Chicago's Festa Italiana attracts thousands to Taylor Street

Chicago

Mangia, mangia

You might have had a toasted ravioli here and an Italian ice there at fests across the area this summer, but this is the old neighborhood, so expect to be wowed by the possibilities. Chicago's own Festa Italiana attracts more than 25,000 to the inimitable Taylor Street stretch of Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood. Sway to crooners like Jack Miuccio and Tony Ferretti, meet the cast of "Jersey Boys" and enjoy a Three Tenors Tribute to Mario Lanza. Homemade Italian cuisine from stuffed rice balls to beef sandwiches to gelato lend the energy for a go at the bocce ball courts or the rows of vendors selling Italian crafts.

5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8; and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at 1400 W. Taylor St., Chicago. (847) 795-1800 or onestientertainment.com

Night at the museum

You may have had some squirrelly kids at your latest sleepover, but imagine if Sue the T. Rex was one of the attendees! When the lights at the Field Museum dim, it's time to flick on the flashlight and explore ancient Egyptian culture and prowl an African savannah among giraffes and hippos. Bring your sleeping bag for "Dozin' with the Dinos" a memorable opportunity for young explorers ages 6-12 and their families. Join in activities based upon a Field Museum exhibition; watch a performance; snack; explore amazing exhibitions by flashlight; then it's time to snooze before a continental breakfast. The group rate for the overnight program is $50 per person (minimum size for a group is 15) and individual/family tickets are $60 each. Call (312) 665-7525 and ask about a premium package overnight inside the "Evolving Planet" exhibition.

5:45 p.m. Friday Aug. 14, to 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. fieldmuseum.org/overnights

Visit Japan via Old Town

From anime to Zen, with a lot of sushi in between, Americans have embraced Japanese culture like happy sumo wrestlers. Get a better sense of the rich history and arts of Japan at the 54th annual Ginza Festival. Performances and activities are held indoors and out including taiko drummers, folk dancers, live music, martial arts demonstrations, bonsai demos and anime screenings. Master Waza craftsmen from Tokyo demonstrate generations-old skills creating crafts and there will be booths teeming with Japanese dry goods and snacks, children's toys, kimonos, jewelry, anime and origami folding. You won't go hungry with traditional Japanese cuisine including charcoal-grilled chicken teriyaki dinners, cold noodles, sushi, edamame, Japanese snow cones topped with sweet azuki beans and premium Japanese beer. Admission is $4; $3 for students and seniors; and free for kids under 12 .

5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7; 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8; and 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at the Midwest Buddhist Temple, 435 W. Menomonee St. (312) 943-7801 or ginzachicago.com.

Midwest

Feel a group tug coming on?

It a giant tug on the hamstrings during the 23rd annual Iowa Tug Fest featuring male and female teams from Iowa and Illinois yanking on ropes with all of their strength in three-minute tug contests. This is not a kid's picnic game. We're talking a 2,400-foot, 680-pound rope that spans the Mississippi River between Port Byron, Ill., and LeClaire, Iowa, the only tug-of-war across the longest river in the United States. With 35,000 spectators, the teams heave to see who will claim the alabaster statue of a bald eagle in flight. Other attractions include local bands, a hometown heroes parade and a mammoth show of fireworks shot off from a barge situated on the Mississippi River between state lines. Expect food, craft vendors, children's games and activities including a children's tug to keep the whole family amused. Admission is $3 or $5 for a two-day pass.

6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13; 4 p.m. to midnight, Friday, Aug. 14; and 7 a.m. to midnight (tug of war from 1 to 3 p.m.) Saturday, Aug. 15. (563) 289-3946 or tugfest.com.

Double vision

Jon and Kate plus their eight have nothing on the Twins Day Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. You'll be seeing more than double when multiples of all ilks - identical and fraternal twins, triplets, quads and more - roam the grounds. Watch twins' and multiples' contests, talent shows, a parade, entertainment and fireworks at the largest gathering of twins in the world. This year's theme is all about the 1950's: "Twins Days Rocks!" and many of the 2,000 registered sets of multiples registered will be dressed to the nines.

Admission to the grounds for the public, nonregistered twins and families of registered twins is $3 per person per day.

9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 7-8; and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at 9825 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg, Ohio. (330) 425-3652 or twinsdays.org

They're all ears

It's August and the kids are getting grumpy about the denouement of their summer freedom and you are thrilled ... about the harvest of Illinois sweet corn, of course. Mendota, Ill., may have the corner on the kernels every August during its Sweet Corn Festival. Tons of free, hot, buttered, sweet corn will be the highlight of the of the 62nd annual celebration, but there is also a variety of entertainment, a crafters market place and flea market; queen pageant; beer garden with live bands; grand parade; and a carnival with rides and games. Enjoy free admission and parking. Be there around 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9, when tons of corn are cooked with the help of a vintage steam engine and served free to fest goers.

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, on Illinois Avenue and Jefferson Street in downtown Mendota. (815) 539-6507 or sweetcornfestival.com

Worth the trip

Two Lights and Candy Cane are two of the 60 lighthouses that dot Maine's rugged coast. The state is set to host the country's largest open lighthouse day so visitors can explore the iconic landmarks. For more than 200 years, Maine's coastal lighthouses have not only guided ocean mariners, but enchanted sightseers with their interesting architecture. Fifty-two lighthouses are open on Maine Open Lighthouse Day from remote island light stations like Matinicus Rock, Boon Island, Franklin Island and Egg Rock to easy-to-reach lights like Portland Head Light, Dice Head Light in Castine and West Quoddy Head Light in Lubec. Hear sea-faring tales of hauntings at lights like Wood Island in Biddeford Pool, Hendricks Head in West Southport and Owls Head.

You'll be treated to historic lighthouse artifacts, displays at museums and visitor centers and stories from lighthouse keepers and their families.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. Visit lighthouseday.com or visitmaine.com.

Courtesy of Maine Office of Tourism

Marshall Point Light is one of 52 lighthouses open to the public on Maine Open Lighthouse Day, Sept. 12.

The 23rd annual Iowa Tug Fest features male and female teams from Iowa and Illinois yanking on ropes across the Mississippi River.

Pack the sleeping bag and flashlight for Dozin' with the Dinos at the Field Museum Aug. 14.