Imagine what life on Earth would be like if everyone everywhere knew only the same one song to sing and the same dance step, if all around the world there were only one kind of animal and one kind of plant. Our planet would be a mononotous place to live and humans would suffer from a severe case of boredom.
Fortunately, however, diversity is the byword of life and families can explore its many facets in fall activities in the city. They can listen to music made from instruments from around the world in an exhibition called “Sounds from the Vaults” at the Field Museum. They can also watch indigenous Mexican ceremonial dances at the museum as part of Celebracion ’99 and see troupes perform pre-Columbian and Puerto Rican dances at the Chicago Children’s Museum.
“When people see dance companies from other cultures it provides a window to understand the differences and commonalities between different people,” says Encarnacion Teruel, manager of the performing arts division at the Field Museum. “So it helps to build a greater sense of world community.”
Teruel points out that dances from other cultures often have a specific purpose — such as celebrating a child’s coming of age or the changing of the seasons — but that it is not always necessary to understand their specific meaning to appreciate them. “You can still end up with a feeling of being uplifted by the dance and oftentimes you’ll get the pure product of just the joy of dance.”
Families can find a similar kind of pleasure by observing the diversity of Mother Nature’s abundance. They can even find it indoors at the “LEGO Ocean Adventure” exhibition at the Chicago Children’s Museum, which includes plastic sea creatures such as dolphins and sea turtles. Or they can see it when they take a horse-drawn wagon ride through the Danada Forest Preserve near Wheaton or watch a beekeeping demonstration or take a fall color walk to look at the variety of plants and animals during the Fall Honey and Harvest Festival at River Trail Nature Center in Northbrook.
“The diversity of a natural area indicates the overall health of the community,” explains John Elliott, director of the River Trail Nature Center. While diversity has many benefits, such as preventing erosion along river banks, Elliott says that one of the advantages that he sees is very personal.
“I stand here and look out the door and listen to the cicadas sing and think of all the species of insects that sing and it’s just so wonderful,” he says. “It’s the absolute beauty of it.”
Here is a sampling of family activities in the Chicago area for the coming months.
Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-443-3600: Picture This Drop-in Activity, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 26. Hispanic Heritage Month: Del Oro — Jewelry Making Demonstration, 12:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 26; Hispanic Heritage Month: Family Workshops “Puzzles From the Past: The Maya,” 10:30 a.m. Oct. 2, for ages 4-6; “Carved in Stone: Art from Ancient America,” 2 p.m. Oct. 2, for ages 7-12; “Celebrate! Modern Mexican Artists,” 10:30 a.m. Oct. 9, for ages 4-6; “History in the Making: The Art of Jose Clemente Orozco,” 2 p.m. Oct. 9, for ages 7-12. Columbus Day Drop-in Workshop: clay sculpture activity inspired by ceramics from ancient America and artist demonstration of figure sculpture in clay, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Oct. 11, for all ages. All activities are free with museum admission; $8 adults, $5 children.
Brookfield Zoo, 1st Avenue and 31st Street, Brookfield; 708-485-0263: Fiesta Para Todos, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 18, 19, 25 and 26; Boo! at the Zoo, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 30 and 31; $6 adults, $3 children. Zoo Run Run, 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Oct. 3, $13-$22, 773-770-9000.
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe; 847-835-5440: Best of the Midwest Market children’s activity Flavorful Fun for Kids, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 12, $9 adults, children free; Get Ready, Get Set, Grow race, 7:30 a.m. Sept. 19 registration, $10-$20, Garden Harvest Festival activities, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 19, free.
Chicago Children’s Museum, Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Ave.; 312-527-1000: “LEGO Ocean Adventure,” Sept. 18-Nov. 7; “World Circus,” Sept. 25-Jan. 16; $6.50. Free Family Nights: Nahui Ollin Pre-Columbian Dance Troupe, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 16; Ocean Adventures: Stories of the Sea, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23; Flamenco, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 30; Cuentos y Cantos, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 7, Las Semillitas Puerto Rican Dance Troupe, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 14; Circus Fun, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 21; Dia de los Muertos, 5-8 p.m. Oct. 28.
