And you thought the Beetle was small! Meet the King Midget, a small-scale car manufactured in Athens, Ohio, from 1951-1970. Car owners and enthusiasts will return to Athens for the ninth International King Midget Car Club Jamboree Aug. 13-15. King Midget festivities include a parade, a cruise-in and the ''High Street Hill Climb.'' (800) 878-9767.

Spice of life

The tiny hamlet of Mount Horeb, Wis., will slather on the frivolity Saturday during National Mustard Day. The party is centered around the Mt. Horeb Mustard Museum, with the world's largest collection of mustards. A week later, on Aug. 14, the town salutes its Norse heritage with the Sixth Annual Norwegian American Fest, Mount Horeb. Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau, (800) 373-6376 or www.visitmadison.com.

Festive folk

Celebrating the rich mosaic of American life, the 61st National Folk Festival will rollick with zydeco, bluegrass, mariachi, gospel, polka, honky-tonk and Chinese guzheng music on five stages. The fest is Aug. 13-15 in downtown East Lansing, Mich., with traditional games, food and children's activities in addition to the music. (800) 648-6630 or www.lansing.org.

Buckeye Celts

The leprechauns will be out in force Friday-next Sunday at the 12th annual Dublin Irish Festival in Dublin, Ohio, one of the Midwest's largest. Coffman Park will be given over to Irish music, food, crafts and even a 10th-century Irish dwelling. (800) 245-8387.

Hoosier fair

The Indiana State Fair takes off with a balloon race, rodeo, motorcycle race and entertainment Aug. 11-22 at the state fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St. (800) 468-4639

'Sycamore Special'

The Cincinnati Railroad Club will present the ''Sycamore Special,'' a round-trip train excursion from Cincinnati to Greensburg, Ind., Aug. 14 and 15.

Each day, vintage rail cars (some air conditioned) will leave Longworth Hall, downtown, at 8:30 a.m. and return at 7 p.m. Price: $69, children $65 (lunch included). Information: 542-4939.

On two wheels

The American Motorcyclist Association is celebrating its 75th anniversary with the creation of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio, east of Columbus. The new facility includes a Hall of Fame with 72 racers as well as a ''75 Years of Excitement'' display. The museum is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through October, then weekends during the winter. (614) 856-1900 or www.ama-cycle.org.

Mailbox blitz

Warren County, Ohio, Visitors Guide, (800) 433-1072.

Marshall County, Ind., Guide, (800) 626-5353.

Amish Country/Northern Indiana Travel Planner, (800) 262-8161.

Pennsylvania Travel Guide, (800) 847-4872 or www.state.pa.us/visit