Chicago's World Music Festival offers 10 days of traditional, contemporary

Where else can you hear Saharan desert rhythms from Mali, high energy gypsy sounds from Romania and a blend of African music and contemporary R&B from Madagascar? All kinds of artists will perform at Chicago's World Music Festival, featuring 10 days of traditional and contemporary music from cultures across the world. The festival lineup features more than 50 events that are a mix of free and ticketed concerts presented at venues throughout Chicago. There will be a special three-day tribute to the arts and culture of India with a free concert opening night featuring Zakir Hussain, a classical tabla virtuoso.

Event times and venues vary, Tuesday, Sept. 21, to Thursday, Sept. 30. For a complete lineup, visit WorldMusicFestivalChicago.org or call (312) 742.1938.

Henson's genius

Take a walk down Sesame Street and learn about the imagination of Jim Henson, the creator of Kermit, Big Bird, Elmo, Bert and Ernie and other beloved characters. "Jim Henson's Fantastic World" at the Museum of Science and Industry features 100 original Henson artworks, including drawings, cartoons and storyboards documenting Henson's process of visual thinking. See the iconic puppets created by Henson, television and movie props, photographs of Henson and his collaborators at work, original video productions and experimental films from Henson's early career.

9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; Sept. 24, through Jan. 23 at 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive. The exhibition is not included in general admission and tickets are $5 for adults and seniors; $2 for children ages 3-11. Visit msichicago.org or call (773) 684-1414.

Hyde Park grooves

President Obama's old stomping grounds play host to 13 hours of effervescent grooves, sly musical strolls and melancholy meditations during the Fourth annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival. World-class headliners like Dee Alexander and the Art Hoyle Quintet join local emerging artists at venues such as the DuSable Museum, Experimental Station, Hyde Park Art Center, Smart Museum of Art and Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House. All performances are free. There also will be food kiosks on the Midway Plaisance.

1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25. Venues vary so visit hydeparkjazzfestival.org for the schedule.

Midwest

Beef cake

What does a Wisconsinite love more than cheese? Well, sure beer and brats, but they also have a healthy respect for beef as shown by Beef-A-Rama held every September since 1964 in the small town of Minocqua, Wis. The topper has to be the Parade of Roasts with over 50 steaming roasts marched through the streets whetting appetites of onlookers. Volunteers slice away preparing thousands of sandwiches. There's plenty of live music, a craft show and activities to keep the little noshers happy.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, at Torpy Park in downtown Minocqua. Visit minocqua.org or call (800) 446-6784.

Cornish hens and roosters

The Wisconsin Cornish Society celebrates its heritage from the most southwestern part of England with a special Cornish Festival in the Mineral Point area featuring customs, food and entertainment. The festival includes Celtic performers, the Taste of Mineral Point and the Miner's Buffet supper. Visit one of Mineral Point's museums, learn how to draw Celtic knots and shop the farmers market. Don't leave without sampling a Cornish pastie or figgyhobbin, a rich dessert rolled with brown sugar, cinnamon, nuts and raisins.

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24; 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26. Call (888) 764-6894 or visit cornishfest.org.

Fishing for some fun?

Get outdoors before the winter winds start blowing you over with a free family-fun event, Northern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days. Adults and children share and learn safety skills, how-tos and appreciation of the outdoors though a variety of recreational activities from archery to canoeing. There will be vendors for food, equipment, clothing, guide services and more.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25-26, at 13608 Fox Road, in Silver Springs State Park, in Yorkville. Visit huntingandfishingdays.org.

Worth the trip

You can bet your meatballs that the Norsk Hostfest, North America's largest Scandinavian Festival, at the State Fair Center in Minot, N.D., is a boatload of activity every autumn. Tens of thousands of people attend the event and more than 200 internationally recognized artisans, craftsmen and chefs participate.

Browse through traditional Scandinavian and modern handicrafts, silver jewelry, Norwegian sweaters, fine art and clogs. Young Svea and Jorgen may want to dance with a troll or play "Knock The Fleas Off The Black Plague Rat." Food goes way beyond dried codfish and creamed rice with four sidewalk cafes offering culinary favorites like Danish Aebelskivers, lutefisk, lefse, Oof-Da Tacos, rice pudding, Swedish meatballs and Viking-on-a-stick. Festival goers can expect plenty of Scandinavian entertainment as well as big names, such as country singer-songwriters Alan Jackson and Vince Gill, The Four Tops and The Temptations, The Oak Ridge Boys and Abbacadabra.

Tuesday, Sept. 28, to Saturday, Oct. 2. General admission tickets are $35 per person per day and tickets for featured performers range from $48 to $75. Buy tickets at (701) 852-2368 or visit hostfest.com.