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.; 312-744-6630: 11:30 a.m. Sept. 11, Adzook’s Puppets: “Mr. Punch — The Babysitter”; 11 a.m. Sept. 18, Child’s Play Touring Theater: “Writes of Passage”; noon Sept. 26, Royal Lao Orchestra Demonstration; 11:30 a.m. Oct. 2, Young People’s Concert: Rhythmunity Ensemble Percussion Group; 1-3 p.m., Oct. 2, Art You Can Do: Popular Toys from Latin America; 11:30 a.m. Oct. 9, Heritage Dance; 11:30 a.m. Oct. 16, Young Anchors at the News Taping Center; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 30, Hallowed Halls; 11:30 a.m. Nov. 13, Handful of Puppets: Wayne Francis, Ventriloquist; 11:30 a.m. Nov. 20, Young People’s Concert: Indian Music Mandal; 11:30 a.m. Dec. 4, Art You Can Do: Monet and Michelangelo; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 11, Holly Halls including a concert, arts and crafts and a performance of “Kingdom of Gold.” Free.
Chicago Historical Society, Clark Street and North Avenue; 312-642-4600: “Fire in Boomtown” stories and songs, 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Oct. 5-7; Chicago Family Fire Day with safety demonstrations and games, 1-4 p.m. Oct. 10, free with museum admission, $5 adults, $1 children; Lookingglass Theatre’s production of “The Great Fire,” 4 p.m. Oct. 10, $7 adults, $3 children. Independent Schools Fair, noon-3 p.m. Oct. 3, free; 773-549-0172.
Danada Forest Preserve, Naperville Road three-quarters of a mile south of Butterfield Rd., Wheaton; 630-668-6012: Horse-drawn wagon rides, 11 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. Sept. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26; 5:30 p.m., 6:16 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sept. 15, 22 and 29; $3 adults, $1 children.
Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive; 312-922-9410: Earth Harp: The World’s Largest Stringed Instrument, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. through Sept. 30 for strumming by public, free; MASS Ensemble Performances, 1 p.m. Sept. 18, 3 p.m. Sept. 19, 5 p.m. Sept. 21, 8 p.m. Sept. 25, free; “Sounds from the Vaults” exhibition, through March 5; Tibetan Activity Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 11; “The Chicago Bears: 80 Years of Gridiron Legends,” through Jan. 2; Uno Day featuring storytelling and crafts, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 18; Cartier: 1900-1939 Activity Day, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 2 and 3; Field of Screams: Costume Creation Station, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 2-30; Celebracion ’99, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 18 and 19; Los Folkloristas, 7 p.m. Oct. 16; Halloween Harvest Festival, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 30; Dinosaurs and More Festival, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 20 and 21, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 22; $7 adults, $4 children, $15 for Los Folkloristas.
Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Rd.; 847-234-6060: “Halloween Hijinx,” 10:30 a.m. Oct. 30; $5.
Graue Mill and Museum, 3720 York Rd., Oak Brook; 630-655-2090: Civil War Encampment, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sept. 18 and 19, free; GermanFest, 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Sept. 26, $3.75 adults, $1.50 children.
Great American Wagon Pull: Families Pulling Together to Prevent Child Abuse, Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Ave., 312-424-6890; 8:30 a.m. registration Sept. 18; $10 adults, $5 children in advance, $12 adult, $7 child on day of event.
The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview; 847-299-6096: The Grove Folk Fest, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 3; $3 adults, $1 children; Grove Rib Fest and Vintage Baseball, 1-3:30 p.m. Sept. 19, $15 adults, $5 children; Pumpkin Trail, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 16 and 17, free.
Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Rd., Highland Park; 847-433-6901: Autumn Fest featuring nature walks, pony rides, a pumpkin hunt and campfire, 5-8 p.m. Sept. 17; $5 adults, $3 children for residents, $8 adults, $4.50 children for non-residents.
Kline Creek Farm, County Farm Road one-half mile south of North Avenue, Winfield; 630-876-5900: “. . . And the School Master Lived With Us,” house tour, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 10-13, 16-20 and 23-27; free.
