Kids will find out some matter-of-fact information about stars and constellations and some that is more fanciful at a FAMILY DAY program at the ADLER PLANETARIUM. A demonstration will illustrate how it’s possible to tell the temperature of a star by looking at its color. Children can cut out and put together a star finder that will help them locate constellations in the sky at different times of the year and make a star clock that will let them tell time at night the way a sun dial does during the day. Family Day, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, $5 adults, $4 children; 312-922-STAR.
— Nancy Maes
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A week of fun for everyone has been packed into the “2000 Gala Week” celebration this weekend in Crystal Lake. Highlights of the fest at Lakeside Center include carnival rides Friday night through Sunday night, live entertainment and food booths. A parade from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday starts at city hall and make its way to the festival grounds. Fireworks start at dusk Sunday night. A “Kids Day” celebration Saturday offers free children’s games from 12:30 to 2 p.m., face painting, kids and pet parade, decorated bike and wheelchair parade. 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 11 p.m. Sunday. Lakeside Center, 401 Country Club Rd., Crystal Lake. 815-455-3363.
— Stephanie Price
Little fingers get creative as DuPage Children’s Museum presents “Art for All Ages” throughout July. Bring your kids out for art Tuesdays for “Creating With Clay.” Roll it, pinch it, knead it or stamp it as you test the many varieties, tools and techniques of clay. On Thursdays in July, kids will get the help of Ruth Surgal from Lill Street Gallery in Chicago. Surgal will help kids of all ages discover the process of exploring and expressing clay using real sculpting tools and glazes. Pieces created in this walk-in workshop will be fired at Lill Street Gallery and returned to the museum the following Thursday for pickup. $1 materials fee plus $4.50 per person museum admission. “Creating With Clay” 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays July 11, 18 and 25. “Creating With Lill Street Galleries” 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays, July 6, 13, 20 and 27. DuPage Children’s Museum, 1777 S. Blanchard Rd., Wheaton. 630-260-9960.
— Stephanie Price
On Tuesday, the Tinley Park Park District will be hosting its annual July 4th Festival with a penny carnival, arcade games, face painting, horseshoe tournament, magic shows and other children’s activities. A 5K run begins at 8 a.m. The festival starts at 4 p.m. and the grand finale fireworks show lights up the sky at 9 p.m. McCarthy Park, 16801 S. 80th Ave., Tinley Park. 708-532-8698.
— Diana Strzalka
When Chris Fascione comes to tell stories, he first catches the attention of young ones in the audience by doing a bit of juggling. Then he’ll tell some tales that let kids join in on the fun. When he tells about a king who won’t get out of his bathtub and goes to such extremes as fencing and fishing and dancing in the warm water, Fascione calls on help from young listeners to get the monarch to listen to reason. Kids come to the rescue again in another story where they try to uproot an enormous turnip. “It’s all about team work,” says Fascione, “and the kids are great to watch because they pick up the skills of mime very quickly.” 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oakton Park, 4701 Oakton St., Skokie; free; 847-674-1500, ext. 3.
— Nancy Maes