Illinois
April 1-3: Flower & Garden Show, Rock Island. The QCCA Expo Center will be filled with vendors, displays and workshops to get gardeners ready for the coming growing season. http://tinyurl.com/j863l8k. Miles from Chicago: 180
April 9-10: Gem & Mineral Show, Marion. The Southern Illinois Earth Science Club hosts this annual show that features lapidary displays, fossils, Indian artifacts and dealers offering a variety of items. http://tinyurl.com/h7cpkw4. Miles from Chicago: 320
April 14-16: Southern Illinois Steel Guitar Show, Mount Vernon: Professional steel guitar players from around the world, as well as amateurs, perform at this annual get-together. http://tinyurl.com/j9pwsgk. Miles from Chicago: 280
Indiana
March 28 to April 2: Valparaiso University Jazz Festival. The legendary Count Basie Orchestra is the headline act for this 31st annual fest. University faculty and student ensembles also will perform as well as middle-school and high-school bands. 219-464-5007, http://tinyurl.com/gnl4c27. Miles from Chicago: 55
Through May 1: “Alien Worlds and Androids,” Indianapolis. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis hosts this interactive exhibit that looks at the new technologies scientists and engineers are using to explore worlds beyond Earth. 317-334-4000, http://tinyurl.com/j89xcne. Miles from Chicago: 185
Iowa
Through Sept. 5: “The Discovery of King Tut,” Davenport. The Putnam Museum presents this traveling exhibit that re-creates the discovery of the legendary tomb in Egypt. It includes more than a thousand replicas and reconstructions. 563-324-1933, http://tinyurl.com/hofyyed. Miles from Chicago: 180
Michigan
March 25-27: Kalamazoo World Languages Film Festival. Western Michigan University hosts this celebration of foreign films. Being shown this year are works from Argentina, Canada, China, Congo, Egypt, Germany, Japan, Russia and Tunisia. 269-387-3001, http://tinyurl.com/hdaqcng. Miles from Chicago: 150
April 1-3: Schuss Mountain Snow Challenge, Mancelona. Held at Shanty Creek Resorts, this is a competition of trucks and off-road vehicles racing 400 yards side-by-side up the ski resort’s snowy hills. http://tinyurl.com/jxf98ke. Miles from Chicago: 325
Missouri
Through May 29: Titanic violin display, Branson. The Titanic Museum Attraction has on display the violin that band leader Wallace Hartley played as the famous ship sank. The violin is on loan from the person who purchased it at auction in 2013 for the equivalent of $1.7 million. 800-381-7670, http://tinyurl.com/h8xxwuu. Miles from Chicago: 550
Minnesota
April 9: Sports Card & Collectibles Show, St. Cloud. Browse through vintage and new cards on sale by dealers from across the state. Also available will be autographs and bobblehead dolls. http://tinyurl.com/j43b3kp. Miles from Chicago: 470
Wisconsin
April 2: Annual Tomah Antique Toy Farm Show. Fans of old farm toys gather to buy and sell. There will be original toy tractors, combines, threshers and more, including replicas. 608-372-6907, http://tinyurl.com/hh3egrn. Miles from Chicago: 240
April 8-9: Viennese Ball, Eau Claire. They say this is the largest Viennese ball outside of the Austrian capital. The program, in its 42nd year, is duplicated each night and includes multiple venues with waltzing, polka dancing, swing dancing to Big Band music, piano performances and Austrian food and drink. 715-836-3727, http://tinyurl.com/7veqvve. Miles from Chicago: 315
Phil Marty is a freelance reporter.