Kohl Children’s Museum, 165 Green Bay Rd., Wilmette; 847-256-6056: “The Nature of Things” theme weeks, 10:30 a.m.-noon and 2:30-4 p.m.: Sept. 11 and 12, Sowin’ Seeds; Sept. 12-20 and Sept. 25-26, A Week of Flower Power; Don’t Bark Up the Wrong Tree, Sept. 27-30; More Fun with Bark, Oct. 1-3; Birds of a Feather, Oct. 4-10; Give ’em an Inch, Oct. 11-17; Leave It to the Beaver, Oct. 18-24; Got Guts?, Oct. 25-31. Week of the Wildcat featuring mini sports clinics with members of Northwestern University teams, 11 a.m. Sept. 21-24; Wildcat Family Fun Night with Northwestern University cheerleaders, band and mascot, 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 22. “Rumpelstiltskin: A Participation Play,” 10:30 and 2:30 Oct. 30. All activities are free with museum admission; $5. Thespian Thursday drama workshop with Northlight Theater staff, 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 21; $17 for child and one adult. Magic or Science — A Halloween Party!, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31; $8.50.
Lambs Farm, Ill. Hwy. 176 and I-94, Libertyville; 847-362-4636: Indian Summer Fest, 10-5 p.m. Sept. 12; Watercross — Fastest Show on H2O, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 18, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 19; free.
Lill Street, 1021 W. Lill St., 773-477-6185: Classes for toddlers, children ages 5-8, 8-12 and 10-15, beginning Sept. 13, $65-$175; Skulls and Skeltons workshop, 1 p.m. Sept. 25 and Oct. 10, Oktoberfest Steins workshop, 1 p.m. Oct. 2, Thanksgiving Plates, 1 p.m. Oct. 23, $20 adults, $15 children per workshop; Columbus Day Camp, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 11, $55.
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive; 312-742-2000: “SpookyZooSpectacular,” noon-2 p.m. Oct. 30, free; Cattle Drive with visit with zoo cows and trip to see some Cows on Parade, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 25, $20 adults, $16 children; Overnighter, 7 p.m. Oct. 16-8 a.m. Oct. 17, for ages 8 and up; $65; Seal Appeal, 10:30 a.m. Nov. 6, for ages 8-10, $15; We Are Family, 11 a.m. Nov. 14, $15; Thanksgiving on the Farm, 10 a.m.-noon Nov. 20, $16 adult, $12 children; Gifts for Creatures Great and Small, 1:30 p.m. Dec. 4, $15; Amazon Adventure, zoo visit plus trip to see Omnimax film “Amazon” at Museum of Science and Industry, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Dec. 12, $20 adults, $16 children. Programs in conjunction with “Twilight of the Gorilla” art exhibit — Picture a Primate, free art supplies for sketching monkeys and apes, noon-2 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 2-Nov. 13; Great Ape Film Fest, 7-9 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 8-Nov. 12, for kids 5 and up, $5 per film; Zookeepers and Their Animal Friends: Monkeys, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Oct. 17, for ages 6-8, $19; Sketch Great Apes, 10 a.m.-noon Nov. 6 for ages 4-7, $25, 10 a.m.-noon Nov. 13 for ages 8 and up, $25; Storybook Ape Tales with storyteller Professor Boonie, 10 a.m. Nov. 7, adults with children free, $15 children; 312-742-2053.
Long Grove, Ill. Hwys. 53 and 83; 847-634-0888: AppleFest, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 1-3; free.
Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, 1852 W. 19th St.; 312-738-1503: Day of the Dead demonstrations — Sugar Skulls, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays, Sept. 25-Oct. 31; Miniature Clay Skeletons, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays Nov. 2-21; Miniature Day of the Dead Scenes and Ofrendas, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays, Nov. 23-Dec. 5. Free.
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave.; 312-397-4010: Classes — Puppet Pandemonium, for ages 6-8; Toon Up! Cartooning, for ages 9-11; Drawing, Painting and Collage, for ages 12-14; Web World, for ages 15-17; 9:30 a.m.-noon Oct. 2-Nov. 20, $140, registration required. Family Workshop — Pumped-Up Pumpkins, 1-3 p.m. Oct. 24; free, bring your own pumpkin.
