As we are reminded every summer, three little months can amount to quite a bit of stuff going on, especially when those months are June, July and August.

Lest you doubt that claim, check out this first installment of GO!'s epic summer arts and activities preview, with a look at the festivals, fairs and other special events headed Pantagraphland-way from the end of May through Labor Day weekend.

Next week, we'll cover all of the music and concert events.

Together, these two GO! issues will provide the most complete roundup of Central Illinois activities you'll find anywhere - so save these valuable sections for future reference and line that bird cage with something else.

At least this week and next.

A final note: If you have an event that should have been included here but isn't, please let us know anyway, and we'll make sure it gets included in the weekly GO! Calendar listings as the season progresses.

May

28-31: Washington Cherry Festival, with entertainment, food and more, John Bearce Commercial Property grounds, 1800 Washington Road, Washington.

31: Toluca Coal Mine Living History Day, exhibits, activities and presentations, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Toluca Jumbos (slag heaps), Toluca.

31-6/1: Glory Days: An 1830s Militia Muster, with marching and drilling, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., New Salem State Historic Site, Petersburg.

31-6/1: Midwest Regional Cat Show, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Interstate Center, Bloomington.

31-6/1: Pontiac Kite Festival, kite fliers from around country with competitions and demonstrations, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Rec-Plex grounds, Pontiac.

31-6/1: Return to Pimiteoui Pow-Wow, Native American-themed festival, W.H. Sommer Park in Peoria.

June

1: Central Illinois Ford Day, car show, swap space, exhibits and more, Bob Dennison Ford, Bloomington.

1: Sunday in the Park, summer kick-off celebration with concerts and food, 5:30-9 p.m., Glen Oak Park Amphitheater, Peoria.

1-30: Quilted Keepsakes 2008, annual summer quilt show, C.H. Moore Homestead in Clinton.

6-15: National Counted Cross Stitch Show, more than 400 pieces on display, Rockome Gardens near Arcola.

6-7: Paxton Town-Wide Garage Sales, various locations in Paxton.

6-8: Route 66 Motor Tour, annual Mother Road motorcade with stops at various Illinois towns along the way.

6-8: Tremont Turkey Festival, the area's biggest celebration of gobble-dygook, downtown Tremont and Tremont Park.

7: Farmer City Car/Truck/Tractor Show, with cruise-in, food and awards show, Main Street in downtown Farmer City.

7: Miller Park Fishing Derby, for ages 5 to 12, 8-11 a.m., Miller Park, Bloomington.

7: Shadows of Lincoln Festival, Lincoln-themed outdoor history festival, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., downtown Decatur.

7: Sugar Grove Nature Center Nature Exploration Day, guided hikes, crafts, animal feedings, more, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sugar Grove Nature Center, Funks Grove.

7-8: Grand Village of Kickapoo Powwow, Native American culture celebration, Grand Village of the Kickapoo Park, rural LeRoy.

7-8: Junction City Art Fair, more than 70 artists from Central Illinois and the Midwest, food, children's art area, more; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Junction City Shopping Center, Peoria.

7-8: Lincoln Land Depression Glass & Pottery Show, vintage glass and pottery circa the late-1920s through 1969, Illinois State Fairgrounds Orr Building, Springfield.

8: DeWitt County Museum Open Auto Show, antiques and classics, noon-4 p.m., C.H. Moore Homestead grounds, Clinton.

10: Dress Up Movie Night, "E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial," dusk, Normal Amphitheater, Normal.

10-15: Decatur-Macon County Fair, fairgrounds in Decatur.

11-12: Movies in the Park, "Surf's Up," 9 p.m. Wednesday at Rollingbrook Park, Bloomington, and 9 p.m. Thursday at Clearwater Park, Bloomington.

12-14: Epiphany Carnival, the sixth annual festival of live bands, carnival rides and more, Epiphany School grounds, Normal.

12-14: Steamboat Festival, riverfront carnival rides and entertainment stages, Riverfront Festival Park in Peoria.

13-14: County-Wide Route 66 Garage Sale, vendors and sales in Atlanta, Lincoln, Broadwell, Elkhart and Lawndale, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

13-15: Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games, Olympic-style competition for disabled athletes, ISU Sports Complex, Normal.

14: '50s-'60s Days/Hang Loose Weekend, car show and '50s-'60s celebration, downtown square and Humiston Riverside Park in Pontiac.

14: Moss Avenue Antique Sale, sidewalk sales up and down historic Moss Avenue in Peoria, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

15: 3rd Sunday Market, 450 dealers in 300 booths, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Interstate Center, Bloomington.

15: Twin City Cruisers Fabulous '50s Night, 5:30-9 p.m., Shoppes at College Hills parking lot.

16: Comlara Park Beach Blowout & Wacky Water Olympics, special water-related activities and contests, noon-3 p.m., Glasener Beach at Comlara Park near Hudson.

