Illinois
Through Aug. 7: Festival 56, Princeton. This is billed as Illinois’ largest summer theater festival and offers performances ranging from Shakespeare to “Nunsense.” Fees vary; 815-879-5656; festival56.com. Miles from Chicago: 120
July 2-3: 8 Miles of Ag-Tiques, Orangeville. See lots of vintage farm machinery along Illinois Highway 26 from Orangeville to Monroe, Wis. Free; 815-789-4570; tinyurl.com/6dhbjko. Miles from Chicago: 125
Indiana
July 1-3: Inaugural Rock and Roll BBQ, Indianapolis. Celebrate summer on a budget at the Victory Field West parking lot with bands and barbecue. Fee varies; indyrockandrollbbq.com. Miles from Chicago: 185
July 1-3: Madison Regatta. Watch boats race along the riverfront at 200 mph and enjoy music and food. Fee varies; 812-265-5000; madisonregatta.com. Miles from Chicago: 275
Iowa
July 1-3: Iowa City Jazz Festival. More than 50,000 people attend this festival, rated one of the “Top 10 Festivals in the Nation” by Downbeat magazine. Free; 319-337-7944; tinyurl.com/3ps5sto. Miles from Chicago: 225
Michigan
June 25-26: Blacksmiths, Soldiers & Log Cabin Weekend, Grass Lake. Michigan Artist Blacksmith Association members demonstrate their skills, and re-enactors portray the Civil War era at the Waterloo Farm Museum. Fee varies; 517-596-2254; waterloofarmmuseum.org. Miles from Chicago: 220
July 2-9: National Cherry Festival, Traverse City. The festival includes air shows, fireworks, parades, nightly outdoor concerts and lots of chances to taste cherry treats. Fees vary; 800-968-3380; visit.cherryfestival.org. Miles from Chicago: 325
Minnesota
July 2-4: High Plains Festival, Detroit Lakes. Trampled by Turtles is the headline act for this weekend music fest. Camping’s also available. Fee varies; 800-493-3378; highplainsfest.com. Miles from Chicago: 605
Missouri
July 2-3: KC Riverfest, Kansas City. Music, food and fireworks liven up the riverfront. Fee varies; 816-960-3400; kcriverfest.com. Miles from Chicago: 515
Wisconsin
June 29-July 3, July 5-10: Summerfest, Milwaukee. Eleven stages and more than 700 bands for what’s billed as the world’s largest outdoor music festival. Acts include Britney Spears, Buddy Guy, The Flaming Lips and Kid Rock. Fees vary; 414-273-2680; summerfest.com. Miles from Chicago: 90
June 30-July 3: National Women’s Music Festival, Madison. Four days of concerts, workshops, theater presentations and a marketplace, all indoors. Fees vary; 317-395-3809; wiaonline.org. Miles from Chicago: 150
July 2-Aug. 13: Music by the Lake, Williams Bay. This annual summer music series, held in the Ferro Pavilion on the shores of Geneva Lake at George Williams College of Aurora University, includes eight performances this year, wrapping up with KC and the Sunshine Band. Fees vary; 866-843-5200; musicbythelake.com. Miles from Chicago: 85
