I am starting to plan a trip up through the mid-west in the late spring. I am thinking Chicago, Minnapolis, Montana, Dakota, etc. I am looking for ideas on fairs and festivals that might be in these areas. Things like jazz fest in NO, the ballon fest in New Mexico, cherry blossoms in DC. They don't have be that grandeous but something more than church carnival.

How late in the spring? In April of this past year, northern Minnesota received over 4 feet of snow. This was a record and certainly not typical, but we often do get snow in April. May can be beautiful and warm with trees blossoming....or it can be cold and wet. We usually don't tend to make plans for big outdoor festivals at this time of year. Perhaps farther south in Minneapolis they would risk it but with school in session, it's hard to get enough participation to make such an event pay off.

South Dakota, also had a huge snowstorm closing the interstate this year the first week of May. Outdoor festivals usually not until after Memorial Day.

Deadwood Wild Bill days June 19-21.

Thanks for the feedback, pushing the trip back to June is no problem. The Deadwood thing sounds like the type of thing I would be intrested in. Any other ideas would be also apreciated.

Milwaukee has a big music festival called Summerfest for 11 days in late June-early July.

Indiana has a Covered Bridge Festival in the Fall every year that we have attended in Mansfield, Indiana. They also have other festivals during the year that we have not attended but you can check their schedule here: http://www.mansfieldvillage.com/2008...eld-villa.html

Why are you including Montana in the Midwest? As a midwesterner, I am confused, and I think they would be in Montana, too.

The cover bridge fest and music in Milwalkee both are great ideas. I have been to a fest in Jasper, IN a few years ago that was blast. Right now I am thinking of taking a train to Chicago or Minn, renting a car and letting the winds of fate take me away. Either heading futher west or south depending on what strikes my fancy.

We just came back from several days in the Black Hills and Badlands of western South Dakota. If you've never been there, it is definitely worth the trip. The scenery is spectacular, especially in the Badlands (check it out online), and where else would you see hundreds of bison (Custer State Park)? Deadwood is interesting, but so is nearby Lead (pronounced "leed"), Spearfish, etc., and, of course, Mt. Rushmore. We were based in Rapid City, which has a very informative Museum of Geology.

Of course, weather will be a factor, so late spring is probably best.