Cheap stuff: Scarecrow Fest, country music fest, Ann Hampton Callaway
Free Scarecrows galoreHundreds of handcrafted scarecrows are featured at St. Charles' annual Scarecrow Festival. Other highlights include a carnival, live entertainment, food and more.Info: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, and Saturday, Oct. 9; and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, at Lincoln Park, Main and Fourth streets, St. Charles. Free admission. Visit scarecrowfest.com.Country jamEnjoy performances by Clint Black, Gretchen Wilson, Jewel and others at the 20th Annual Chicago Country Music Festival.Info: Noon to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, through Saturday, Oct. 9. Millennium Park, Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Monroe streets, Chicago. (312) 742-1168 or explorechicago.org.'Topography, Light and Magic'The Barrington Area Library hosts the new "Topography, Light and Magic" photography exhibit, featuring landscape photography by local artist, land conservationist and filmmaker Robert McGinley. McGinley captures his images at specific times of the day to achieve certain effects. His actual images are never digitally altered. Meet the artist at a reception at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8. The exhibit runs Friday, Oct. 8, through Saturday, Oct. 23, during regular library hours, at the Barrington Area Library, 505 N. Northwest Hwy., Barrington. Free admission for the exhibit and reception. (847) 382-1300 or barringtonarealibrary.org.Ann's in Aurora Singer, songwriter and pianist Ann Hampton Callaway presents a concert that blends jazz and traditional pop music. Info: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, in the Crimi Auditorium at Aurora University, 407 S. Calumet Ave., Aurora. Admission is free, but reservations are required. To register, call (630) 844-4924, send an e-mail to artsandideas@aurora.edu or visit auartsandideas.com.A man and his guitarFingerstyle guitarist Merv Collins presents a musical program of folk, country and pop tunes on his acoustic electric guitar.Info: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, at the Beans and Leaves Coffee Tea Cafe, 320 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Free. (847) 821-0011.$10 and under Fall DiddleyThe annual Fall Diddley juried craft show features artisans from all over the United States. Proceeds benefit the Mental Health Resource League of McHenry County.Info: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, at the Boone County Fairgrounds, at routes 20 and 76, Belvidere. $6 for ages 12 and older. (815) 385-5745 or mhrl.org.'Hopera'?Francesco Milioto and his New Millennium Orchestra perform "Hip Hopera," a concert that blends hip-hop music with classical opera in an interactive way for families. Info: 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $10. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org.'America's Wild Horses'Learn about the history and current situation of endangered wild horses in America's west at the "America's Wild Horses" program. Award-winning filmmakers Ginger Kathrens and James Kleinert conduct the program. Kathrens is an Emmy-award winning producer, cinematographer, writer and editor who helped produce the PBS "Nature" series documentaries, "Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies," and "Cloud's Legacy: The Wild Stallion Returns." The first 25 children to attend the event get a free autographed "Cloud the Stallion" poster.Info: Runs 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Hilton Lisle/Naperville, 3003 W. Corporate Drive, Lisle. Kids ages 16 and younger are free. Adults are asked to provide a $10 donation. All proceeds benefit the Cloud Foundation, an organization dedicated to the preservation of wild horses. (312) 402-2247.Do-si-do Join the Happy Twirlers square dancing group for an evening of square and round dancing. Refreshments will be served.Info: Events begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 855 Lee St., Des Plaines. Admission is $6 per guest. For information, call Chuck at (773) 685-8407 or Carolyn at (847) 698-5501.Fairs and festivalsCantigny Fall Festival, Cantigny Park and First Division Museum, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton: Features an arts and crafts show, hayrides, pumpkin decorating, inflatables. a barn petting zoo, autumn treats and more. Runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. Free admission with paid $5 parking fee. (630) 668-5161 or cantigny.org.Danada Fall Festival, Danada Equestrian Center, 3S507 Naperville Road, Wheaton: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10. Main-arena events include performances by the center's American quarter horses and mustangs, as well as the Danada volunteer musical horseback drill team. Other highlights include hayrides, tours of the Danada House, crafts and more. Admission and parking are free. (630) 933-7200 or danada.info.Fall Fest, Downtown Antioch, Main Street, Skidmore Avenue, Lake Street, Antioch: Noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. Food, music, sales, contests and surprises. (847) 395-6342.Fall Festival, Fourth Street United Methodist Church, 551 S. Fourth St., Aurora: Activities include a cakewalk, inflatable games, a fish pond and food from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. Refreshments available for purchase. (630) 897-5257.Haunted Harvest, Lambs Farm, 14245 W. Rockland Road, I-94 at Route 176, Libertyville: 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. All night pass $15 per person; kids 3 and under free with purchase of adult pass. Individual activity pricing also available: Graveyard golf $5, creature walk $5, enchanted carousel $3, train of terror $5. (847) 362-4636 or lambsfarm.org.Morton Arboretum's Fall Color Festival, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle: Runs through Sunday, Oct. 31. Features the Fall Color 5K Run and Walk, a "Scarecrow Trail" with scarecrows decorated by local scouting groups, fall crafts, a gourd show and sale, fall fare and much more. General admission to the arboretum is $8-$11. Parking is free. Visit mortonarb.org. for information. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org.PumpkinFest, Downtown Libertyville, Libertyville: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. Get a free pumpkin in exchange for a donated food item. Face painting, coloring contests and more. Visit libertyville.com or mainstreetlibertyville.org.Pumpkinfest, Didier Farms, 16678 W. Aptakisic Road, Prairie View: Annual festival runs through Sunday, Oct. 31. Features hayrides, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, pony rides, children's carnival rides and inflatables. New this year is a Big Cats exhibit, camel rides and a 200-creature exhibit. Farmstand features homegrown vegetables, fall decorations and pumpkins. Food includes pumpkin and apple cider doughnuts. Hours and fees vary. Call (847) 634-3291, or visit didierfarms.com.False494527Singer, songwriter and pianist Ann Hampton Callaway performs in a free concert on Saturday, Oct. 9, at Aurora University.Courtesy of Aurora UniversityFalse