Recreation opportunities abound in our region! Here are a few of the best our area has to offer.
August
Kane County Flea Market
Aug. 2-3, Aug. 31-Sept. 1, Oct. 5-6, Sat. noon-5 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Up to 1,000 dealers display and sell antiques, collectibles & Fancy Junque. Food served all day. Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, (630) 377-2252, kanecountyfleamarket.com.
Dog Days at Cantigny
Aug. 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Agility & disk dog demos, vendors, dog play area, rescue groups and animal shelters, adoption services. Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, (630) 668-5161, cantigny.org.
14th Annual Big Trucks!
Aug. 3, 9-11:30 a.m. Dozens of large trucks and equipment for kids to climb on and explore, Big Wheel race, inflatable slide, live music. Free admission. Ron Beese Park, 50 Rotary Dr., Barrington, (847) 304-5291, barringtonparkdistrict.org.
Settlement Sundays
Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25, 1-4 p.m. Ice cream sundaes, hands-on family activities, games, demos, tours. Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville, (630) 420-6010, napersettlement.museum.org.
23rd Annual Vintage Transport Extravaganza
Aug. 4, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Hundreds of antique autos, trucks, fire engines, tractors, motorcycles, buses and other vehicles on display, rides, live music. Illinois Railway Museum (IRM), 7000 Olson Road, Union, (815) 244-7245, irm.org.
Wine Through the Gardens
Aug. 8, 6:30 p.m. Guided tour to three garden spots and their horticulturists; wine and food samplings. Visitors Center, Cantigny, Wheaton, cantigny.org.
Fox Valley Amazing Race
Aug. 3, 9 a.m.-2p.m. Teams of four adults solve clues and complete mental and physical challenges that lead through park district facilities. Race start: Vaughan Athletic Center, 2121 W. Indian Tr., Aurora, (630) 907-9600, foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.
7th Annual Bob Leonard 5K Run/Walk
Aug. 10, 8 a.m. USATF certified course-chip-timed race; walk is separate course. Party follows with food, prizes. River Corridor Foundation fundraiser. Pottawatomie Park Pavilion, 8 North Ave., St. Charles, (630) 418-6309, stcrivercorridor.org.
French Connection Day
Aug. 11, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. French open-air market; wine tasting and French food at Le Jardin, kids’ art project, French music, street performers, caricaturist, 23-foot Eiffel Tower, more. Free; $5 parking fee. Cantigny, Wheaton, cantigny.org.
Day Out With Thomas
Aug. 16-18, 24-25, Fri. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 10:30 a.m.-5p.m. A 20-minute ride (time specified on ticket) on Thomas the Tank Engine; unlimited rides on other trolleys/trains; puppet and magic shows; clowns; Sir Topham Hatt; food vendors. Special Fare applies; no passes honored. IRM, Union, irm.org.
Elburn Days
Aug. 16-18, events daily. Live music, carnival games, rides, food, more. Parade 6 p.m. Fri. Elburn Lions Park, 500 Filmore St., Elburn, (630) 365-6315, elburn.com.
“What Floats Your Boat?”
Aug. 17, 10 a.m. Cardboard Boat Race with prizes for different age and organizational groups, propulsion methods, design, more. Fundraiser for Fox Valley United Way. Free cardboard available. Mastodon Lake, Smith Blvd. across from Phillips Park, Aurora, uwfoxvalley.org.
Historic LaSalle Street 5th Annual Auto Show
Aug. 17, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Trophies, silent auction, bbq, 50/50 raffle, music and lots of cars. Sponsored by Friends of LaSalle Street. South LaSalle St., Aurora, (630) 896-0181, lasalle-auto-row.org.
Aurora Town Club Vintage Base Ball
Aug. 17, 2 p.m. Local team plays other Midwest vintage base ball teams using late 1800s uniforms and rules. Randall Park, 1501 W. Indian Trail, Aurora, [email protected].
