There’s so much to do in our region! Here’s a look at upcoming lectures and educational enrichment.
August
McCormick Day
Aug. 4, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Celebrate Chicago Tribune magnate Col. Robert R. McCormick’s birthday and the 61 years since his estate became a park forthe public. Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, (630) 668-5161, cantigny.org.
Hometown Picnic
Aug. 6, noon-4 p.m. Enjoy a picnic with old-fashioned games, contests, an apple pie-baking competition and a vintage baseball game. Naper Settlement, Naperville, (630) 420-6010, napersettlement.org.
Pickling Party
Aug. 7, 1-4 p.m. Watch how natural preservation is done from the garden to the pantry, with hands-on demonstrations. Durant House Museum, 37W370 Dean St., St. Charles, (630) 377-6424, ppfv.org/durant.
Pioneer Days at the Colonel Palmer House
Aug. 7, 1-4 p.m. Learn about daily chores in the 1860s and try your hand around the farm and farmhouse. Colonel Palmer House, Crystal Lake, (815) 459-0680, crystallakeparks.org.
Late Night @ Prairieview Education Center Open House
Aug. 10, 4:30-8:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening view of the summer prairie from the patio and exhibit room, discover the Exploration Station children’s activity room, and enjoy light refreshments. Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake, (815) 479-5779, mccdistrict.org.
French Connection Day
Aug. 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Cantigny Park stays connected to its roots with its annual celebration of French culture through family-friendly activities. Cantigny, Wheaton, (630) 668-5161, cantigny.org.
Living History Open House: World War II
Aug. 14, noon-4 p.m. Features the Schaeffer and Steinmetz families, who lived in the area during the World War II era. Enjoy the wartime memorabilia and listen to the stories of both the home-front and the soldiers, as you discover two perspectives from this conflict that changed our world. Powers-Walker House, Glacial Park, IL Rt. 31 & Harts Road, Ringwood. Info: (815) 338-6223, mccdistrict.org.
Shakespeare in the Garden
Aug. 19, 9:30-11 a.m. Presented by Laura Mueller, from the Art Institute of Chicago, and in partnership with the Elgin Garden Club, this event highlights the Shakespeare gardens of 1916, as well as paintings and plants popular in Shakespeare’s time. Gail Borden Public Library (GBPL), 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin, (847) 742-2411, gailborden.info.
Elmhurst Architecture Walking Tour
Aug. 20, 3 p.m. Walk with architect Robert Bunda to examine some eclectic architectural gems, from Prairie School and classic bungalows to Romanesque and international styles. Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S. Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst, (630) 833-1457, elmhursthistory.org.
From the Outback to the Internet
Aug. 26, 8 p.m. Vanessa Hill, an Australian science communicator and educator, explores what might be the best way to teach science. Fermilab, Ramsey Auditorium, Kirk Road & Pine Street, Batavia, (630) 840-2787, fnal.gov/culture.
Backyard Chickens
Aug. 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Learn how to buy and raise chicks for eggs and meat. Topics include shelter, care, nutrition, breed characteristics and processing for the dinner table. Kline Creek Farm, West Chicago, (630) 876-5900, dupageforest.com.
Artful Women: Elizabeth Berg
Aug. 28, 3 p.m. Author Elizabeth Berg shares personal stories that served as inspiration for her books. Raue Center For The Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake, (815) 356-9212, rauecenter.org.
Monarch Family Fun Fair
Aug. 28, 1-4 p.m. Learn how you can help the monarch butterflies and their miraculous migration across North America. Crystal Lake Main Beach Pavilion, 300 Lake Shore Drive, Crystal Lake, (815) 479-5779, mccdistrict.org.
September
Mushroom Show & Sale
Sept. 4, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The Illinois Mycological Association celebrates the richness of fall with an exhibition of 50 to 100 varieties of mushroom foraged from area forests. Members provide information and answer questions. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, (847) 835-5440, chicagobotanic.org.
An Eyewitness to September 11th
Sept. 6, 1 p.m. Retired Lt. Col. Ryan Yantis, a survivor of the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, tells of his experience that day as a public affairs officer on duty. Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1401 W. Wilson St., Batavia, bataviafineartscentre.org.
The Un-Canvas Paint Party
Sept. 8, 6-8:30 p.m. Bring a bottle of wine and snacks to enjoy while you create a whimsical wooden door holder hanger. Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. Info: (630) 892-1550, foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.
ESO Listeners Club: Tchaikovsky & Rachmaninoff
Sept. 14, 1-3 p.m. This interactive lecture meets the Wednesday afternoon before Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s Classics Masterworks performance and promises to broaden your understanding of the music to be performed that week. GBPL, Elgin, (847) 742-2411, gailborden.info.
Royal Botanic Garden, Kew
Sept. 20, 3:30-5 p.m. The director of England’s Kew Gardens discusses the garden’s mission of using the power of science and the rich diversity of gardens to provide knowledge, inspiration and understanding of why plants matter. GBPL, Elgin, (847) 742-2411, gailborden.info.
What’s Physics Got To Do With Sports?
Sept. 23, 8 p.m. Dr. Chang Kee Jung, distinguished physics professor at State University of New York – Stony Brook, explains the effects created by balls in popular sports using concepts in classical mechanics and fluid dynamics. Fermilab, Batavia, (630) 840-2787, fnal.gov/culture.
Harvest Pow Wow
Sept. 24-25, Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. to 5 p.m. Celebrate Native American heritage with dancing, cultural demonstrations, children’s games and crafts, presentations, more. Presented by Midwest SOARRING Foundation. Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville, (630) 420-6010, napersettlement.org.
Passport Europe Cultural Festival
Sept. 24-25. Experience authentic European music, dance, cuisine, more while exploring trees and plants native to central and northern Europe. Morton Arboretum, 4100 IL Rt. 53, Lisle, (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.