17-21: 62nd Midwest Charity Horse Show, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield.

18-21: Metamora Old Settlers Days, carnival, entertainment, food tents, crafts and more, downtown Metamora square.

18-19: Movies in the Park, "Shrek the Third," 9 p.m. Wednesday at Rollingbrook Park, Bloomington, and 9 p.m. Thursday at Clearwater Park, Bloomington.

18-22: Sangamon County Fair, fairgrounds at New Berlin.

20: TNA Live!, wrestlers from Spike TV's "TNA Impact," U.S. Cellular Coliseum, Bloomington.

20-22: General Grierson Days Civil War Re-enactment, largest mounted re-enactment in Midwest, Jacksonville.

20-21: Glorious Garden Festival, self-guided tours of 11 B-N gardens, with festival and start point at David Davis Mansion, Bloomington.

20-22: Taste of Champaign-Urbana, food fair and juried art show, West Side Park in Champaign.

21: Folk Art Festival, crafts and artisan demonstrations, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Three Sisters Park, Chillicothe.

21: Bishop Hill Midsommar Celebration, Swedish summer fest with music, maypole, family activities, barn dance, more, Bishop Hill State Historic Site.

21: Gala of Gardens Walk, tours of five Clinton-area gardens and high-tea lunch, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

21: Pontiac Cruise Night, with car cruise, food, prizes and more, downtown Pontiac square.

21: Scovill Zoo Family Fun Day & Turtle Race, kid games, displays and turtle race, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Scovill Zoo, Decatur.

21: Through the Garden Gate, Logan County Master Gardeners garden walk, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., seven or eight Lincoln-area gardens.

21-22: Streator Civil War Event, living history encampment, displays, skirmishes, more, Marilla Park and Sandy Ford Sportsmen Club, Streator.

21-22: Olde English Faire, medieval celebration, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Jubilee College State Historic Site, near Brimfield.

22: Fairbury Garden Club Festival of Gardens, tour of five Fairbury gardens, 1-5 p.m.

24-29: Piatt County Fair, fairgrounds at Cerro Gordo.

25-26: Movies in the Park, "The Waterhorse: Legend of the Deep," 9 p.m. Wednesday at Rollingbrook Park, Bloomington, and 9 p.m. Thursday at Clearwater Park, Bloomington.

26-28: Mack-Ca-Fest Farm Days, Veterans Park and downtown area, Mackinaw.

26-29: GridleyFest, entertainment and carnival, Gridley village park.

27-29: Havana Fish and Waterfowl Festival, catfish cook-off and dinners, exhibitors, fishing tournament, more; Riverfront Park, Havana.

27-29: San Jose Sesquicentennial, 150th-birthday festival, downtown San Jose.

28: All in a Day's Work, demonstrations of average "day-in-the-life" of 1830s New Salem families, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., New Salem State Historic Site, Petersburg.

28: Carlock Park Palooza, parade, food, games, live entertainment, auction and more, 4:30-9:30 p.m., Rock Creek Veterans Park, Carlock.

28: A Day in Dimmitt's Grove, house and garden tours, historic walking tours, live music, crafts, antique cars, more, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Dimmitt's Grove neighborhood and Vrooman Mansion, Bloomington.

28: Independence Day 1860, pioneer July 4th celebration and activities, noon-4 p.m., Rock Springs Nature Center, Decatur.

28: Let's Buzz the Gut Cruise Night, car cruise, auto-related vendors, food, music and more, 4 p.m.-dusk, downtown Dwight.

28-29: Railroad Days, railroad heritage celebration, downtown Galesburg.

28-29: Rhapsody in Bloom Arts Festival, art, music and food festival, Luthy Botanical Gardens in Glen Oak Park, Peoria.

28-29: Saybrook Freedom Festival, 6 a.m.-dusk, downtown Saybrook.

29: Decks, Patios and Gardens of Ironwood, tours of nine Ironwood neighborhood home exteriors, 12:30-4:30 p.m., Normal.

29-7/6: Streator's 4th: America's Best, weeklong July 4 celebration, downtown and various Streator locations.

29: Pioneer Days, demonstrations of mid-19th-century pioneer life, children's games, more, 1-4 p.m., W.H. Sommer Park, Peoria.

July

3-5: Lincoln Heritage Days Celebration, with dancing, games and shopping, downtown Lincoln.

4: Capital City Celebration & Fireworks, all evening, New State Capitol grounds, downtown Springfield.

4: Champaign County Freedom Celebration, parade and fireworks, U of I Memorial Stadium and vicinity in Champaign.

4: Chenoa July 4th Celebration, parade and daylong events, downtown Chenoa and City Park.

4: Clinton Fourth of July Celebration, fireworks at dusk, Weldon Springs State Recreation Area near Clinton.

