Events Calendar

Saturday 9/19  -  9th Annual Garfield Park Conservatory County Fair
Location: Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave
Experience the excitement of a county fair in the middle of the city – the original urban hoedown at the 9th Annual County Fair on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave.

Garfield Park Conservatory’s County Fair is an annual event celebrating both the annual harvest and healthy communities in an urban setting on Chicago’s West Side. The event will illustrate for visitors traditional harvest practices and new possibilities in urban agriculture.

Attendees can experience agricultural traditions, the best in urban gardening, and horticultural exhibits and demonstrations. The connection between plants, food and American heritage are highlighted through a variety of activities, demonstrations and entertainment planned for the day. As a family-focused event, the day is filled with the following down-home fun activities:

- Hands-on activities, games and a Midway Fun area for kids
- Friendly Farms Ltd. petting zoo and pony rides
- Compost demonstrations by UIC Extension Master Composters
- Food preservation demonstrations by UIC Extension Master Food Preservers
- Vote on next year’s One Seed Chicago
- Show off your garden pride with photos, stories, and live specimens by participating in our Harvest Showcase. Call 1-773-638-1766 ext 16 or email mharding@garfieldpark.org for more information. (We are highlighting this year’s One Seed Chicago Bean Seed in this showcase, so bring us your bean stories.
- Live music with at our Traditional American Music Stage
- Beekeeping demonstrations and information
- Honey sales
- Food vendors
- Garden Tool Sharpening (Be sure to bring your gardening tools for sharpening)
- Recipe swap (Be sure to bring your favorite recipe for a special recipe swap)
- Farmer’s market with fresh produce from local farms

Admission to the 9th Annual Garfield Park Conservatory’s County Fair is free. Some activities have a nominal fee. For more information go to http://www.garfield-conservatory.org or call Christine Martin at 224.628.3853.

Sat/Sun Oct. 3-4  -  19th Annual Chicago Country Music Festival
Location: Soldier Field Parkland - 1410 S. Museum Dr

Mayor Daley is a country music fan and recognized a need for a Chicago Country Music Festival in the city. Chicago, after all, has a rich heritage in country music and has a vast number of country singers/songwriters and bands here.

In 1991, the inaugural Chicago Country Music Festival became a reality. It was a two-day event, held on city streets, near Sheffield and Weed Street, to be exact. 42,000 country music fans turned out in 99 degree heat to watch a diverse talent line-up, featuring everything from clog dancers and square dancers to the singing group The Texas Tornadoes, Rodney Crowell and Pam Tillis. Music critics gave it a thumbs up for the variety of country music offered. Because of the big crowds, it was decided to move the event the following year to Grant Park to accommodate the crowds.

More info at http://www.chicagocountrymusicfestival.us

Sunday 10/11  -  Chicago 2009 Marathon
Location: Starts at Columbus Dr & Monroe St.
Make your dream of running a marathon a reality by joining our 2009 Run to Stop MS team. Run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for charity. Not only will you receive guaranteed entry but you will also have the opportunity to raise money which will help the National Multiple Sclerosis Society move closer towards creating a world free of MS. There is a fundraising minimum and great team benefits. For more information and to download an application go to, http://www.runMSnyc.org You can also contact us by choosing to raise funds for the athletic event of your choice!

More info at http://www.chicagomarathon.com

Saturday - 10/24  - State Street Halloween Happening Parade
Location: State St. from Lake to Madison, West to Dearborn, North to Washington
State Street Halloween Happening October 24, 2009

Kids can join in the on the fun by marching in costume as part of The State Street Halloween Happening Parade on Saturday, October 24. The parade steps off at noon at the corner of State and Randolph streets. Following the parade, kids can enjoy trick-or-treating, a performance by Midnight Circus and a costume contest all at Pumpkin (Daley) Plaza. (There is no pumpkin decorating on parade day.)

State St. from Lake to Madison, West to Dearborn, North to Washington

Start Time: 12 Noon

More info at
http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/events/mose/state_street_halloween.html