Adopt a Butterfly
Aug. 17, 10-11 a.m. Adopt and release a live butterfly into the Butterfly House at Peck Farm Park. Registration req. $20/butterfly. Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road, Geneva, (630) 232-4542, genevaparks.org.
Festival of the Horse & Drum
Aug. 17-18, Sat. 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. to 6 p.m. Equestrian festival with American Indian Pow-Wow, Horsemen of Spain, Portugal & Mexico, vendors, expo & more. Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, (630) 272-3077, festivalofthehorseanddrum.com.
Markel USEF Young Horse Championship
Aug. 22-25, events daily. Dressage competition for 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old horses that promotes the importance of selective breeding and correct training of horses in the U.S. Lamplight Equestrian Center, 6N940 Dunham Road, Wayne, (630) 497-1770, lamplightequestriancenter.com.
Scrapbook Expo
Aug. 23-24, Fri. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. to 5 p.m. Papercraft vendors selling supplies and tools to the public. Make-and-take projects, workshops, crop parties. Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, (888) 252-3976, scrapbookexpo.com.
Elgin Kennel Club Dog & Obedience Trials
Aug. 24-25, judging daily. More than 800 entries in confirmation and obedience. Free; parking charge. No unentered dogs allowed. Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, (630) 606-6278, elginkennelclub.com.
Bug Fest
Aug. 24, 8:30 a.m. Explore the world of bugs along the Fox River bike trail. Red Oak Nature Center, 2343 S. River St., North Aurora, (630) 897-1808, foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.
Sycamore Block Party
Aug. 24, 4-11 p.m. Street dance with live music and fabulous food from our local restaurants. Somonauk Street between State & Elm, downtown Sycamore, discoversycamore.com.
25th Long Grove Art Fest
Aug. 24-25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Browse and buy works from more than 100 juried artists. Food, music, wine. Archer Parking Lot, 343 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove, longgroveartfest.com.
Heirloom Garden Show
Aug. 25, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Rare and specialty fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs are displayed and sold by Midwestern growers. Member participation by Seed Savers Exchange. Garfield Farm & Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, La Fox, (630)584-8485, garfieldfarm.org
Genoa Pioneer Day
Aug. 25, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Old-time tradesmen and crafters demonstrate skills, stagecoach rides, more. Kishwaukee Valley Heritage Society, 622 Park Ave., Genoa, genoamainstreet.com.
Geneva Concours d’Elegance 2013
Aug. 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. See 175 invitational automobiles on display: classics, exotics and racecars compete for the Carl F. Benz Award. Free to spectators. Proceeds benefit LivingWell Cancer Resource Center. Third Street, Geneva, genevaconcours.net.
Maple Park Fun Fest
Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 7 a.m. A soundstage, softball tournaments, car and motorcycle show, craft fair. Downtown Maple Park, mapleparkfunfest.com.
DeKalb Corn Fest
Aug. 30-Sept. 1, Fri. 3-11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. to 6 p.m. This year, the popular free music fest moves back to Downtown DeKalb, with sound stage, carnival, food, beer garden, more. Downtown DeKalb, between 1st and 4th streets, cornfest.com.
Railroad Extravaganza
Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 11 a.m. Celebrate IRM’s 60th Anniversary and the end of summer. Picnic, ride the trains, tour the grounds. IRM, Union, irm.com.
Last Fling Family Fun Land
Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon. to 4 p.m. Bouncy rides, pony rides, entertainment stage featuring Radio Disney, arts & crafts area, food and beverages, family-focused business expo booths, more. Naper Settlement, Naperville, napersettlement.museum.org.
Elgin International Festival
Aug. 31, 11 a.m. parade, noon festival. Great food from around the world, Kids Zone, family activities, live music, World Dance Party, more. Festival Park, 130 S. Grove Ave., Elgin, elginfest.com.