4: Downs Fourth of July Celebration, fireworks and special activities, Dooley Park in Downs.

4: Dwight July 4th Celebration, downtown Dwight.

4: Eureka Independence Day Celebration, downtown Eureka and Eureka Lake.

4: Fourth of July Celebration at Fairview Park, activities and fireworks, Fairview Park in Normal.

4: Freedom Fest 2008, games and entertainment, 3-10 p.m., Lake of the Woods Park at Mahomet.

4: Hopedale Fourth of July Celebration, parade, car show and fireworks, all day downtown and in Hopedale Park.

4: Lincoln Fourth of July Celebration, all day at Lincoln Park District in Lincoln.

4: Metamora Fourth of July Celebration, God & Country concert and events, Metamora Park bandstand.

4: Miller Park Fourth of July Festivities & Sky Concert, all day, Miller Park in Bloomington.

4: Mount Pulaski 4th of July Celebration, downtown events and fireworks at dusk, Mount Pulaski.

4: Paxton Old-Fashioned July 4th Celebration, games and fireworks, Pells Park in Paxton.

4: Peoria Independence Day Celebration, 5-11 p.m., downtown riverfront in Peoria and East Peoria.

4: Pontiac 4th of July Event, fireworks at dusk, Pontiac Elks Lodge grounds, Pontiac.

4-6: Lakeside Music & Arts Festival, with more than 100 artisans and multiple entertainment stages, Nelson Park, Decatur.

6-12: Ford County Fair, fairgrounds at Melvin.

8: Carson & Barnes Circus, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., Logan County Fairgrounds, Lincoln.

8: Dress Up Movies Night, "The Incredibles," dusk, Normal Amphitheater, Normal.

8-12: Fisher Community Fair & Horse Show, fairgrounds at Fisher.

9-13: LaSalle County 4-H Show & Junior Fair, fairgrounds at Ottawa.

9-13: Marshall-Putnam County Fair, fairgrounds in Henry.

9-10: Movies in the Park, "Bee Movie," 9 p.m. Wednesday at Rollingbrook Park, Bloomington, and 9 p.m. Thursday at Clearwater Park, Bloomington.

11-14: DeWitt County 4-H Fair, fairgrounds, Clinton.

11-19: Heart of Illinois Fair, nightly grandstand shows and carnival midway, Exposition Gardens, Peoria.

11-12: Peoria Balloons on the Prairie Fest, mass hot air balloon ascensions and events, O.S.F. Medical Center grounds, Illinois 91 north of U.S. 150, Peoria.

12: Comlara Park Ice Cream Social, ice cream and entertainment, noon-4 p.m., Comlara Park near Hudson.

12: Taste of Downtown Springfield, food fair with entertainment stages and more, Fifth and Washington streets, downtown Springfield.

12: Twin City Cruisers Swinging '60s Night, 5:30-9 p.m., Shoppes at College Hills parking lot.

12-13: Pekin Arts Festival, fine art fair, crafts, live jazz, wine tasting, food and more, Pekin riverfront area.

12-13: Sugar Creek Arts Festival, juried art fair and entertainment, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., downtown Normal and ISU quad.

13: DeWitt County Museum Ice Cream Social & Vintage Baseball Game, C.H. Moore Homestead grounds, Clinton.

13: 3rd Sunday Market, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Interstate Center, Bloomington.

14-17: Livingston County 4-H Fair, Livingston County Fairgrounds, Pontiac.

15-19: Farmer City/DeWitt County Fair, fairgrounds in Farmer City.

15-20: Menard County Fair, fairgrounds, Petersburg.

16-21: Iroquois County Fair, fairgrounds, Crescent City.

16-17: Movies in the Park, "The Pirates Who Won't Do Anything," 9 p.m. Wednesday at Rollingbrook Park, Bloomington, and 9 p.m. Thursday at Clearwater Park, Bloomington.

18-26: Champaign County Fair, fairgrounds in Urbana.

18-20: Stanford Good Ole Days Festival, arts and crafts, food, fireworks and more, downtown Stanford.

19: Emden Homecoming, food, games, entertainment, more, downtown Emden.

21-26: Fulton County Fair, fairgrounds in Lewistown.

21-22: Rock 'n' Rods on Route 66 Festival, classic car and music festival, Interstate Center grounds, Bloomington.

23-24: Movies in the Park, "Spider-Man 3," 9 p.m. Wednesday at Rollingbrook Park, Bloomington, and 9 p.m. Thursday at Clearwater Park, Bloomington.

25-27: Great Balloon Race, 30 hot-air balloons in various events, Lake Storey Park near Galesburg.

26: Morgan Horse Exhibit & Demonstration, daylong Morgan Horses events, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., New Salem State Historic Site, Petersburg.

