Bring your gang to a festival that highlights crime fighters and the gangsters they fought. The city of Woodstock is hosting its annual “DICK TRACY DAYS” this weekend. The main event happens Friday night with a family-oriented block party on Main Street. The free bash features entertainment by the Bucket Boys. Richard Pietrzyk will lead a cartoon art demonstration at the Chester Gould-Dick Tracy Museum. Events on Saturday include a children’s cartoon class and sidewalk chalk art at the museum plus a farmer’s market on the historic square and fire department water fights. The Dick Tracy Days Parade will start at 1 p.m. Sunday and features drum and bugle corps. Many events free. Children’s cartoon art class $15. “Dick Tracy Days,” 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Call the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce for specific events, times and locations. 815-338-2436.
— Stephanie Price
Kids play an important role shaping the future of the new DuPage Children’s Museum during “DCM Try-It Day” Saturday. Come out and test the museum’s ideas and materials for new museum exhibits. Share what you think about the Air Works for kids exhibit idea and air-powered rockets. Free with museum admission of $4.50 per person age 1 and up. “DCM Try-It Day,” 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. DuPage Children’s Museum, 1777 S. Blanchard Rd., Wheaton. 630-260-9907.
— S.P.
A family tour of Sagawau Canyon, a nature site that took 400 million years to form, is led by a naturalist who will take visitors through narrow passageways and across waterways. 1 p.m. Saturday. Free. The nature center also offers bird hikes at 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Camp Sagawau, 12545 W. 111th St., Lemont. 630-257-2045.
— Diana Strzalka
A brightmoon may light the way for the Midsummer Night’s Hike, a free family outing planned for 7 p.m. Saturday at two forest preserve nature centers. Plum Creek Nature Center, Goodenow Road 1 miles east of Illinois Highways 1 and 394, Crete, 708-946-2216. Thorn Creek Nature Center, 247 Monee Rd., Park Forest, 708-747-6320.
D.S.
You never know what Norman Foote is going to do when he comes to perform. Instead of walking onto the stage, he may crawl, or instead of singing “Old MacDonald” in the traditional way he might do it in the style of Johnny Cash or Bob Dylan. But mostly Foote entertains with his own songs such as ones from his new recording, “La-la-la,” and previous CDs including “Footeprints” and “Shake a Leg” that prove that he knows how to find the path to having fun. Norman Foote, 11 a.m. Saturday, Ravinia, Lake-Cook and Green Bay Roads, Highland Park, $3-$5: 847-266-5100.
— Nancy Maes
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Kids can get into the act of celebrating the Summer Solstice at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s 24-hour event. During day-time activities youngsters, and parents too, can learn how to dance the bomba and the salsa and also participate in stories performed by the Kuntu Drama Players. Children can also find out what it takes to be an artist by creating mobiles inspired by those by Alexander Calder or use chalk to add their personal touches to a large wall mural. Summer Solstice Celebration Family Activities, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., $7 adults, children free; 312-280-2660.
— N.M.