Fairs & fests: Geneva Concours d'Elegance, Palatine Street Fest, Grayslake Balloon Fest

This weekend

<b>Stratford Square Mall's Summer Fest:</b> 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 27-28, at Stratford Square Mall, 152 Stratford Square, Bloomingdale. In The Stix, Sixteen Candles and Wedding Banned perform, rides, a beer tent, games, vendors and more. Admission is $3; free for kids 12 and younger. All proceeds benefit PACT Humane Society. (630) 351-9400 or stratfordmall.com.

<b>Meadows Cruise Night:</b> 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at Meadows Christian Fellowship, 2401 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows. Classic cars, food and more. Free. (847) 255-8764 or meadowsfamily.org.

<b>ZooBrew:</b> 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 26-27, on the East Mall at Brookfield Zoo, 8400 W. 31st St., Brookfield. This 21-and-older beer-tasting event features more than 80 types of ales, lagers, malts, stouts and porters. Sample beers from 36 breweries. Also, food, live bands and singalongs. General admission ticket is $45 and includes samplings and a commemorative tasting glass. VIP tickets cost $75, and are only available on Friday. General admission designated driver tickets cost $25, and a VIP designated driver ticket is $35. All ticket options include free parking and admission to the zoo from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. czs.org/zoobrew.

<b>Palatine Street Fest:</b> 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 26; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, Aug. 27; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, at Brockway and Slade streets, Palatine. Live music from Uncle Kracker, Sixteen Candles, Rod Tuffcurls & the Bench Press, 7th heaven and the Battle of the Bands winner. Local cuisine, pet parade at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, family entertainment and kids' activities. Free. palatinestreetfest.com.

<b>Brass Transit Band:</b> 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at the Lakeside Pavilion, adjacent to the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. The COD mascot, Chappie, will kick off the college's 50th anniversary celebration. Stay for fireworks after the concert. Free. atthemac.org.

<b>Palatine Bike Club's 5th Annual Cycle Fest:</b> 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Palatine Town Square at Smith and Slade streets, Palatine. Casual and experienced bike riders can explore new bike routes in the Palatine area. Cycle Fest offers four distance options ranging from nine to 33 miles. Helmets are required. Fee is $25, with a $5 discount for club members. Register at bikepalatine.com or in person at Mike's Bike Shop, 155 N. Northwest Hwy., Palatine.

<b>Bristol Renaissance Faire:</b> 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 27-28, at 12550 120th Ave., Kenosha, Wisconsin. Step back in time to late 16th-century England and the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Features costumed re-enactors, games, rides, food, a marketplace, entertainment and more. $24.95 adults; $11.50 kids 5-12; free for kids 4 and younger. (847) 395-7773 or renfair.com/bristol.

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Port Clinton Art Festival:</b> 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 27-28, at Port Clinton Square, 600 Central Ave., Highland Park. See works from 260 artists from across the globe. Other highlights include kids' activities and more. Free. amdurproductions.com.

<b>Artists & Authors Fair:</b> 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Fischer Farm, 16W680 Grand Ave., Bensenville. Local artists showcase their works in wood, ceramic, fiber, glass, jewelry, paintings, sculpture and more. Other highlights include art demonstrations, meetings with authors, books, live music and kids' activities. In the event of inclement weather, rain date is Saturday, Sept. 10. Free. bensenvilleparkdistrict.org.

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Glen Ellyn Festival of the Arts:</b> 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 27-28, at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn. Art, live music, children's activities, food vendors, beer and wine garden. Free. glenellynlions.org.

<b>Elgin International Fest:</b> 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Riverside Drive Promenade, off Riverside Drive, Elgin. Fifth annual festival showcases Elgin's diversity through food, entertainment and activities. Free. elginifest.org.

<b>Alley Art Festival:</b> Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Water Street Mall, between Downer Place and Galena Boulevard, Aurora. Grassroots art and music festival features artwork from more than 60 local artists, live music, food and more. Free. auroradowntown.org/alley-art-festival/.

<b>Medinah Park District's Family Fest:</b> 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Thorndale Park, 22W130 Thorndale Ave., Medinah. Fest highlights include live music from the Rick Lindy Band at 4 p.m. and the White Saddle Band at 6:30 p.m., children's entertainment, food vendors, games, raffles, business/craft vendors, inflatables, touch-a-truck and zip lines. Free; some fees for activities. (630) 893-2560 or medinahparkdistrict.org.

<b>Grayslake Color Aloft Balloon Festival:</b> 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Central Park, 250 Library Lane, Grayslake. Visitors will see the inflation and competition of hot-air balloon experts (weather permitting). Includes a Civil War-era baseball game, live music and family activities. Visitors are welcome to bring picnics; there will be no food vendors. Free. (847) 223-6888 or grayschamber.com.

<b>Feet Fest 3K Family Fun Run:</b> 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, at Towne Square, 150 W. Palatine Road, Palatine. Part of Palatine's annual Street Fest celebration. Family and team discounts available. Race fee is $15 on the day of the event. (847) 991-0333. Registration available at palatineparks.org.

<b>A Walk in the Park Summer Art Fair:</b> 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, at North School Park, Eastman and Arlington Heights roads, Arlington Heights. The Arlington Heights Art Guild's annual juried show features local artists presenting original paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry and ceramics. Live music and food vendors. Free. arlingtonheightsartguild.com.

<b>Geneva Concours d'Elegance:</b> 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, along South Third Street, Geneva. More than 150 antique, classic and modern cars. Free; donations accepted for the LivingWell Cancer Resource Center. genevaconcours.net.

Next week

<b>Cary Cruise Nights:</b> 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, on West Main Street and Jandus Road off Route 14, Cary. Free. (847) 639-2800 or carygrovechamber.com.

<b>Carol Stream Summer Carnival:</b> 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday, Sept. 1-5, at the Carol Stream Town Center, 960 N. Gary Ave., Carol Stream. Alpine Amusement Co. hosts an end-of-summer carnival that includes more than 20 amusements rides. $15-$25; $25 discounted unlimited ride wristbands will be honored from 6 p.m. to close. (630) 665-7050 or carolstream.org.

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Buffalo Grove Days:</b> 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1; 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2; 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 3-4; and 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5, at the Mike Rylko Community Park, 951 McHenry Road, between Buffalo Grove Road and Deerfield Parkway, Buffalo Grove. Longtime Labor Day weekend festival features live music, food, carnival rides, a parade, a craft fair, bingo and more. “American Idol” finalist Haley Reinhart performs with the Midnight band at 9 p.m. Saturday. Parade at 11 a.m. Sunday. Free. bgdays.com.

<b>Chicago Jazz Festival:</b> Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 1-4, at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., and in Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago. Jazz headliners perform on various stages at the Chicago Cultural Center. Daily schedule varies. Free. cityofchicago.org.