Wednesday, July 18

Saddle up for the Kane County Fair in St. Charles, Ill., kicking off today and running only until this Sunday, July 22. Get your corn dogs and elephant ears, plus a new item that sounds really good, “Red velvet funnel cake with a real cream cheese topping,” at George’s Fun Foods, according to the Kane County Chronicle’s Meaghan Kilroy. Admission $5 Wednesday/Thursday, $8 Friday/Saturday, FREE for kids/seniors. Get coupons here.

Carry a picnic and a tune to A Great Big Giant Summer Sing-A-Long at the Garfield Park Conservatory. BYOPicnic or grab “picnic fare from Chicago food trucks.” Plus “learn how to build a fire, using marshmallows and pretzels” — it’s also the first night of Conservatory Camp Fires. Sing to special plants, including “The Sacred Fig…The Guiana Chestnut Tree…The Sweet Plants (Vanilla Orchid, Chewing Gum, Cinnamon Tree, Bananas), [plus] bees and worms.” Admission FREE.

Call it maybe at this week’s Veggie Bingo at The Hideout. “Co-sponsored by NeighborSpace, Hideout Veggie Bingo features a grand prize of fresh produce from Irv & Shelly’s Fresh Picks and a cornucopia of other prizes drawn from local artisanal food producers, farmers, and gardeners — plus FREE HOT DOGS donated by Hot Doug’s.” Admission FREE, bingo cards $2 each or $5/three.

Thursday, July 19

Inhale The Sweet Smell of Success: The History of Blommer Chocolate at the Elmhurst Historical Museum, presented by Culinary Historians of Chicago. “The pungent aroma of roasting cocoa beans emanating from the Blommer Chocolate Company has tempted Chicagoans since 1939. Mike Auda of Blommer Chocolate will share the story of this family-run Chicago institution that has become the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America and a leader in sustainability efforts in cocoa growing regions.” You must attend to taste chocolate samples, but this event will be recorded for WBEZ’s Chicago Amplified. Admission FREE.

Friday, July 20

Feed the arts at the three-day Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival in Logan Square featuring Revolution Brewing, Lula Sangria by Lula Cafe, “gourmet mobile food trucks, and more!” — including art, music, a handmade goods market and a Magnolia photo booth. Admission $5/day, $10/3-day wristband, food and drink additional.

Find the root of Square Roots in Lincoln Square. “The Old Town School of Folk Music and the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce’s first ever craft beer and music experience” features an impressive menu of food, from Mick Klug’s corn on the cob at the Grafton, to drink, with nine “breweries pouring small batch craft beer.” Admission $10 suggested donation, $5 seniors/children.

Saturday, July 21

Butter your biscuits, y’all, with Nathalie Dupree on Southern Food at Kendall College, presented by Culinary Historians of Chicago. “Please join us for Nathalie’s recollections of the rich Southern heritage that has shaped our nation’s culinary landscape — and enjoy a sampling of her godly good Southern biscuits she’ll whip up in a demo for us!” say the Historians. “Her most recent book is Southern Biscuits, and copies will be available for purchase and signing.” You need to attend to taste those biscuits — cream biscuits, confirmed my friend and CHC keeper Catherine Lambrecht — but if you miss it, this event will be recorded for WBEZ’s Chicago Amplified, too. Admission $5, $3 students, FREE for CHC members/Kendall students.