There are a lot of fun events that I will be attending in the Chicago area over the next few months.  I am not looking forward to the impending winter, but at least I can enjoy these events.

This weekend, the Wells Street Fall Fest will be held on the near north side of Chicago.  Music, art and local cuisine are staples of this event, but the star might be the winetasting tent.

St. Alphonsus is one of the city’s oldest churches, and from Friday, Sept. 28 through Sunday, Sept. 30, it celebrates its German roots with Oktoberfest.  One of Chicago’s largest fests, it features live music stages inside and out, along with outstanding German food.  I must also mention the fine German beer!

Scarecrows on Parade starts on Oct. 15 and ends on Oct. 29 with the big Spooktacular.  Local businesses, for a mile stretch on Clark Street near Lake Michigan, display homemade scarecrows.  These scarecrows have included Sheryl Crow, Bridezilla, “Crow”-magnon Man and other creative masterpieces.  People can vote for their favorites.  It all culminates with Spooktacular, a huge Halloween neighborhood fest.  It is a bit scary, a bit outrageous and a lot of fun.

Of course, there are always sporting events, too.  The White Sox look to be playoff-bound, and a Chicago Bears game is always a lot of fun.

Neighborhood fests are a great way to experience parts of the city you might not ordinarily visit.  The end of the summer does not have to mean the end of outdoor fun.

— John Wroblewski, online contributor