What: Civil War Days, Fishers (IN). Horses charge and cannons roar as re-enactors from across the country bring an 1860s battle to life again at Conner Prairie.
Cost:   $15
When: May 15-16
Miles From Chicago: 190
Other: 800-238-3587, http://connerprairie.org/plan-your-visit/Event-Details.aspx?eventID=461
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What: Broad Ripple Art Fair, Indianapolis (IN).  More than 225 artists, four entertainment stages, and two food courts for this 40th annual event.
Cost:   $15
When: May 15 – 16
Miles From Chicago: 190
Other: 317-255-2464, www.indplsartcenter.org/braf40
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What: Detriot Downtown Hoedown (MI).  The hoedown, established in 1983 and held in Hart Plaza, is widely recognized  as the largest country music show of its kind in the world.
When: May 14-16
Miles From Chicago: 290
Other: 734-454-6605, http://wycd.radio.com/shows/wycd-detroit-hoedown/
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What: Michigan All State Bonsai Show, Grand Rapids (MI).  Workshops and displays of bonsai at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.
Cost:   $12
When: May 15 – 16
Miles From Chicago: 185
Other: 888-957-1580, meijergardens.org
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What: Pella Tulip Festival (IA) Six parades and an attempt to set the world record for the number of Dutch dancers in wooden shoes are among the activities for this 75th annual event.
When: May 6-8
Miles From Chicago: 315
Other: 641-628-4311, pellatuliptime.com
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What: Dalai Lama, Cedar Falls (IA).  The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet appears at the 2010 Joy Corning Distinguished Leadership Lecture series in the McLeod Center at the University of Northern Iowa.
Cost:   $15-$50
When: May 18
Miles From Chicago: 275
Other: 877-549-7469, www.uni.edu/dalailama
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What: Art Fair 2010, St. Louis (MO).  Laumeier Sculpture Park, one of the world’s premier open air museums, hosts 150 artists from across the country.
Cost:   $8
When: May 7-9
Miles From Chicago: 300
Other: 314-615-5278, http://www.laumeiersculpturepark.org/programs_events/art_fair

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What: Chinese Culture Days, St. Louis (MO).  The Missouri Botanical Garden is the place for a weekend filled with colorful Chinese pageantry art, music and dance, history and legends, and food.
Cost:   $12
When: May 15-16
Miles From Chicago: 300
Other: 314-577-5100, mobot.org/events/chineseculture

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What: Horicon Marsh Bird Festival (WI).  Guided bird hikes, bird banding demonstration, pontoon boat birding adventures, birding for kids, twilight birding by boat.
When: May 7-10
Miles From Chicago: 145
Other: 920-387-7860, horiconmarshbirdfestival.com

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What: Mother’s Day Tours at the Lincoln Tallman House, Janesville (WI).  The tour of the 26 room Italianate, villa style mansion includes all five levels from the basement to the cupola, restored to their 1857 splendor.  This is the only private home still in existence in Wisconsin that can boast that it had Abraham Lincoln as an overnight guest.
Cost:   Moms get in free on Mother’s Day
When: May 9
Miles From Chicago: 110
Other: 608-756-4509,

What: Art Fair 2010, St. Louis (MO).  Laumeier Sculpture Park, one of the world’s premier open air museums, hosts 150 artists from across the country.
Cost:   $8
When: May 7-9
Miles From Chicago: 300
Other: 314-615-5278, http://www.laumeiersculpturepark.org/programs_events/art_fair

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Green Bay Botanical Garden is hosting its first Children’s Concert this Thursday, August 27 from 6-7:30 pm featuring Ken Lonnquist, a funny, enjoyable songwriter and performer with a toe-tappin, knee-slappin, anything-can-happen good time for young and old alike. This outdoor concert is free with your garden admission.