Puppet production
Take some children and one of your "get-off-my-lawn" type of relatives to the Chicago Children's Theatre's acclaimed production of "The Selfish Giant" based on a story by Oscar Wilde. Millennium Park hosts the play for four Sundays in August as original puppets and music tell the story of a giant who bars village children from frolicking in his garden. The garden sinks into eternal winter and guess who sneaks back in and brings a blissful resurrection of spring? Free!
Noon on Sundays, Aug. 9, 16, 23, 30 at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St, Chicago. (312) 742-1168 or millenniumpark.org
You won't have to fight for space on the beach to watch the Chicago Air & Water Show if you opt for a special cruise on the Spirit of Chicago. Enjoy brunch or lunch while watching the show and enjoying views of the city's skyline. Departing from Navy Pier, the 2009 Air & Water Show Cruises shove off on Friday for previews and Saturday and Sunday for the shows. Prices range from $44.90 to $54.90 per person.
10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14; 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, and Sunday, Aug. 16, departing from Navy Pier, 600 East Grand Ave. (866) 273-2469 orspiritofchicago.com/ch/chicago_airshow_cruise.jsp
Do the conga
If you couldn't take that trip to the Caribbean this year, just travel to Chicago's South Side for the Chicago Carifete. The Caribbean is made up of a mix of cultures, such as African, Asian, European, Mid Eastern and Native Americans - so imagine the colors, culture, food and spectacle at this year's festival. Watch the costumed dancers and musicians compete in the grand parade, enjoy the pulsating rhythms of steel bands, soca and calypso music, and arrive hungry for corn patties, tamales, stews, curries and sweets like cassava cake. Admission is free.
9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15-16, at Midway Plaisance between Cottage Grove and Stony Island Ave. (224) 944-1444 or chicagocarifete.com
Midwest
Woodstock revisited
Music fans and nostalgia buffs will converge upon Woodstock to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the historic festival that drew over 500,000 to Yasgur's farm, near Woodstock, N.Y., in 1969. The 21st century fest will include tribute bands to Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Santana, Joe Cocker, the Who, Credence Clearwater Revival and Crosby, Stills Nash and Youth. A rain or shine event, Woodstock Festival also offers food, beverage and retail vendors, RV and tent camping, lawn seating, and room and ticket packages at McHenry County hotels.
5 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, and 1 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Galt Airport, 5112 Greenwood Road in Woodstock. Tickets will be $20 on Friday, $30 on Saturday or $40 for both days. (815) 648-4591 or tribute2woodstock.com.
You've got a friend
While Woodstock is rocking with Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix impersonators, the gentle singer-songwriter genre get its due at George Williams College of Aurora University's ninth annual Music by the Lake series. "Sweet Baby James," a James Taylor tribute, is performed by Tony-nominated actor, composer, pianist and singer Bob Stillman. Connie James, who has spent the last 20 years in New York as a club and studio singer, also is featured in the show.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Ferro Pavilion at George Williams College of Aurora University in Williams Bay, Wis. Tickets range from $12 to $55. (866) 843-5200 ormusicbythelake.com.
Leave a colossal footprint
There's nothing if not great, big fun at the 29th annual Paul Bunyan Fest in Eagle River, Wis. There will be chain saw wood carving demos, arts and crafts, live musical entertainment by the Pinery Boys and massive meals of a beef sandwiches, potato salad, corn, pickle and cookie for $6 (served from 11 a.m.). Stop by the annual Paul Bunyan Fest Roast Cook-off by area businesses to see who wins the honor of best in the fest. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at Wall and Railroad Street in downtown Eagle River. (800) 359-6315 or eagleriver.org
Worth the trip
The nation's oldest capital city, Santa Fe, N.M., celebrates its 400th anniversary in September. Viva! Santa Fe weekend includes a free, multicultural festival; demos with the Santa Fe School of Cooking; dance workshops; artist demonstrations; a large, interactive kid's area; weekend concerts starring a Grammy-winning Native American drum group, the Navajo rock band Blackfire, Oaxacan-native singer Lila Downs, Tobias Rene, the Latin Grammy Award-winning band Ozomatli and a special appearance by the Santa Fe Symphony performing "Symphony Under the Stars." The Santa Fe 400th Anniversary continues to commemorate its 400 years of culture throughout 2010.
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5-6 at Ft. Marcy Park in Santa Fe.santafe400th.com
