out & about

Spring is a beautiful and busy time of year. As soon as the first daffodil starts poking through, we can’t wait to get outside. You will discover many seasonal activities to enjoy in this issue!

Ottawa, The Middle of Everywhere Come dip your toes where the Fox meets the Illinois, and lose yourself in a cave of salt. Take the paths of Presidents or blaze the trail with buffalo. Savor worldly cuisine or sample the local roots. Whether you’re traveling cross country to visit family or just a few miles to see an old friend, you will always arrive in the middle of everywhere. Find your new destination here: Ottawa Visitors Center. www.pickusottawail.com. 815-434-2737 [See our ad on Inside Front Cover.]

Colorful Cantigny Park Spring at Cantigny in Wheaton is a special time, when the beautiful gardens come to life. Upcoming activities include parent-child classes, gardening workshops, lectures and concerts. Families will love the Easter Egg Hunt on April 4 and 5, and Kite Night on April 17. Cantigny’s gardens, museums and most special events are free admission and parking is only $5. Visit www.Cantigny.org for details and the full calendar of activities. Text PARK to 36000 for updates and offers.

The Forge: Lemont Quarries The Forge: Lemont Quarries is a one-of-akind outdoor adventure park built on 300 acres of historic land in Lemont, IL. From ropes course, ziplines, and climbing walls, to mountain biking, walking trails, and a designated kids activity zone, Lemont Quarries has something to exhilarate, educate, and entertain adventurers of all ages and abilities. Lemont Quarries is located at 14657 Main Street, Lemont, IL 60439. To learn more, visit us at www.forgeparks.com.

Midwest Pond & Koi Society The Midwest Pond & Koi Society, MPKS, are families with a common hobby: koi ponds, garden ponds, koi keeping, and plants. MPKS members range from the novice to experienced water gardener. The club has monthly meetings with topics about plants, ponds, and fish. Other activities include; auctions and a pond tour. You do not have to be a member to attend a meeting. Visit www.mpks.org for more information.

Aurora Downtown Enjoy springtime in downtown Aurora. Visit family-friendly museums, stop by local coffee shops, and enjoy free events. Egg Hunt on the Island is a downtown-wide egg hunt from 1 to 3 p.m. on April 4. Experience art, music, and more at monthly First Fridays events with more than two dozen venues open plus free trolley rides. May 1 is the annual Food Truck Festival. Follow us on Facebook at Aurora Downtown. www.auroradowntown.org [See our ad on Inside Front Cover.]

Burpee Museum of Natural History PaleoFest 2020: Weekend Adventures in a Prehistoric World is a dino-centric event this March 6-8, that provides a fun and educational experience for both adults and children! Scientists arrive from around the world to celebrate all things prehistoric. The museum transforms: special stations showcasing paleo research, family-friendly lectures and workshops, PaleoArt workshops and the world famous research lectures. March 6: FREE student symposium. Saturday & Sunday March 7-8: Full PaleoFest Event. For more information, visit www. burpee.org

WhirlyBall Whether you’re planning your next date night, work outing or family gathering, WhirlyBall Naperville has you covered for non-stop fun! Choose from a variety of activities including WhirlyBall, LaserTag, HyperBowling and bowling. Enjoy delicious food, craft beer and signature cocktails at The Pivot Room, open for lunch and dinner daily. Reserve your space today! WHIRLYBALL NAPERVILLE, 3103 ODYSSEY CT, 630-932- 4800 [See our ad on Back Cover.]

TransWorld’s Jewelry, Fashion & Accessories Show Spring into the NEW Decade brings buying opportunities at the TransWorld’s Jewelry, Fashion & Accessories Show coming to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL on April 23-26. Shop for yourself, your family, and friends for Spring into Summer products such as jewelry, fashion, accessories, gift, décor, beauty and gourmet items you can only find at a TransWorld’s JF&A Show. Get FREE gifts just for attending and buying at the show as well! KIDS DAY IS ON SUNDAY, APRIL 26th. Kids aged 9-16 can attend with an accompanying adult. Register kids on-site only and a $5 fee applies. They will receive a FREE gift from us as a thank you for being a future JF&A shopper. For complete details, visit: www.jfashow.com to register.

Drury Lane Theatre Shrek the Musical. Performances run April 30 - June 13. For more than 30 years, Drury Lane Theatre for Young Audience has delighted audiences of all ages. The latest production to hit the stage is guaranteed fun for the whole family: Shrek the Musical! Everyone’s favorite ogre finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside wisecracking Donkey and feisty Princess Fiona. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an at- titude, and other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand… and his name is Shrek! At only 60 minutes with no intermission, kids will be hooked from start to finish, and adults will be laughing along the whole time. Performances run April 30 - June 13. Tickets are on sale now. Call (630) 530-0111 or visit www. DruryLaneTheatre.com. Meet Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and the rest of the cast every Saturday at Drury Lane’s Shrek the Musical Character Breakfast! For more information or to reserve a table, call (630) 530-8300 or visit LucilleRestaurant.com. Have a group of 15 or more? Save big when you book through Group Services! Group tickets start at just $15 per person. To start planning, call (630) 570-7272 or email Groups@Drury- Lane.com.

Overshadowed Theatrical Productions The Trip to Bountiful, By Horton Foote. Performances run March 6 - 28. Carrie Watts, an elderly woman, finally escapes her cramped apartment and overprotective children to return to her beloved hometown of Bountiful, Texas. But she begins to learn that her cherished town isn’t the same as she re- membered it. In April, come join us for The Overshadowed Princess Concert! Enjoy an evening of your fa- vorite princess songs sung by stars of the Overshadowed stage! April 17 - 18, 2020 | 7:30 PM, 2 PM, 7:30 PM. Performing at 900 Foster Avenue in Medinah, Illinois. For tickets call the box office at 630- 634-2100 or visit our website at www.overshadowed.org. [See our ad on Page 3.]

Arcada Kids Club The Arcada Kids Club presents TWO familyfriendly shows, coming to the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. March 11 - Tales of Peter Pan & Cinderella ON ICE, a journey with several of your favorites. April 18, join us for Cinderella, the beloved fairytale/play everyone loves! Tick- ets are just $12. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! Ron Onesti’s Wild West Town, a family amuse- ment park and entertainment center, just west of Huntley, is opening for the 2020 on May 16th! www.oshows.com [See our ad on Page 5.]