Here are some of the more interesting events, deals, websites and other travel tidbits that have come across our desk recently:
•Animals and autumn fun are the focus of Indianapolis Zoo’s annual ZooBoo, a family-focused event featuring a mirror maze, craft-making for the kids, pumpkin bowling and cats that will be available for adoption after ZooBoo wraps up at the end of October. Even the elephants get in on the act with a pumpkin smash. ZooBoo’s dates are Oct. 4-7, 11-14, 18-21 and 25-28. http://tinyurl.com/yaewbsjp
•The Twenty Dirty Hands Pottery Tour opens the doors of pottery and sculpture studios in the Galena, Ill., area to the public. The self-guided tour will be held Oct. 12-14 in seven locations. www.twentydirtyhands.com
•The 41st Annual Cider Fest will be held Oct. 7 at the McHenry County Historical Museum in Union, Ill. Demonstrations on making cider are on tap, as well as blacksmithing and barn-raising. Civil War re-enactors will be on hand, and there will be food and live music. http://tinyurl.com/yd68knpc
•They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and that’s demonstrated in the With (re)Purpose exhibit on display until Nov. 3 at the South Haven Center for the Arts in South Haven, Mich. The exhibit features artwork created by area artists from recycled materials. http://tinyurl.com/ydamzvev
•For the 20th year, artists and craftspersons in southeast Wisconsin will open their studios during the Fall Kettle Moraine Studio Tour. Painting, pottery, jewelry, photography and glass work are among the media on view. The tour runs Oct. 13-14, and maps and more information can be found at www.kettlemorainestudiotour.com.
•More than 150 quilts will be showcased Oct. 12-13 during the Wonders of Winter display at the Mendel Center at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, Mich. Organized by the Berrien Towne & Country Quilters, the event will include vendors, a quilt appraiser, a boutique of quilted items and holiday decorations for sale. http://tinyurl.com/ycsr2but
•Artistry in Wood features works by woodcarvers and woodworkers from across the nation. Scheduled for Oct. 13-14 in Wilmington, Ohio, the event includes exhibits, demonstrations and workshops. In addition to the artwork for sale, there will be vendors selling wood tools and other supplies. http://tinyurl.com/y94t2sfk
•Howell Nature Center in Howell, Mich., is hosting two photography workshops Oct. 13 and 14. Photographer Steve Gettle will conduct the workshops that will focus on nature photography within the center grounds. Cost is $79 per photographer, and pre-registration is required. http://tinyurl.com/y9ba62hk
•The University of Notre Dame Department of Film, Television and Theatre has kicked off its 2018-2019 season with two one-act plays: “WASP” by Steve Martin and “American Roulette.” They’re being staged from Sept. 27-Oct. 7. Other productions are “The Imaginary Invalid,” “Stupid Humans” and “The Great Gatsby.” All performances are at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center in Notre Dame, Ind. http://tinyurl.com/yatjr499
•Mission Point Resort on Michigan’s Mackinac Island is offering a Fall Foliage, Food and Wine package good until Oct. 27. The package includes two nights’ lodging, daily breakfast, a two-course dinner for two plus a bottle of wine, bike rentals, a carriage tour of the island and round-trip ferry tickets. The package is priced from $380 per person, double occupancy. http://tinyurl.com/y72q4xkg
•The Iowa City Book Festival brings a wide range of literary programming to the city that’s home to the University of Iowa and its prestigious writing programs. As it’s the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” there will be a public reading of the book along with other Frankenstein-related events. Thirty authors in a variety of genres will be on hand to do readings and presentations. There will also be films, a book fair, a display of children’s book art and more. Dates are Oct. 1-7. www.iowacitybookfestival.org
•Leaf-peepers can check out the progress of Wisconsin fall color at http://tinyurl.com/y9yvr5t5.
Deals and websites listed here have been checked for availability as of press time. Listings are not endorsements. Send tips at least a month in advance to ChicagoTribTravel@gmail.com.
Phil Marty is a freelancer.
