Cheap fun: Bard at Cantigny, German fest in Lombard, book sale

$10 and under

Comical Shakespeare

The Midsummer Theatre Troupe performs "The Taming of the Shrew," Shakespeare's famed comedy about a headstrong woman who is "tamed" by a fortune hunter.

6 p.m. Sunday, July 19, at Cantigny Park and First Division Museum, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. $10. (630) 260-8162 or cantignypark.com.

Holiday House rocks the house at Fitzgerald's

Holiday House, How Far to Austin, The Shams and Painkiller Hotel present an evening of rock music at Fitzgerald's.

9 p.m. Friday, July 17, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $8. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

Good old Snoopy

The Journeymen Theater Company presents "Snoopy!!! The Musical," Larry Grossman and Hal Hackady's 1980s musical, based upon Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts.

Noon and 7 p.m. Friday, July 17; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 18; 2 p.m. Sunday, July 19, at Berger Park Cultural Mansion, 6205 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago. $10. (773) 857-5395 or thejourneymen.org.

Free

Don't judge a book by its cover

The Mount Prospect Public Library hosts its Summer Used Book Sale. Browse through books, magazines and CDs - prices range from 25 cents to $1.

Open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 18, and noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 19, at the Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St., Mount Prospect. Free admission. Call for information. (847) 253-5675 or mppl.org.

German fest

Sacred Heart German Fest features live music, German food, a carnival, children's activities, casino-style games and more.

6 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 17; 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 18; and 1 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 19, at Sacred Heart Church, 114 S. Elizabeth St., Lombard. Free general admission. (630) 627-0687 or sacredheartlombard.org.

Celebrate the season in Vernon Hills

Concerts, lots of food, a beer garden and children's activities are a few of the highlights of the annual Vernon Hills Summer Celebration.

6 p.m. to midnight, Friday, July 17; 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday, July 18, and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday, July 19, in Century Park, one-half mile north of Milwaukee Road on Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills. Free general admission. (847) 367-3700 or vernonhills.org.

Fairs and festivals this weekend

16th Annual Edens Art Fair, Edens Plaza, Lake, Skokie and Edens Expressway, Wilmette: Juried art fair features works in photography. glass, woodworking and jewelry. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19. Free. (847) 991-4748 or americansocietyofartists.org.

American Legion Auxiliary Car Show, American Legion Post 208, 121 N. Douglas Ave., Arlington Heights: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 19. (847) 253-6632.

Antioch Taste of Summer, on the Orchard Street Extension and Skidmore Drive, Antioch: Noon to 11 p.m. Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 19. More than a dozen restaurants and vendors provide food. Entertainment at the bandshell. Free. (847) 395-2233 or antiochchamber.org.

Bristol Renaissance Faire, Bristol Renaissance Faire, 12550 120th Ave., Kenosha, Wis.: Step back in time to visit Elizabethan England. The faire features 16th century games, food, rides, music and arts and crafts. See costumed re-enactors dressed as knights, merchants, royalty and more. Runs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 6. Admission is $9.50-$18.95. Children under age 5 are free. Visit renfair.com. (847) 395-7773.

Buffalo Grove Invitational Fine Art Festival, Buffalo Grove Town Center, Route 83 and Lake Cook Road, Buffalo Grove: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19. Approximately 150 artists will participate and be judged. Food, refreshments, musical entertainment. Senior Stroll and preview for residents with disabilities at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 19. Free admission. (847) 459-2500 or vbg.org.

Community Justice Fun Fair, Randall Oaks Park, 17N350 Randall Road, West Dundee: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 18. Activities for all ages, food available. Free. (847) 844-1100 or AdministerJustice.org or dtpd.org.

Fiesta in the Park, Arlington Park, Euclid Avenue west of Wilke Road, Arlington Heights: Latino entertainment and cuisine including live salsa music and dancers as well as mariachi and ballet folklorico dance and an appearance by a player from Chicago Fire Soccer team. This is in addition to regular thoroughbred racing. Doors open at 11:15 a.m. Sunday, July 19. Admission starts at $5, free for those under age 18. arlingtonpark.com or (847) 385-7500.

Fox Lake Firemen's Festival, on Washington Street, Fox Lake: Street dance, 6 p.m., Friday, July 17, to Sunday, July 19, at the Fox Lake Fire Station 2, 306 Washington St., Ingleside. Water fights 10 a.m. Sunday, July 19. Free. (847) 587-3312 or foxlake.org.

"Ignite Chicago" Christian Music Festival, Alexian Field, 1999 S. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg: Christian music from performers including Jeremy Camp, Disciple, BarlowGirl and Matthew West. Runs noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19. For tickets, call (800) 965-9324 or visit ignitechicago.com.

Kane County Fair, Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles: Noon to midnight Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, July 19. $5, children under 5 free. Ten rides for $10. Grandstand shows priced separately. Live music, carnival, farm animals, food and more. (630) 584-6925 or kanecountyfair.com.

Sacred Heart German Fest, Sacred Heart Church, 114 S. Elizabeth St., Lombard: 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 17; 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 18; and 1 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 19. Live music, carnival, children's activities, German food, contests, face painting, casino-style games and more. Free. (630) 627-0687 or sacredheartlombard.org.

"Taste of the Arts," Theatre of Western Springs, 4384 Hampton, Western Springs. Sample fine cuisine from 13 area restaurants, along with fine wines. Actors and actresses from the Theatre of Western Springs will be working both indoors and outdoors in various festival activities. Runs 6:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 18. Tickets are $50. Call (708) 246-4043, or visit theatrewesternsprings.com.

Terry Moran Day, Kimball Hill Park, South Street and Meadow Drive, Rolling Meadows: Men's and women's softball tournament, entertainment, hayrides, raffle, beer garden and food. Raises money for juvenile diabetes in honor of Terry Moran, who died in a car crash in 1995. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 18. (847) 394-3515 or tmoranfoundation.com.

Vernon Hills Summer Celebration, Century Park, one-half mile north of Milwaukee Road on Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills: Carnival, 6 p.m. to midnight, Friday, July 17; 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday, July 18, and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday, July 19. Children's activities run 1 to 3 p.m. July 18-19; beer garden and live music. Free admission. (847) 367-3700 or vernonhills.org.

Wheaton Band Festival, Memorial Park, Hale Street and Karlskoga Avenue, Wheaton: 7:15 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, and 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 18. Friday performers include the Chicago Brass Band, Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band and Crystal Lake Community Concert Band. Saturday performers include the Fox Valley Concert Band and Navy Band Great Lakes. Event also includes an "instrument petting zoo" for children and a used musical instrument drive to benefit Salvation Army music programs. Free. wheatonbandfestival.org.

Woodstock Folk Festival, Woodstock Square, Van Buren and Benton streets, Woodstock: 12:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 19. Features a variety of folk, bluegrass music with open mic, harmonica workshop, storytelling, children's activities and more. In case of rain, festival moves to the Woodstock Congregational Unitarian Church, at the corner of Dean and South Streets. $10-$25 suggested donation. (815) 479-9933 or woodstockfolkmusic.com.