Summertime … and the living is easy. When the weather finally warms up and the plants come back to life, the Chicago suburbs and Northwest Indiana’s many outdoor venues and festivals are also revived. This section will give you ideas for places and festivals to take you through all summer long. From the olde English charm of the Bristol Renaissance Faire in southern Wisconsin to the sounds of modern rock and country coming from the Hollywood Ampitheatre in Tinley Park, the opportunities to enjoy some quality time with family and friends out of doors are numerous and varied. Events range from Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Itasca to magical themed fetes in Downtown Aurora’s Magic Festival and Naperville’s The Festival that Shall Not Be Named to the world famous Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Indiana. Or if you want to get your blood pumping, take in the NASCAR races at Chicagoland Speedway or go zip lining at Edge Adventures Northwest Indiana — Deep River Park in Crown Point. Fancy a day at the beach? Indiana Dunes, Naperville’s Centennial Beach and Illinois Beach State Park in Zion are the places to be. Whatever you like to do, it’s out there waiting for you, for a limited time only, so start making some plans.