Museum of Science and Industry, 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive; 773-684-1414: Chicago Half Marathon including Kids’ Dash, the Bungee Run and make-and-take projects, children free, 7:45 a.m. Sept. 12, 773-929-6072. LEGO Mindstorms Module: “Treasure Quest,” ongoing; “Olympic Glory” Omnimax film, opens Oct. 8; “Millennium Walking Tour,” through 2001; $7 adults, $3.50 children for museum admission, $12 adults, $7.50 for children for museum admission and Omnimax.
North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.; 312-744-5472: Autumnal Equinox Concert and family activities, 2-4 p.m. Sept. 19, free; Star Watches, 8 p.m. Sept. 15, 19 and 22, free; Touch a Turtle and Tickle a Tortoise, 1-3:30 p.m. Sept. 26, free.
Northwestern University, Evanston; 847-467-4000: Kids Fare musical programs: Ready, Set, March, 10:30 a.m. Sept. 25, Trienens Hall, 2707 Ashland Ave., Evanston; $4.50 adults, $2 children. Shake, Rattle and Roll, 10:30 a.m. Oct. 23; Percussively Yours, 10:30 a.m. Nov. 13; Sounds of the Season, 10:30 a.m. Dec. 4, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 1977 S. Campus Drive, Evanston, $4.50 adults, $2 children.
Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincon Ave.; 773-728-6000: Julius Trees Parrish Benefit Concert with Ella Jenkins, Catherine Hall and special guests, 3 p.m. Sept. 13, $12 adults, $8 children; Trout Fishing in America, 4 p.m. Oct. 24, $10. Halloween Staff Concert, 4 p.m. Oct. 31, Old Town School of Folk Music Children’s Center, 909 W. Armitage Ave., $16 adults, $12 children.
Oriental Institute, 1155 E. 58th St.; 773-702-9507: Sketching in Ancient Egypt, 5-8 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 27, free; Walk Like an Egyptian parent and child dance movement workshop, 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 16, $8 adults, $4 children, registration required; “The Prince of Egypt,” film followed by museum treasure hunt, 2 p.m. Nov. 28, $2.50, pre-registration recommended. “Coming Forth by Day,” dance program inspired by ancient Egyptian beliefs performed by the Chicago Moving Company, Mandel Hall, 5706 S. University Ave.; $15 adults, $5 children.
River Trail Nature Center, 3120 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook; 847-824-8360: Sweet as Honey, 1:30 p.m. Sept. 12; Mushrooms, 1:30 p.m. Sept. 26; Land and People, 1:30 p.m. Oct. 3; Immigrants and Travelers, 1:30 p.m. Oct. 10; Honey and Harvest Festival, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 17; Fall Color Walk, 1:30 p.m. Oct. 24; Changing Seasons Walk, 1:30 p.m. Oct. 31; free. Scary Stories, 7 p.m. Oct. 1, $3, registration required. Owls, 7 p.m. Oct. 29, free, registration required.
Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, 312-939-2438: The ABC’s of Fish Care, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 18 and 19; free with Oceanarium admission, $11 adults, $9 children.
Spertus Museum, 618 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-322-1747: All Dressed Up featuring a puppet theater performance and workshop about historic Israeli clothing; Chairs and Scares, scary Jewish folk tales and workshop to make a golem; $5 adults, $3 children, $10 family rate, reservations required.
Terra Museum of American Art, 664 N. Michigan Ave.; 312-654-2255: Drawing in the Galleries tour and workshop, 1 p.m. Oct. 3; Decorative Pottery tour and workshop, 1 p.m. Nov. 7; free, reservations required.
Thomas Hughes Children’s Library, Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.; 312-747-4200: Story Time Extravanganzas, 10:15 a.m. Sept. 15, 22 and 29 for ages 3-5 and 10:15 a.m. Sept. 17 and 24 for ages 6-8, reservations required for groups; Saturday Stories and More, 2 p.m. Saturday; NatureConnections: “Fall” Into Nature,” workshop to make monogrammed book holder, 2 p.m. Sept. 18; Toddler Time Alert, for ages 24-35 months, 11:30 a.m. Oct. 5-Nov. 9, registration required. Hispanic Heritage Month — La Bamba: Nelson Sosa. Music, dance and craft activities will be held at many branch locations. Free.
