Road trips

"Zen and the Art of Family Day" OK, so how's this for the coolest billing ever: a free day highlighting Taiko drumming and kung fu demonstrations from the Maine Thunder Spirits Taiko Ensemble and Kung Fu Review, anime short films, storytelling from Motoko Dworkin, and live sumo demonstrations from 435-pound Ace Yonamine and 390-pound Bumbo Kalima. If all the action gets to be too much, retreat to a haiku workshop or demonstrations about bonsai and Ikebana flower arranging. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, 225 South Street, Williamstown, 157 miles from Boston. 413-458-2303. clarkart.edu

Falcon Ridge Folk Festival This is shaping up to be a very good year for the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, a four-day event at Dodds Farm in Hillsdale, N.Y. The festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary by bringing home the 2008 "Folk Festival of the Year" award from the International Folk Music & Dance Alliance. This year's lineup includes many folk luminaries (Janis Ian will close the main stage on Sunday), 50 hours of dancing in a 900-square-foot dance tent, an international food court, and crafts that keep some families coming back year after year. See website for complete schedule. $35-$50 single day tickets, $115-$140 four-day pass. Dodds Farm, Hillsdale, N.Y. 152 miles from Boston. 866-325-2744. falconridgefolk.com

Shakespeare in the Valley For the third year running, the Shakespeare in the Valley troupe in Waterville, N.H., is shaking up the bard. This year it's a feminist take on "The Taming of the Shrew" and "The Tamer Tamed," a retelling of "Lysistrata" by John Fletcher (one of Shakespeare's disciples). "The Tamer Tamed" was written as an answer to "The Taming of the Shrew," and can be summed up by its tagline: "The shoe's on the other foot . . . and it's a stiletto!" Parents be warned: These tales are strictly PG-13. "The Taming of the Shrew": Fri and Sun 6 p.m. "The Tamer Tamed": Sat 6 p.m. See shakespeareinthevalley .com for complete schedule and pricing. Shakespeare in the Valley, Theatre Under the Stars, Waterville Valley, N.H. 127 miles from Boston. 603-726-0098.

Green Mountain Strongman Challenge These strong men lift cars, press logs, pull fire trucks, carry stones, and flip tractor tires. Superman convention? Hardly. Strong men from around the nation converge on Vermont this weekend for the 2008 NAS Green Mountain Strongman Challenge to benefit the American Lung Association of New England. Maybe they are Supermen after all. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5, free under age 8. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex, Vt. 215 miles from Boston. 802-876-6500. lungvt.org

Stonington blessing of the fleet Enjoy a slice of old New England nautical history when the Connecticut fishing fleet comes together this weekend to remember those fisherman who have been swallowed by the sea and ask for blessing, protection, and success for the fisherman who set out this year. The 2008 "Blessing of the Fleet" includes a lobster bake on Saturday night, and a parade, blessing, and refreshments on Sunday. Sat 5-11 p.m. lobster bakes ($5). Sun 1 p.m. parade, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. refreshments at Fisherman's Wharf (free). Fisherman's Wharf, 1 High St., Stonington, Conn. 104 miles from Boston. 860-535-3150. stoningtonblessing.com

E-mail your suggestions for Road Trips to celcik@comcast.net.