Illinois
Sept. 1-4: On the Waterfront, Rockford. Thirty square blocks of downtown host seven stages offering hundreds of hours of rock, country and jazz. Also, fireworks every night and lots of food. Fee varies; 815-964-4388; onthewaterfront.com. Miles from Chicago: 90
Sept. 2-4: Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Fall Festival, Cobden. Sample wines from the 13 wineries on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, enjoy live music and food. Fee applies; 800-248-4373; tinyurl.com/3be7nu5. Miles from Chicago: 355
Indiana
Sept. 3-4: Metamora Old-Time Music Festival. Enjoy live performances as well as workshops in a variety of instruments, including banjo, guitar, harmonica and dulcimer. Free; 765-647-2194; metamoramusic.pbworks.com. Miles from Chicago: 250
Sept. 10-11: Mansfield Village Cornbread Festival, Mansfield. Ham-n-beans, cornbread and a cornbread bake-off are the highlights, but there’s also a car show and oldies concert. Free; 765-653-4026; mansfieldvillage.com. Miles from Chicago: 185
Iowa
Sept. 2: FRY Fest, Iowa City. University of Iowa Hawkeye fans gather for what’s billed as the World’s Largest Hawkeye Tradeshow and Tailgate Party. There’s also a concert, and this year’s fest honors Hawkeye wrestling legend Dan Gable. Fee for some events; 800-283-6592; fryfest.com. Miles from Chicago: 225
Sept. 8-11: Pufferbilly Days, Boone. This 35th annual festival celebrates the town’s railroad heritage with live entertainment, a parade, food — and train rides, naturally. Fee varies; 515-432-3342; booneiowa.us. Miles from Chicago: 370
Michigan
Sept. 8-11: Epicurean Classic, Traverse City. In its seventh year, the classic features dinners, tastings and classes taught by noted chefs from across the country. Fees vary; 231-392-5124; epicureanclassic.com. Miles from Chicago: 320
Sept. 9-11: Paw Paw Wine & Harvest Festival. Wine tours and wine tasting, three stages of entertainment and plenty of family activities too. Fee for some events; 269-655-1111; wineandharvestfestival.com. Miles from Chicago: 130
Missouri
Sept. 1-5: Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival, Independence. This 38th annual event attracts more than 200,000 visitors and features more than 300 crafters/vendors, more than 100 food booths, three stages of entertainment, a midway and old-fashioned contests. The name, by the way, comes from the Santa Fe, California and Oregon Trails, all of which used Independence as a jumping-off point. Free; 816-252-4745; santacaligon.com. Miles from Chicago: 500
Ohio
Sept. 8-10: Marion Popcorn Festival. The Marion area is one of the top growers of popcorn in the country. The festival celebrates that with four stages of entertainment, a bike ride, 5K run, midway, lots of food and more. Free; 740-387-3378; popcornfestival.com. Miles from Chicago: 305
Wisconsin
Sept. 2-3: Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw, Prairie du Sac. The state record is 248 feet. Can you break it? More than 800 try every year, and 40,000 spectators watch and also enjoy live music, food and more. Free; 608-643-4317; wiscowchip.com. Miles from Chicago: 175
Sept. 11: Harmon Hundred Bicycle Ride, Wilmot. The Wheeling Wheelmen sponsor their 42nd annual ride in southern Wisconsin, with distances of 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles on quiet country roads. Fees vary; wheelmen.com. Miles from Chicago: 60
