Fox Valley briefs
Elgin film festival nears:Tickets are on sale for the second annual Elgin Short Film Festival, which will be held Saturday at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Tickets are $5 each for the event, which includes screenings of six independent movies. A red-carpet arrival of host Dean Richards will be at 6:30 p.m. and the first movie will be shown at 7 p.m. New this year is a Red Carpet Reception at the Centre's Heritage Ballroom, 100 Symphony Way, and tickets are $20 each for that event. For more information, call (847) 931-5900 or visit hemmens.org/filmfest2010.Historical Society housewalk:The Dundee Township Historical Society's biannual Housewalk will not be held Saturday. The Housewalk has taken place every other September for the last 40 years but is canceled "due to circumstances beyond the historical society's control," a spokeswoman said Wednesday.Fire museum open house:The Elgin Fire Museum, 533 St. Charles St., Elgin, will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The open house will include games for kids, food, and exhibits on how the fire department has evolved since its inception in 1867. For more information, call (847) 697-6242.Dancin' at the Depot:East Dundee will host "Dancin' at the Depot" from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at 319 N. River St. There will be a car show sponsored by Al Piemonte and a beer garden with food and beverages sponsored by Diamond Gyms.Barbecue in East Dundee: The 15th annual barbecue featuring Faye's Pork Chop barbecue will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Freeman Park in East Dundee. It will be your choice of barbecue pork chops and/or chicken, as well as coleslaw, rolls and all-you-can-eat sweet corn. Cost is $12 in advance or $13 at the gate. Classic cars also will be on display. For details, call Milt at (847) 426-2941.LITH luau:The American Legion Post 1231 in Lake in the Hills is holding a luau dinner and dance party, featuring drink specials and raffles and two live bands. The party runs from 6 to 11 p.m. at the legion hall, 1101 W. Algonquin Road. Dinner choices include pulled pork sandwiches, chicken and steak kebabs. Dinner and music is $11, while music only is $5. For details, call Dave Mudd or Kelly Hass at (847) 658-2010.