On the road: Harvest Days keeps the kids busy

Chicago

Hot town, harvest in the city

Celebrate the harvest season at the historic Garfield Park Conservatory. During Harvest Days, enjoy the conservatory's big backyard with numerous family-focused activities that include horse-drawn hay rides, corn husk crowns and crafts, worm picking and compost harvesting, live goats and chickens, honey harvesting and tasting from the conservatory's hives plus beekeeping demonstrations. There also will be live music and dance lessons, lawn games and cooking demos.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 8-9, at Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago. Admission is $3, children ages 3 and younger admitted free. (773) 638-1766 or garfield-conservatory.org.

Turkish delight

It's not exactly the courtyard of Topkapi Palace, but Daley Plaza makes a fine open-air setting for the 10th annual Chicago Turkish Festival. There will be demonstrations of Turkish art, film, dance, music and food and a chance to learn a bit about the history, culture, heritage and cuisine of the Asian-European country. Watch performances of Turkish folk dances and authentic Turkish music, demonstrations of silk carpet weaving, paper marbling and calligraphy and more.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, Sept. 9-12, at 50 W. Washington St., Chicago. Free admission. (847) 722-3884 or chicagoturkishfestival.org.

Fast and the curious

More than 60 high-performance, vintage and newer model Ferraris will be on display at the Ferraris in the Loop event outside the Italian Village restaurant. The 85-year-old restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat-and-drink Italian feast, along with live music and special activities just for the bambinos.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, at Monroe Street between Clark and Dearborn streets, Chicago. Tickets cost $30; kids 5 and younger admitted free. (312) 332-7005.

Midwest

So long, summer

Indian Summer Festival, North America's largest American Indian festival, celebrates the theme “Stories to Tell” this fall along Milwaukee's lakefront. There will be American Indian entertainment from alt rock to traditional drumming bands as well as Native American arts and crafts demonstrations and items for purchase. A huge powwow, fireworks display and a lacrosse tournament round out the fun.

4 p.m. to midnight Friday, Sept. 7; noon to midnight Saturday, Sept. 8; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, at Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee. Tickets cost $10 in advance, $13 at the gate, $10 for seniors and free for children 12 and younger. (414) 604-1000 or indiansummer.org.

Polly put the kettle on

The 14th annual Kettle Moraine Jazz Festival features internationally recognized jazz musicians and vocalists in an outdoor setting. More than 5,000 jazz lovers from all over the Midwest will be able to enjoy Dotsero, Craig Cindy Bradley and David Pack, among others. The festival also offers international cuisine and an arts marketplace.

4:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, and 1 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at Riverside Park in West Bend, Wis. Two-day tickets cost $150; a one-day ticket costs $85. Tickets may be purchased at (877) 271-6903 or kmjazz.com.

Little house in Wisconsin

Deepen the meaning of English class with a visit to the river town of Pepin, Wis., during Laura Ingalls Wilder Days. Pepin is home to a museum with historical pioneer artifacts and is the starting point of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway, which links different sites across the Midwest. The festivities include an old-fashioned fiddle contest, guided bus tours, a pie-eating contest, a spelling bee, a grand parade, and demonstrations in traditional crafts such as spinning, quilting, basket making, woodcarving, food preparation and open-hearth cooking.

9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, at Laura Ingalls Wilder Park in Pepin, Wis. (715) 255-0718 or lauradays.org.

Worth the trip

What if you could combine a fall foliage trip to the Northeast with wellness? The New Life Hiking Spa in the Green Mountains of Vermont offers an early fall special that includes all-inclusive packages with guided hiking along the Appalachian Trail each morning and healthy meals throughout the day. Choose from beginner, intermediate and advance hikes. A variety of fitness classes, yoga, and cooking demos are offered each afternoon and one massage is included for each three-night stay.

Through Sept. 28 at the New Life Hiking Spa in Killington, Vt. All-inclusive nightly rates range from $196-$242 per night. NewLifeHikingSpa.com.