On the road: Chicago's Family Fun Fest returns

Chicago

Feast of family fun

The Family Fun Festival returns to Millennium Park, which means you can entertain and challenge the kids for free. Interactive activities and musical games for kids engage minds on summer vacation. Wiggleworms instructors from the Old Town School of Folk Music will lead young children in singalongs, circle dances, finger games and story time. There also will be live music and interactive dance performances.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, June 13, to Sunday, Aug. 21, at Chase Promenade North, Millennium Park. Call (312) 742-1168 or visit millenniumpark.org.

French fare at a street fair

If your palate leans more toward Parisian bistro fare, Bombay street foods and dishes from the Apulian Peninsula of Italy as opposed to fried dough and corn dogs, the 15th annual Taste of Randolph Street is the festival to pencil in on your summer calendar. The city's famous restaurant row on the Randolph Street corridor features eateries like onesixtyblue, Saigon and Wishbone and many will be dishing out great bites while live nonstop tunes from The Heavy, Liquid Soul and others provide ambience. Peek into trendy art galleries and clubs and browse jewelry pieces, clothing, artwork and knickknacks from local artisans. The festival also is kid-friendly.

5 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 17, and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 18-19, at Randolph and Peoria streets in Chicago. Call (773) 665-4682 or visit tasterandolph.com.

Midwest

Not in Kansas anymore

You have to get to Grand Rapids, Minn., to celebrate the life and times of Frances Ethel Gumm — aka Judy Garland. The 36th annual Judy Garland Festival takes place where Garland lived until she was 4. The fest includes a get-acquainted reception in the 1925 Judy Garland Historic House, a “Meet Me in St. Louis” stage production, a Judy Jeopardy game, a historian recounting dozens of stories about Garland, a collection of 15 gowns worn by the actress, a showing of “The Wizard of Oz” and an appearance by one of the original Munchkins, and special guest Andy Williams stars in a gala dinner and awards ceremony for the Judy Garland Lifetime Achievement Award.

5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 16, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 17-18, at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minn. Call (800) 664-5839 or visit judynoplacelikehome.org.

Polish up on your Polish

You'll be speaking Polish like a pro after an hour or two at Polish Fest in Milwaukee — at least enough to order bigos (hunter's stew), golabki (stuffed cabbage), poppy seed cake, Tyskie beer and stuffed pierogies. The festival on the lakefront features wall-to-wall Polish entertainment from polka country to Polish doo-wop, cooking demos, vodka tasting and a marketplace. There also will be Polish cooking demonstrations and the 13th annual Chopin Youth Piano Competition.

Noon to midnight Friday and Saturday, June 17-18, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 19, at Summerfest Grounds, 200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee. Advance tickets cost $10; $12 at the gate; $10 for seniors 55 and older; children 15 and younger admitted free with an adult. On Friday, there will be 50-cent admission from noon to 5 p.m. and $5 admission from 5:01 p.m. to midnight. Visit polishfest.org.

Floating along

As if you actually needed a reason to visit Galena, the largest balloon race in the Midwest is quite a come-on. The 10th annual Great Galena Balloon Race is an eyeful of more than 20 hot air balloons floating across the Illinois sky. Benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the event takes place at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa's north course driving range. Events include live music, an ale fest for adults and plenty of kids' activities.

Friday to Sunday, June 17-19, at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, 444 Eagle Ridge Drive, Galena. Ale fest tickets cost $20. Family Time Package rates at the resort start at $619 (three nights, four days accommodations). Call (800) 892-2269 or visit eagleridge.com or greatgalenaballoonrace.com.

Worth the trip

You can watch them on “Swamp Men” on National Geographic Wild or you can take Dad to Billie Swamp Safari in Florida on Father's Day weekend for the real deal. Dad gets a free Swamp Safari Day Package with one paid admission. Package includes: Swamp buggy tour, airboat ride and shows ($50 value). The tours depart daily through 2,200 acres of the Everglades. Be sure to take a stroll through the butterfly garden and check out the shows “Swamp Critter,” “Birds of Prey” and the “Gator Educational Show.”

Saturday to Sunday, June 18-19, at the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, 30000 Gator Tail Trail, Clewiston, Fla. Visit swampsafari.com.