On the road: Renegade Craft Fair

Chicago

Atypical artisans

The Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood will feature more than 300 crafters of handmade goods including clothing, housewares, ceramics and jewelry. There also will be free workshops in letterpress printing, post card collage, knitting and weaving, along with live entertainment.

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 10-11, at 2000 W. Division St., Chicago. Free admission. Call (773) 727-8149 or visit renegadecraft.com/chicago.

Totally Teutonic

Germans will have their day at the German Day Festival in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood. Take in traditional cultural programs, German music and dancing, lots of food and browse vendors selling goods from the old country. The annual Von Steuben Parade takes place on Saturday, Sept. 10.

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9; 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at Lincoln Plaza, 4700 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Free admission. Call (630) 653-3018 or visit germanday.com.

Suite home, Chicago

Enjoy Chicago Suite Life at the luxury JW Marriott located in downtown Chicago. The package includes a corner suite, breakfast, two tickets to a Chicago sporting event, $100 Macy’s gift card, a 75-minute couples massage and two Chicago Go-Card passes to visit some of the city’s famous cultural attractions.

Package available through Dec. 31 at the hotel at 151 W. Adams St., Chicago. Prices range from $1,747 to $1,907. Call (866) 270 6430 or visit jwmarriottchicago.com.

Midwest

A giggling good getaway

Expect great food, shopping, spas and more during the annual Galena Girlfriends Getaway, a weekend strictly for females. Take part in a slipper party, belly-dancing lessons, a progressive fashion show, the “Spa-rrific Experience” and a Sunday brunch finale. The popular Quartermania auction will be held at the Galena Convention Center when participants buy a roll of quarters, bid on a variety of appealing items and see who goes home with great bargains.

Friday to Sunday, Sept. 9-11. Call the Galena Area Chamber of Commerce at (815) 777-9050 or visit galenachamber.com.

Old World fun

Summer’s abundance brings the harvest, change of seasons and “Saturdays in September” at Old World Wisconsin. The fun varies by weekend and includes rendering lard to be used in making household products, making cheese 19th-century style, retiring a wagon wheel, making homemade pies and crusts, seeding fields and taking horse-drawn omnibus rides.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Sept. 10, 17 and 24, at Old World Wisconsin, W372/S9727 Hwy. 67, Eagle, Wis. Admission is $16 for adults; $14 for students and seniors (65 and older); $9 for children 5-17; or $43 for families (up to two adults and two or more children ages 5-17). Admission includes tram transportation. Call (262) 594-6300 or visit oldworldwisconsin.org.

A-maze-ing

There are corn mazes and then there’s the planet’s largest — a 28-acre labyrinth with more than 11 miles of trails at Richardson Adventure Farm in Spring Grove. This year the main maze honors the U.S. Armed Forces and offers easy access to and from trails, which you can traverse on wooden bridges or climb the five-story observation tower to eyeball the whole thing. There also will be a 700-foot zip line, paintball gallery or try ORBiting by being strapped inside a giant plastic ball that rolls down a ramp. For the kids, there are wagon rides, jumping pillows, pedal carts and a petting zoo.

3 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 3 to 11 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays; and noon to 11 p.m. Sundays through Monday, Oct. 31, at the farm, 9407 Richardson Road, Spring Grove. Admission is $12.95 for ages 13 and older; $9.95 for ages 4-12; $6.50 for military (with ID); free for kids younger than 4. Extra charge for zip line, ORBiting and wagon rides. Call (815) 675-9729 or visit richardsonadventurefarm.com.

Worth the trip

The autumn equinox heralds in the celebration of Vinotok in Crested Butte, Colo., a time of village feasting and honoring traditional Eastern European roots. Meaning “fall wine festival” in Slovenian, Vinotok commemorates the bounty of the summer harvest and gathering of the community before the long winter ahead. Expect a colorful array of medieval characters, a street theater performance, storytelling and music during the 26th annual celebration. Enjoy Croatian potica bread and hot chocolate before Liar’s Night, which continues the tradition of tall tales, whoppers and adventure stories blown out of proportion. Don’t miss the community feast featuring regionally harvested dishes and roast pig. Local musicians, writers and poets will provide entertainment.

Sunday to Saturday, Sept. 18-24. Call (800) 814-8893, or visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com/packages.