Retreat to Lake Forest’s Ragdale for inspiration

Families can enjoy a multitude of activities during Ragdale Day June 3 at the famed Lake Forest artists’ retreat.

Updated: June 1, 2012 4:32PM

Artists have found Ragdale a place of inspiration since 1976. Your family can experience a sampling of life at the famed artists’ retreat during Ragdale Day from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 3, at 1230 N. Green Bay Road, Lake Forest.

There will be activities for all ages, reported Cynthia Quick, Ragdale’s director of communications and programming. These will include traditional lawn games such as croquet, bocce ball and hula hoops. There also will be creative activities children should enjoy.

“We have a very large, hundred-year-old elm tree that we call the Imagination Tree,” Quick said, which will become the Blooming Elm that day as artist Beth Reitmeyer leads a felt flower craft project to create hanging blossoms for the tree. “By the end of the Ragdale Day, families will have contributed their blossoms,” Quick added.

There also will be live entertainment, artist demonstrations, prairie exploration and tractor rides.

Admission is free. Lunch is $5.

For details, call (847) 234-1063 or visit ragdale.org.

Orientation

Hands-on activities will teach children about Japanese arts and culture during Malott Japanese Garden Family Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 3 and 17, July 1 and 15, Aug. 5, and Sept. 2 and 16 at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. Kids will do things such as practice using chopsticks and make Japanese kites. Activities vary each time.

For details, call (847) 835-5440 or visit chicago-botanic.org.

Boy, oh boy

There will be plenty of laughs and amazing stunts when Bobby Hunt, known as Circus Boy, appears at the Lake Forest Children’s Library, 360 E. Deerpath from 2 to 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, June 5. His stunts include trick bicycling and juggling ping-pong balls in his mouth. Free tickets are required.

For details, call (847) 234-0648 or visit lakeforestlibrary.org.

Dog day of summer

Dogs will have a howling good time at Woofstock 2012 and so will the people who love them. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 3, at Pooch Park, 3220 W. Oakton St., Skokie. There will be dog agility races, a dog fashion show, dog karaoke, a dog/owner look-alike contest and relay races. Admission is free. Refreshments will be sold.

For details, call (847) 674-1500 or visit skokieparks.org.

There he blows

You’ll see the world’s largest balloons at Smarty’s Big Balloon Diner Show from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 2, at the Northbrook Public Library, 1201 Cedar Lane. Smarty Pants and Miss Dena will add magic and comedy to the mix.

For details, call (847) 272-6224 or visit northbrook.info.

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