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The ax man cometh to Michigan

Chainsaw carvers demonstrate their skill and artistry by turning 8-foot logs into sculptures during the Paul Bunyan Festival in Oscoda, Mich., Sept. 14-16. In addition to the Great Lakes Lumberjack Show, visitors will find a Civil War encampment, classic car show, petting zoo, craft booths, food and live entertainment. (415 miles from O'Hare, (989) 739-7233, www.oscoda.com/calendar.php)

Riverssance showcases fine arts

The 20th annual Riverssance Festival of Fine Arts will be held Sept. 15 and 16 at Lindsay Park in the historic Village of East Davenport in Davenport, Iowa. The annual festival features more than 100 of the finest regional and national artists. All artists are juried by their peers and must meet rigid quality criteria to be accepted. The festival also features a variety of gourmet food, live musical entertainment, a wine tasting and a children's art activity tent all on a scenic hill overlooking the Mississippi River. Visitors at the festival will also enjoy the Village of East Davenport, the largest historic district in Iowa with six square blocks of restaurants, pubs and shops. A free shuttle bus is available. (172 miles from O'Hare, (563) 386-7013, www.visitquadcities.com)

Get an advance taste of autumn

Celebrate autumn's bounty in Cedarburg, Wis., during the Wine and Harvest Festival Sept. 15 and 16. Along with a farmers market, there will be live bands, a scarecrow contest, grape stomp, apple bobbing, hayrides and children's games. You won't go hungry with caramel apples, kettle corn, apple cider, turkey legs, brats and burgers on hand. Buy wine by the glass at Cedar Creek Winery. (101 miles from O'Hare, (800) 237-2874, www.cedarburgfestivals.org, www.cedarburg.org/popup.aspx?tbID=2047)

Step into Victorian era for a weekend

For one weekend each year it is the 1800s in Northville, Mich., a charming historic village in suburban Detroit. During Victorian Festival, Sept. 14-15 this year, the streets fill with residents in period costumes, strolling musicians, free horse and carriage rides, a parade, old-fashioned games, food booths and art and antiques markets. (278 miles from O'Hare, (248) 249-7640, www.michigan.org/travel/events/events.asp?cid=C0F799FF-E412-4BA8-812D-5B4D4F79840B&city=G4189&m=3;1)

Relive autumn in pioneer days

Autumn in the Village, Sept. 15th in Franklin Grove, Ill., offers displays of our heritage during the mid-1800s. See the Chaplin Creek Muzzle Loaders in action, participate in an apple peeling and drying party, try your hand at doing laundry the old-fashioned way, participate in period games, sample barley vegetable soup prepared with fresh vegetables from the kitchen garden and tour Chaplin Creek Village, an evolving historical restoration project depicting a prairie settlement typical of the middle 19th century. (92 miles from O'Hare, (815) 456-2382, www.chaplincreek.com)

It's apple time in Indiana

Apples are the focus of celebrations in Indiana this month.

In Nappanee, Ind., you'll find apple-baking, apple-peeling and apple-pie-eating contests Sept. 13-16 during the Nappanee Apple Festival. A parade, crafts, demonstrations, two stages of entertainment, a frog-jumping contest and lots of food are also planned for an estimated 40,000 attendees. (127 miles from O'Hare, (877) 277-5375, www.nappaneeapplefestival.org)

Fort Wayne, Ind., has Johnny Appleseed Park and the Johnny Appleseed Festival Sept. 15 and 16. This 1800s-style fall festival includes period crafts, food and entertainment along with living-history displays and demonstrations. Shop for antiques and enjoy children's games. The festival honors John Chapman, a folk hero who traveled the countryside and planted apple orchards in Fort Wayne and the surrounding area. (182 miles from O'Hare, (260) 483-5638, www.johnnyappleseedfest.com)

Many voices gather around one drum

One of the largest American Indian festivals in the U.S. takes place in Milwaukee, Wis., Sept. 7-9. Indian Summer Festival includes a competition powwow, a torch-lit canoe procession followed by fireworks, and Canadian, Mayan and American Indian dance troupes. Visitors will find re-creations of tribal villages, storytellers, cultural demonstrations, lacrosse demonstrations and tournaments, a juried fine arts fair, authentic foods and entertainment and a marketplace. (80 miles from O'Hare, (414) 604-1000, www.indiansummer.org)

Pop over to Indiana for the parade

View the nation's original popcorn parade in Valparaiso, Ind., home of Popcorn King Orville Redenbacher, during the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival on Sept. 8. Along with the Popcorn Panic five-mile run there will be a hot air balloon show, 500 arts and crafts booths, main stage entertainment and children's activities. (68 miles from O'Hare, (219) 464-8332, www.popcornfest.org)

Take in art show at John Deere home

One of the oldest fine art fairs in Illinois will be held Sept. 9 on the grounds of the John Deere Historic Site in Grand Detour, Ill. The 59th Grand Detour Arts Festival will award more than $2,500 in prizes for adults and $2,000 for children. (104 miles from O'Hare, (815) 652-3330, www.thenextpictureshow.com/events/extmode,view/extid,18)

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