Tour a fully functional eco-friendly home, located in the Museum of Science and Industry’s backyard, which has received a makeover this year from the interior designers at Midwest Living magazine.

At the Field Museum, take a journey back through the Ice Age to see colossal mammals that include saber-toothed cats, giant bears and Lyuba, the best-preserved baby mammoth in the world.

This heartwarming musical, with a dazzling score by Elton John, tells the story of a young boy in a small mining town who puts down his boxing gloves and picks up a pair of ballet shoes to pursue his dream of dance.

Dream in Color is the theme of Macy’s annual spring flower show, presented at the downtown State Street store. Thousands of exotic trees, plants and stunning displays created by renowned floral designers will transform the store into a colorful dreamscape.

Navy Pier pulls out all the stops with a spectacular free fireworks display choreographed to music every Wednesday and Saturday night, from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends.

Some of the brightest stars in gospel music perform at this annual free fest in Millennium Park. See more than 50 performances on three stages, and be sure to check out the gospel art fair.

The largest blues fest in the world presents six stages of music for three days in Grant Park. Past performers have included Buddy Guy and B. B. King.

Your sweet tooth will be in overdrive at this tasty fest that offers tempting samples of everything from chocolate popcorn to chocolate martinis. Indulge while listening to live music or browsing the shops in historic Long Grove.

Stop and smell the flowers in Lilacia Park, where you’ll find thousands of lilacs and tulips in bloom. Lilac Time events include an arts and crafts fair, concerts in the park and a giant parade.

When the bugle sounds, more than 300 Civil War re-enactors battle it out at the Naper Settlement, complete with booming cannons. Afterwards, meet famous historical figures, including Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln.

Sample more than 250 wines from around the world, enjoy dishes from some of Chicago’s finest restaurants, take a food-and-wine pairing seminar and watch cooking demos by top local chefs.

Join in this family-friendly summer celebration that includes pie-eating contests, a carnival, live entertainment and an arts and crafts show. Don’t miss the Grand Parade.

One of Long Grove’s biggest festivals features the strawberry in all its guises, from ice cream to donuts. Local shops sell strawberry-themed souvenirs and there’s free family entertainment, including live music.

Celebrate Fulton’s Dutch heritage with windmill tours, a parade, arts and crafts, Dutch dancing and costumes and a peek at early pioneer living in Heritage Canyon.

Enjoy Native American dancing, drumming, storytelling, cultural presentations and children’s games at this annual event held in Matthiessen State Park.

More than 400 dealers spread out their wares at the Winnebago County Fairgrounds, offering bargain hunters great deals on antique furniture, jewelry, glassware, quilts and more.

During this sky-high event, held at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, see more than 20 hot air balloons compete in races and join together for nighttime balloon glows. Also enjoy tethered balloon rides, a classic car show, live music and the Friday night Ale Fest, featuring more than 100 craft beers.

Towns along 90 miles of Illinois Route 66, from Joliet to Towanda, have planned their own festivals and special events to celebrate the Mother Road. Look for antique and craft shows, garage sales, live entertainment, tours of historic sites and plenty of food.

One of the most popular juried art fairs in the country, held on the Old State Capitol grounds, features a wide variety of works, live music, food and a Children’s Tent where kids can buy original artwork specially priced from $4-$6.

Don't miss this celebration of Raggedy Ann and Andy in downtown Arcola (birthplace of the lovable dolls’ creator, Johnny Gruelle), featuring family entertainment and collectible dolls for sale.

Be on the lookout for Living History events happening all around downtown Springfield, including a roving Abraham Lincoln popping up at various historic sites, costumed interpreters at the Old State Capitol, street performances by period troubadours, poetry readings at the Vachel Lindsay Home and Civil War trolley tours.

Spend Father’s Day weekend celebrating the historic highway in towns that line the Illinois National Road. Festivities in the past have included community-wide yard sales from Central through Southwest Illinois, a car show in Greenville, a bluegrass festival in Vandalia, a rodeo in Altamont and an antique motorcycle show in Marshall.

This annual spring event, held in downtown Quincy’s Washington Park, features a plant sale, craft and hobby fair, live music, local foods and a Saturday morning parade.

This popular sports event held on the Peoria RiverFront includes world-class cycling and foot races, motorcycle stunt shows, powerboat races, live family entertainment and a carnival.

Travel Route 34 and explore more than 100 miles of yard sales that stretch through a string of towns, beginning in Sandwich and ending in Galesburg. Besides treasures and collectibles, discover historic sites, regional foods and fun entertainment along the way.

The city of Galesburg celebrates its rich railroad history with a model train show, railyard tours, exhibits at the Galesburg Railroad Museum, a street fair, flea market, Sunday car show, a rib cook-off and a carnival.

Ranked one of the top fine arts shows in the country, this town square festival showcases the works of a broad range of artists, live music, children’s entertainment and food from local restaurants.

Departure Day commemorates the date famed explorers Lewis and Clark departed from Camp River Dubois. Experience frontier military camp life and watch re-enactors demonstrate early American crafts and skills.

In honor of its title as "horseradish capital of the world," Collinsville celebrates with fun events that include a Bloody Mary contest, horseradish cook-off and the Horseradish Root Derby.

The largest rendezvous in the Midwest features more than 1,000 re-enactors engaged in 18th-century-style military competitions, along with period music, crafts and food.

Take a free tour of a working Mississippi River towboat, join in tow rope-throwing contests, view model boat exhibits, sample some crawfish or BBQ and listen to live music at this riverfront fest.

Spend the afternoon at the Tuscan-style Blue Sky Vineyard on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, where you can sip wine while listening to live music and browsing the works of local artists.

Musicians from around the world present more than 30 concerts in venues throughout the region, including Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. With Romeo & Juliet as a festival theme, performances range from a Russian ballet to a French opera.

Celebrate the Man of Steel at this wildly popular celebration that includes superhero look-alike contests, a fan film competition, celebrity appearances and a nighttime costume dance party.