Weekend picks: Take in Kansas, carnival at Frontier Days
Frontier Days
As if funnel cakes and carnival rides aren't enough of a draw to Arlington Heights' Frontier Days, Kansas rocks the annual fest at 8 p.m. Saturday. Come early to enjoy the “Taste of Arlington,” a carnival, games, live entertainment on three stages and more at Recreation Park, 500 E. Miner St. The parade steps off from Dunton and Oakton streets at 10 a.m. Monday. Free admission. Shuttle service will run from downtown Arlington Heights. Visit frontierdays.org. Noon to midnight Saturday, July 2; noon to midnight Sunday, July 3; and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, July 4
Art & garden
More than 75 juried artists display their botanic-inspired wares at the return of the Chicago Botanic Garden Art Festival this weekend at 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Free admission, but $20 parking fee per car. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 2-3
Tom Chapin & Friends
Tom Chapin & Friends bring music for all ages to the Pavilion at Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, as part of the Kraft Great Kids Concert. $10; lawn seats $5. Park opens at 10 a.m. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 11 a.m. Saturday, July 2
Final ‘Taste' days
Don't miss your last chance to sample a wide variety of fare from local restaurants during the final days of the 2011 Taste of Chicago in Grant Park, Michigan Avenue and Congress Drive, Chicago. Take part in family activities and listen to live music, including a 3 p.m. Sunday performance by singer Greyson Chance in the Petrillo Music Shell. Admission is free. There is a charge for food. Visit tasteofchicago.us. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 2, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 3
‘Colors of My Life'
The Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts hosts its newest art exhibition, “Colors of My Life,” featuring the paintings of artist Phil Seifritz. See the exhibit through July 31 at 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Free admission. For information on the artist, visit philseifritzart.com. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. Opening reception from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 2. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; open until 9 p.m. Wednesdays
IU centennial concert
Superstar violinist Joshua Bell is one of Indiana University's most famous graduates. So it's only natural that Bell teams with the IU Jacobs School of Music Summer Festival Orchestra for a special IU Centennial Concert this Saturday at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $35 reserved seats; $10 lawn; $50 dining package. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 2 (gates open at 5 p.m.)
Movie music
John Williams' iconic film scores get the symphonic treatment when conductor Arnie Roth teams with members of The Chicagoland Pops Orchestra for the concert “E.T. has Close Encounters at Jurassic Park with Indiana Jones in ‘Star Wars'” this Saturday at the Ferro Pavilion on the shores of Geneva Lake at George Williams College of Aurora University, 350 Constance Blvd., Williams Bay, Wis. $15-$80. (866) 843-5200 or musicbythelake.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 2
Skip's Swap Meet
The Lake County Fairgrounds hosts the 18th annual Skip's Swap Meet event with an outdoor and indoor car show and an auto and truck part swap meet. Car fans can also browse and buy at a collectible car sale and an automotive die-cast model sale. Take it all in at 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Admission is $8 adults; $2 kids. Visit skipsusa.com. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 3
Auto extravaganza
Get ready to ogle all sorts of vintage cars and famous Hollywood autos (including Lightning McQueen from “Cars”) when the George Barris Charity Car Show and Festival returns this weekend to the Volo Auto Museum, 27582 W. Volo Village Road, Volo. $15; $5.95 kids. (815) 385-3644 or volocars.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 3
‘Broadway Bound'
“Broadway Bound,” Neil Simon's award-winning conclusion to his semi-autobiographical “Eugene Trilogy,” takes the stage at Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. The story focuses on two Jewish brothers who try to use their comedy writing abilities to leave their troubled Brooklyn home. Tickets cost $35-$45; $49.75-$68 meal packages. (630) 530-0111 or drurylaneoakbrook.com. 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, July 3
Music of the '60s
Reminisce with the band 1969, as the group presents songs from the 1960s in an afternoon concert in the band shell at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Bring a picnic basket. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating. Free admission. Parking is $2-$5. (630) 668-5161 or cantigny.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, July 3
Patriotic performance
Under Christopher Bell's baton, the Grant Park Music Festival performs American classical favorites and more for the Independence Celebration concert on Sunday at Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion, near Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue, Chicago. Free admission. (312) 742-1168 or grantparkmusicfestival.com. 5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 3
Celebrate Sweden
Arrival From Sweden performs the music of ABBA in a concert at Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $50. Lawn seats $27. Park opens at 5 p.m. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 8 p.m. Sunday, July 3