summer Tropical Flower Show, with an assortment of tropical plants, featuring various begonias and hibiscus. 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Saturday, May 29, through Sunday, Sept. 26, (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays) at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago. Free admission. (312) 746-5100 or Garfield-conservatory.org.Block partyThe Arboretum of South Barrington hosts its all-day Memorial Day Weekend Block Party. This festival features live music, a kite-flying event, a pet trick show, performances by a juggler and magician and carnival rides. Musical entertainment includes the group 10,000 Maniacs.9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 29, at The Arboretum of South Barrington, Route 59 and Higgins Road, South Barrington. Free. (847) 426-6200 or visit shopthearboretumsb.com.Alexander's artPortrait artist Cassidy Alexander is the featured artist in a new art exhibit at The Garlands of Barrington. Alexander uses graphite, charcoal, pastels and oil for her works. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, from Tuesday, June 1, through Wednesday, June 30, at The Garlands of Barrington, 1000 Garlands Lane, Barrington. Admission is free. (847) 756-3000.Fairs Festivals Barrington Art Festival, Downtown Barrington, Cook and Station streets, Barrington: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, May 30. Art, music and food. Free admission. (847) 926-4300 or barrington-il.gov. Barrington Cruise Nights, Barrington Harris Bank Parking Lot, 201 S Grove Ave., Barrington: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 3. Classic cars, music, local food, ice cream, giveaways. Free admission. (847) 304-3479.Cuneo Gardens Art Fest, Cuneo Museum and Gardens, 1350 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 29-30. Fine arts and crafts from across the U.S. including various painting styles, jewelry, ceramics, fiber, wood, sculpture and more. Entry is free, parking is $8. (847) 362-3042 or cuneomuseum.org.Elgin Wine Festival, Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave., Elgin: 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 29. Sample more than 150 wines from around the world. Live music, food and more. $25 in advance; $35 at door. Designated driver ticket $10 in advance or at door. (847) 382-1480 or elginwinefestival.com.Memorial Weekend Block Party, The Arboretum of South Barrington, Route 59 and Higgins Road, South Barrington: All-day event features live entertainment, a village kite-flying event, a pet trick show, rides and music. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 29. Free. Visit shopthearboretumsb.com. (847) 426-6200.Mount Prospect Bluesmobile Cruise Nights, Mount Prospect Metra Station, southwest corner of Northwest Highway and Route 83, Mount Prospect: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, May 29. Themed classic car night in downtown Mount Prospect. Visit downtownmountprospect.com. Mount Prospect Jaycees Memorial Day Carnival, Rand and Central roads, Mount Prospect: Runs Wednesday, May 26, through Monday, May 31. Events open at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, through Friday, May 28. Events open at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 29, through Monday, May 31. Prices vary for activities. Visit website for information. Parking is free. Go to mountprospectjaycees.org.Rose Fest, Roselle Metra Station, Maple Avenue and Irving Park Road, Roselle: 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, June 3; 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, June 4; noon to midnight Saturday, June 5, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 6. Musical headliners include Chunky Monkey, Howard and the White Boys and Broken Hip. Rose Parade at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 6. Beer garden, bingo, carnival and more. Carnival ride specials are 10 rides for $15 on Thursday, June 3, and unlimited rides for $20 from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6. Free admission. (630) 980-2000 or rosellelions.org or roselle.il.us.Schaumburg Prairie Arts Festival, Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center, Schaumburg Road and Summit Drive, Schaumburg: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, May 30. Fine art show and sale featuring artists, food vendors and live entertainment. Free admission. (847) 923-3605 or prairiecenter.org. St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church Flavors of Greece Festival, Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles: Greek food, music, dance and more. 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 28; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, May 30. $2-$3. (630) 851-6106 or stathanasios.org.St. Charles Fine Art Show, First Avenue between Main Street and Illinois Avenue, St. Charles: Juried fine art show with 90 artists, musical entertainment, art demonstrations. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 29, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 30. Free admission. (630) 513-5386 or dtown.org.Taste of Wheaton, Memorial Park, Hale Street and Seminary Avenue, Wheaton: Wednesday, June 2, through Sunday, June 6. 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Food vendors, carnival, craft fair, business expo, teen battle of the bands, beer garden, 5K and 10K runs, entertainment and more. Free admission. (630) 668-6464. For full schedule, go to wheatonparkdistrict.com/pgs/general/taste schedule.html.False450448See antique and modern stamps at the COMPEX Postage Stamp Collectors Show in Arlington Heights. Pictured is a 90-cent Abraham Lincoln stamp that was issued in 1869.Courtesy of Charles BergFalse