September
Sandwich Fair
Sept 4-8, events daily. Visit DeKalb County for the oldest continuing county fair in Illinois. Sandwich Fair Grounds, 1401 Suydam Road, Sandwich, sandwichfair.com.
Festival of the Vine
Sept. 6-8, events daily. Wines; local food specialties; live entertainment; arts & crafts show, Kids’ Corner, horse-drawn carriage rides, more. Downtown Geneva, 3rd and State streets, genevadowntown.org.
10th Annual Great Genoa Duck Race
Sept. 7, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. G-K HS Band, jumpy house, face painting, bags game, food vendors. Genoa Chamber fundraiser. Carroll Memorial Park, State & Madison streets, Genoa, genoamainstreet.com.
Revolutionary War Re-enactment
Sept. 7-8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Get a feel for camp life, experience a battle and enjoy the sights and sounds of the 18th century. Free with $5 parking. Cantigny, Wheaton, cantigny.org.
DeKalb Kite Fest
Sept. 8, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Stunt kites, dancing kites, fighting kites, food, activities for kids & family. NIU Campus, Lucinda Avenue & Kishwaukee Drive, DeKalb, dekalbcountycvb.com.
Showplace Fall Classic “A” Finals
Sept. 10-15, judging daily. Horse show season finale. Lamplight Equestrian Center, Wayne, lamplightequestriancenter.com.
119th Big Rock Plowing Match
Sept. 13-15, 9 a.m. Carnival, horseshoe tourney, arts & crafts show, food vendors, horse show, 4-H beef show & auction, plowing contests, more. Plowman’s Park, 48W508 Hinckley Road,
Big Rock, bigrockplowingmatch.com.
Fall Harvest
Sept. 14, noon-4 p.m. Discover the ways of the pioneer with harvest treats and be entertained by nationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Chris Vallillo. Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora, (630) 892-1550, foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.
Ride Like an Egyptian
Sept. 14, 10 a.m. Century bike ride through DeKalb and Kane counties to support the historic Egyptian Theatre. Same-day registration, 7-10 a.m. Egyptian Theatre, 135 2nd St., DeKalb, egyptiantheatre.org.
Vintage Base Ball Match
Sept. 14, noon. Base ball as it was played during the American Civil War, 1858 rules. DuPage Plowboys vs. Milwaukee Grays. Free with parking fee. Parade Field, Cantigny, Wheaton, cantigny.org.
Fiestas Patrias Aurora 2013
Sept. 14-15, events daily. Experience Mexico with international music, folklorico dancing, exhibit booths and food vendors. Sunday parade through downtown. RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora, (630) 896-6666, riveredgeaurora.com.
Prairie Fest 2013 at Historic Corron Farm
Sept. 21, 1-4 p.m. Guided tours of historic buildings, hayrides, door prizes, sale, auction, 50/50 raffle by Corron Farm Preservation Society. Corron Farm, 7N761 Corron Road, Campton Hills, corronfarmpreservationsociety.org
Fox Valley Marathon
Sept. 21, 7 a.m. all races start. USATF sanctioned marathon, half-marathon and fall final. Downtown St. Charles, Illinois & 1st streets, (630) 549-3070, foxvalleymarathon.com.
Harvest Pow Wow
Sept. 21-22, Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. to 5 p.m. Native American dancing, cultural demonstrations, children’s games and crafts, presentations, more. Presented by Midwest SOARRING Foundation. Info: (773) 585-1744. Event: Naper Settlement, Naperville, napersettlement.museum.org.
Long Grove’s 21st Annual Apple Festival
Sept. 27-29, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Cider donuts, caramel apples and the famous brown bag apple pie. Live music, hayrides, more. 307 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove, (847) 634-0888, visitlonggrove.com.
House Walk
Sept. 29, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tour five unique Batavia homes and an historic downtown building; tea at Water Street Studios. Self-guided. Various locations, Batavia, (630) 761-3528, downtownbatavia.com. ❚