Weekend picks: Ringling Bros. Circus rolls into Allstate

Circus Maximus

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus promises a slew of exciting acts ranging from “The Human Fuse” to Asian elephants in a “symphony of dance” in its latest touring extravaganza “Fully Charged,” which first arrives in the Chicago area Thursday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. The show then plays the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. $19-$25; $40-$60 VIP and front-row tickets; $90 “Circus Celebrity” seats. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com or unitedcenter.com. From Friday, Nov. 4, to Sunday, Nov. 13, in Rosemont; from Wednesday, Nov. 16, to Sunday, Nov. 27, in Chicago

Objects d'art

The annual SOFA Chicago and The Intuit Show of Folk & Outsider Art shows team up again for a weekend full of art objects for purchase, plus special displays including one on the work of famed artist Robert Indiana at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $15 daily admission; $25 three-day pass. sofaexpo.com and outsiderfolkartfair.com. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 and 5, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6

Artsy ‘FallBack'

The City of Elgin's new FallBack Arts Festival features exhibits, performances and workshops at multiple Elgin locations like Judson University, 1151 N. State St., and the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., and more. Free admission, though workshops require registration. Visit cityofelgin.org. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5; 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6

Family Astronomy Night

Explore life on Earth and many aspects of the universe at Arlington Heights Memorial Library's Family Astronomy Night. Michelle Nichols, master educator for NASA at the Adler Planetarium, will discuss NASA's Kepler space telescope at the library, 500 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights. Following the indoor program, the audience is invited outside, where telescopes will be set up to view the evening sky. Free; no reservations required. (847) 392-0100 or ahml.info. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov 4

Comic timing

Comedian Brian Regan has best-selling comedy albums and several Comedy Central specials under his belt. See what else he has to reveal tonight at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $39.50-$45. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4

‘Elvis People'

The Waubonsee Community College's Theatre Department presents the comedy “Elvis People,” which is a series of stories on how Elvis Presley touched the lives of everyday people. It features music by Presley along with clips from his acting career. See it in the auditorium of Waubonsee Community College, Route 47 at Waubonsee Drive, Sugar Grove. $5. (630) 466-7900. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5

Feist in concert

With the recent release of “Metals,” the follow-up to Feist's breakthrough 2007 album, “The Reminder,” she's back in her comfort zone. Her fourth album has a darker tone, but still has that otherworldly, mystical quality that has made her one of music's more original voices. Hear for yourself at Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., Chicago. Tickets cost $34. (773) 275-6800 or jamusa.com/Venues/Riviera/Concerts.aspx. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4

Dance rep pep

River North Dance Chicago's fall repertory run features the company premiere of Danny Ezralow's acclaimed “SUPER STRAIGHT is coming down” plus other returning works this weekend at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $30-$75. (312) 334-7777 or rivernorthchicago.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 and 5

Violin virtuoso

Violinist Corey Cerovsek performs Barber's Violin Concerto on a 1728 Stradivarius as part of the New Philharmonic weekend concerts also featuring music of Wagner and Bernstein at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $38; $36 seniors; $28 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 and 5

American Flyers' Open House

The American Flyers Flight School at the Chicago Executive Airport hosts its Open House and Aviation Seminar Saturday. Events at the airport, 1071 S. Wolf Road, Hangar 10, Wheeling, start with a complimentary lunch, followed by tours and a presentation by a certified flight instructor. Each guest who attends will be eligible to receive a certificate for two free hours of instruction in a flight simulator. No reservations required. (630) 584-4700 or americanflyers.net/about/aviation_seminars.asp. Events begin at noon Saturday, Nov. 5

Stripped-down Sting

Sting has decided to get intimate for the 25th anniversary of his solo career. Rather than touring arena venues, Sting is playing smaller theaters for his “Back to Bass Tour,” which features his song hits backed by a five-piece band at Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets cost $49-$129. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5