26: Pekin Classic Car Cruise-In, restored vintage cars, live bands, food vendors, more, 5-9 p.m., downtown Pekin.

27: Pioneer Days, demonstrations of mid-19th-century pioneer life, children's games, more, 1-4 p.m., W.H. Sommer Park, Peoria.

28-30: Tazewell County Fair, Mineral Springs Park in Pekin.

29-8/3: Logan County Fair, fairgrounds at Lincoln.

30-8/3: McLean County Fair, Interstate Center grounds, Bloomington.

August

1-3: Decatur Celebration, 13 entertainment stages and more, downtown Decatur.

2: Annual Auto Exhibition at Clover Lawn, antique vehicles displays and more, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., David Davis Mansion, Bloomington.

3: Minier Corn Daze, fresh-cooked corn and events, all day, downtown Minier.

6-9: Cullom Junior Fair, fairgrounds at Cullom.

8: Italian-American Summer Festa, Italian heritage fest with food, games, dance, music and more, noon-7 p.m., Hickory Grove Park, Peoria.

8: Pontiac Heritage Days and Antique Tractor Show, with old-time demonstrations, arts and crafts, tractor displays and more, downtown Pontiac square.

8-17: Illinois State Fair, carnival midway and nightly grandstand shows, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield.

8-9: River City Soul Fest, African-American heritage food and entertainment festival, Riverfront Festival Park, Peoria.

8-9: Riverfront Car Show, cars, trucks, cycles, antique tractors and more, Riverfront Park, East Peoria.

9: Twin City Cruisers Custom Sensational '70s Night, 5:30-9 p.m., Shoppes at College Hills parking lot.

12: Dress-Up Movie Night, "Beauty and the Beast," dusk, Normal Amphitheater, Normal.

12-16: LeRoy Fall Festival, first fall fest of the season, downtown LeRoy.

13: Taste of Peoria, food from 50 Peoria restaurants, 4 p.m.-11 p.m., Riverfront Festival Park, Peoria.

13-17: Fairbury Fair, fairgrounds at Fairbury.

14-16: Washburn Festival, entertainment and special events, downtown Washburn.

14-17: WGLT Recycled Music Sale, used LPs and CDs sale, Crossroads Center, 310 Wylie Drive, Normal.

15-17: Cultural Festival Weekend, cultural and ethnic music and events, Miller Park, Bloomington.

15-17: Danvers Days, village festival, Danvers Village Park in Danvers.

16: Lexington Street Dance, downtown street dance, live bands, beer garden, more, 5-11 p.m., downtown Lexington.

16-17: Farm Heritage Days & Threshing Show, demonstrations and displays, Three Sisters Park, Chillicothe.

16-17: Galesburg Heritage Days, pre-1840s rendezvous and Civil War re-enactment, Lake Storey Park near Galesburg.

16-17: Grand National TT Weekend, motorcycle races, swap meet and parade, concerts and more, downtown Peoria and Peoria Motorcycle Club at Bartonville.

16-17: Washington Fine Arts Festival, juried outdoor art fair, downtown Washington.

17: 3rd Sunday Market, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Interstate Center, Bloomington.

22-24: Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival, balloon festival at Logan County Fairgrounds in Lincoln and art festival and other events in downtown Lincoln.

22-23: Sangamon River Festival, carnival, music and entertainment, Main Street in downtown Mahomet.

22-23: Urbana Sweetcorn Festival, fresh-cooked corn and entertainment, downtown Urbana.

23: Hot August Nights, downtown street fest with food fair and live entertainment, 10 -10 p.m., downtown Bloomington square.

23: Reagan Fest, Ronald Reagan-themed festival, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., downtown Eureka.

23-9/1: DuQuoin State Fair, nightly grandstand shows and more, 8 a.m.-midnight, DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin.

23-24: Erin Feis, Irish heritage culture and music celebration, Riverfront Festival Park, Peoria.

23-24: Sweet Corn Blues Festival, fresh-cooked sweet corn and entertainment, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., downtown Normal.

24: 1800s Craft Fair, demonstrations and displays, noon-5 p.m., Postville Courthouse State Historic Site in Lincoln.

28-9/1: Theshermen's Reunion, festival at Threshermen's Park near Pontiac and parade at 1:15 p.m. Aug. 31 in downtown Pontiac.

29-9/1: Delavan Fall Festival, with parade, carnival, entertainment and more, downtown Delavan.

30-9/1: Ethnic Festival, ethnic foods and activities, Illinois State Fairgrounds Ethnic Village in Springfield.

30-31: Once Upon a Prairie Storytelling Festival, stories told by national storytellers in rooms of historic building, Old State Capitol Historic Site, Springfield.

31: Pioneer Days, demonstrations of mid-19th-century pioneer life, children's games, more, 1-4 p.m., W.H. Sommer Park, Peoria.