Illinois
Nov. 4-5: Third Annual Champaign-Urbana Folk & Roots Festival, Urbana. Celebrate American roots music, dance, storytelling and visual arts through performances, jam sessions and workshops. Fees vary; folkandroots.org. Miles from Chicago: 145
Nov. 11-13: 25th Annual Bluegrass Music Festival, Springfield. Six separate stage shows featuring multiple International Bluegrass Music Association award winners, as well as a guitar trade show, jam areas, workshops and more. Fees vary; 217-243-3159; bluegrassmidwest.com. Miles from Chicago: 205
Nov. 18-19: 27th Annual Galena Nouveau Wine Weekend. Sample from more than 200 wines from across the globe at the Grand Tasting. Also wine tours, dinners and more. Fees vary; 815-777-3938; nouveauweekend.com. Miles from Chicago: 165
Indiana
Nov. 9-12: Music for All Grand National Championships, Indianapolis. High school marching bands from across the country compete. Fee varies; 800-848-2263; tinyurl.com/65g55aw. Miles from Chicago: 185
Iowa
Nov. 11-12: Iowa’s Premier Wine and Food Expo, Des Moines. Discover the latest cooking techniques from celebrity chefs, sample new wines and specialty beers, and shop for the upcoming holidays. Fee varies; wineandfoodexpoiowa.com. Miles from Chicago: 335
Michigan
Nov. 5: Iceman Cometh Challenge, Traverse City. Thousands of mountain bikers compete in this grueling 27-mile off-road race between Traverse City and Kalkaska. It’s billed as the largest single-day mountain bike race in the country. Free to watch; 231-803-4259; iceman.com. Miles from Chicago: 320
Nov. 5-6, 12-13: Toast the Season Wine Tour, Leelanau Peninsula. The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association holds this annual self-guided tour that includes a gift bag featuring local food items and visits to up to eight of the 18 wineries each day. Fee varies; lpwines.com/toast. Miles from Chicago: 360
Minnesota
Nov. 10: Edmund Fitzgerald Beacon Lighting, Two Harbors. Every year the beacon at the Split Rock Lighthouse is lit in memory of the 29 men lost aboard the legendary ship. Free; 218-226-6372; tinyurl.com/3w64tmd. Miles from Chicago: 495
Ohio
Nov. 5-6: Columbus International Festival. Nearly 75 cultures will be represented in this celebration that includes ethnic arts, crafts and entertainment. There also will be culinary demonstrations. Fee varies; 614-228-4010; tinyurl.com/6c7smr9. Miles from Chicago: 360
Wisconsin
Nov. 4-5: 3rd Annual Wisconsin Original Cheese Festival, Madison. Tour cheesemakers and dairy farms, attend educational and tasting seminars, and enjoy restaurant dinners centered around cheese. All events require advance ticket purchase. Fees vary; 608-358-7837; wicheesefest.com. Miles from Chicago: 150