Rodgers & Hammerstein salute

Local cabaret artists perform songs from “South Pacific,” “The King & I,” “Carousel” and other classic musicals as part of Fox Valley Repertory's “Score By Score: The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein.” WJJG radio personality Kevin Moore hosts the one-night-only event, which includes a behind-the-scenes look at the legendary composing duo, at 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 584-6342 or foxvalleyrep.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5

Cosmic music

The Chicago Sinfonietta teams up with astronomer and visual artist Jose Francisco Salgado for a specially commissioned video to accompany sections of the concert “Under the Night Sky.” The ensemble performs the music of Ravel, Gandolfi and more first on Saturday at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville ($35-$45), then on Monday at Orchestra Hall, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $26-$96; $10 students. (312) 236-3681, ext. 2, or chicagosinfonietta.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, in Naperville; 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, in Chicago

Requests, anyone?

Chicago rocker Michael McDermott will close out his performing year with a special concert this weekend at the Montrose Room, located inside the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare hotel, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont. McDermott, who scored a big hit in the '90s with the folk-tinged “A Wall I Must Climb,” is letting his fans choose his set list. Fans should send their requests, along with proof of ticket purchase, to ninetymilesnorthpub@gmail.com. McDermott always puts on an energetic show, and this one should be a fan's dream. Tickets cost $12, $17. See montroseroom.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5

Hair-metal veteran

Kip Winger, who rose to prominence with the pop-metal band Winger in the late 1980s, has charted a much different musical journey on his solo albums. He will perform a solo acoustic show at Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire, this weekend. Tickets cost $14, $20. Visit viper-alley.com. 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5

Tiny soldiers

The 12th Annual Toy Soldier Show arrives at Cantigny Park and First Division Museum, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, this weekend. An estimated 20 dealers will be on hand to display their unique, antique toy soldiers. Free admission; parking is $5 per vehicle (or $2 before 10 a.m.). (630) 668-5161 or cantigny.org. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6

Pumpkins in flight

Bring your aging pumpkin (one per person) and watch as it is catapulted across a field by a catapult built by Mundelein High School students at the Mundelein Park District's Fourth Annual Pumpkin Drop. Other activities include pumpkin rolling and a fill-the-cans-with-pumpkins race. It all takes place at Keith Mione Community Park, 1401 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Free. (847) 566-0650 or mundeleinparks.org. 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6

'Breakfast at Tiffany's'

Halloween may be over, but you can still dress up as your favorite character from “Breakfast at Tiffany's,” the 1961 Blake Edwards classic celebrating its 50th anniversary with a special showing Sunday at the Arcada Theater, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. The event will benefit the 32-member St. Charles Singers. Call (630) 513-5272 for tickets. 1 p.m. Sunday

‘The Sound of Music'

See “The Sound of Music,” Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical collaboration about a novice nun who becomes a governess to an Austrian naval captain and widower's large family during the 1930s, at the Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. $35-$46. Student and senior discounts available. Dinner packages available from $49.75-$68. (630) 530-0111 or drurylaneoakbrook.com". 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6

‘Cavatina Duo'

The flute and guitar duo “Cavatina Duo” presents a concert with works by Bach, Piazzolla and others at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Their music hints of both Spanish and Balkan influences. A reception will follow the performance. $28. (630) 725-2066 or mortonarb.org. 2:15 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6

Friends of funny

Radio host Steve Cochran teams up with comedians Patti Vasquez and John DaCosse for an evening of mirth this Sunday at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $20 plus two menu item purchase. (630) 584-6342 or zanies.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6

The ‘Golden Age' of radio

Meet Steve Darnall, host of WDCB-FM radio's old-time radio program “Those Were The Days,” at the Beginner's Guide to the Golden Age of Radio event. Take a trip back to the Golden Age of radio as Darnall discusses popular radio shows and stars of long ago at the Antioch Public Library District, 757 N. Main St., Antioch. Free. To register, call the library at (847) 395-0874 or visit apld.info. 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10