Cheap fun: Pasta and brats

Free

Soap Box Derby

The Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby Association hosts its Soap Box Derby event for youth ages 8 to 17. Youngsters can stop by for some free runs in a derby car. They can bring a sibling or a friend to race against each other. Soap box derby cars will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Spectators can bring lawn chairs for viewing.

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 17, at Diehl and Frontenac roads, one mile west of Route 59 in Naperville. Admission is free. (630) 841-8832 or visit chicagosoapboxderby.org.

Country Craft Fair

The Country Craft Fair at Crystal Lake's St. Paul United Church of Christ features crafts, bakery goods, homemade relish, a raffle, silent auction and more.

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 485 Woodstock St., Crystal Lake. Free admission. (815) 459-5096 or visit stpaulsucccl.org.

Long Grove Oktoberfest

Long Grove's Oktoberfest celebration offers traditional German fare such as brats and beer, a parade, German music and dancing, family carriage rides, pumpkin decorating and more.

10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, at Robert Parker Coffin and Old McHenry roads, downtown Long Grove. Free admission. (847) 634-0888 or longgroveonline.com.

$10 and under

Spaghetti, anyone?

The Community Protestant Church, United Church of Christ in Mundelein invites the public to its Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction. Dinner includes spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread, dessert and drinks. The evening includes a silent auction, with items donated by Chicago sports teams, local theaters, restaurants and entertainment venues.

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, in Fellowship Hall at the Community Protestant Church, United Church of Christ, 418 N. Prairie Ave., Mundelein. Cost is $8 for adults; $4 for kids ages 7 to 12; free for kids 6 and under. (847) 566-4000.

‘Bride of Frankenstein' dance

The New Beginnings singles group invites guests to dance the night away and get in the Halloween spirit at “The Bride of Frankenstein dance. Beverages and snacks will be provided. Guests are asked to bring a dish to share.

7:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, in the Hughes Center of St. Matthew Catholic Church, 1001 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Tickets are $8. For information, call Joan at (847) 397-9643.

Orchestra concert

The Sphinx Chamber Orchestra and Harlem Quartet present an orchestra concert featuring the top Laureates of young African-American and Latino string players.

7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $10. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org.

Showbiz tunes

The Elgin Community College Concert Band presents its “Music from Broadway and Hollywood concert.

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, at Elgin Community College's Visual & Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $7-$9. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu.

Fairs and festivals

Barn Burner BBQ, Lambs Farm, 14245 W. Rockland Road, I-94 at Route 176, Libertyville: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. Free to spectators. Features food, contests, demonstrations, raffles, vendors, beer tent and live music. Call (847) 990-3750 or visit lambsfarm.org.

Creatures of the Night Halloween Fest, Brookfield Zoo, First Avenue and 31st Street, Brookfield: Runs 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct 15, through Sunday, Oct. 17; Friday, Oct. 22, through Sunday, Oct. 24 and Friday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Oct. 31. Features “The Trail of Terror pathway with scary scenes along with a “Haunted Tram. For younger guests, not-so-scary activities include a Monster Mash Dance Party, pumpkin carving, cookie decorating and more. Kids 2 and under are free. Parking is free after 6 p.m. Combo zoo and Creatures of the Night tickets are available for $12-$18. (708) 688-8000 or CZS.org.

Fall Festival/Oktoberfest, Downtown Mount Prospect, Emerson Street and Busse Avenue, Mount Prospect: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. Hosted by the Mount Prospect Downtown Merchants Association festival includes pumpkin painting, scarecrow contest, hayrides, games, crafts. Trick or Treat through town. Come enjoy a day of fall festivities for kids. Free Oktoberfest includes food vendors, beer sales, and German Bands. (847) 392-6000.

Family Farm Fest, Spring Bluff Nursery, 41W130 Norris Road, Sugar Grove: Featuring horse-drawn hayrides on Sunday only, farm animals, antique tractor display, pumpkin painting, kids' activities, food and more. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 17. Free. Weather permitting. Fall centerpiece class at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. $25. Sunset hayrides on Friday, Oct. 15. $5; under age 2 free, by reservation only. (630) 466-4278 or springbluffnursery.com.

German-American Club of Antioch's Oktoberfest, German-American Cultural Center, Route 132, one mile west of Route 83, Antioch: Music, German fare, drinks and raffles. The Die Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band performs. Doors open at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. For ticket information, call Dorothy Jordahl. (847) 356-5484.

Haunted Harvest, Lambs Farm, 14245 W. Rockland Road, I-94 at Route 176, Libertyville: 6 to 10 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 16, 23 and 30. All-night pass is $15 per person, kids 3 and under free with purchase of adult pass. Individual activity pricing also available: Graveyard golf $5, creature walk $5, enchanted carousel $3, train of terror $5. (847) 362-4636 or lambsfarm.org.

Haunted Trail and Bonfire, Lindenhurst Park District, 2200 E. Grass Lake Road, Lindenhurst: Activities start at 3 p. m. Saturday, Oct. 16; Haunted Trail from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. About a dozen different spooky scenes for $1 per person. Activities include wagon rides for $1 or one canned food item for the Lake Villa Food Pantry, snacks from the Witches Kitchens, a kids game tent, face painting, moonwalk, pumpkins and gourds for sale, costume contest for children and entertainment. After dusk a bonfire will start with hot apple cider heated in a caldron. (847) 356-6011 or lindenhurstparks.org.

Long Grove Oktoberfest, Robert Parker Coffin Road, Long Grove: Oct. 16-17. Ethnic food and beverages, traditional German entertainment, dancing, live entertainment, shopping, family carriage rides, German dancing, pumpkin decorating; beer, brats and a variety of children's' activities. Free. Go to longgroveonline.com. (847) 634-0888. or longgroveonline.com.

Morton Arboretum's Fall Color Festival, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle: Through Sunday, Oct. 31. Features the Fall Color 5K Run and Walk, a “Scarecrow Trail with scarecrows decorated by local scouting groups, fall crafts, a gourd show and sale, fall fare and much more. General admission to the arboretum is $8-$11. Parking is free. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org.

Oktoberfest, Carpenter Park, Lord Avenue and Maple Street, Carpentersville: Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17. Adult and kids' bike race, music, food, beer tent, children's activities. Visit vil.carpentersville.il.us.

Pumpkinfest, Didier Farms, 16678 W. Aptakisic Road, Prairie View: Annual festival runs through Sunday, Oct. 31. Features hayrides, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, pony rides, children's carnival rides and inflatables. New this year is a Big Cats exhibit, camel rides and a 200-creature exhibit. Farmstand features homegrown vegetables, fall decorations and pumpkins. Food includes pumpkin and apple cider doughnuts. Hours and fees vary. (847) 634-3291 or didierfarms.com.

Scarecrow Festival, Memorial Park on Hough Street, Barrington: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. Tenth annual event features free family entertainment and activities including pony rides, cookie decorating, games, pumpkin decorating, face painting, scarecrow decorating and moonwalk. (847) 304-3400.