Weekend picks: All-American Rejects headlines Benfest
All-American Rejects at BenFest
Since their first album came out nearly a decade ago, rockers The All-American Rejects have churned out hits that helped them sell 10 million albums worldwide. Hear songs from their new album, “Kids in the Street,” at Benedictine University's annual BenFest at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex, 5700 College Road, Lisle. Don't miss the synth-pop alternative group Neon Trees, too. Tickets cost $30, $15 for Benedictine students. See ben.edu/benfest. Gates open at 6 p.m.; the concert begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25
Port Clinton Art Festival
The juried outdoor Port Clinton Art Festival brings artwork from more than 260 artists from around the world to downtown Highland Park. The event takes place at Central Avenue, and at 1st and 2nd streets, Highland Park. Highlights include the Taste of Highland Park, music, kids' activities and more. Free admission. Visit portclintonartfestival.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 25-26
Glen Ellyn Festival of the Arts
Glen Ellyn plays host to its annual Glen Ellyn Festival of the Arts at Lake Ellyn, Linden Street and Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn. Guests can see a wide variety of artwork in this juried fine art show. Other highlights include musical entertainment, food and more. Free admission. Visit glenellynlions.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 25-26
It's a Street Fest
Head to the Downtown Palatine Street Fest, at Slade and Brockway streets, for music, food vendors and family entertainment. Free admission; free parking at Gateway Center parking deck, at Smith and Colfax streets. (847) 359-9050 or palatinestreetfest.com. 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, Aug. 25, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26
Go Bandits!
Cheer on the ChicagoBandits at the National Pro Fastpitch Championship this weekend at the new Ballpark at Rosemont, 27 Jennie Finch Way, Rosemont. $5-$15 per game. Package pricing available. (615) 232-2900 or profastpitch.com. Games at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25 (more games will be scheduled as necessary)
IamFest takes over HOB
Catch the St. Charles-based teen band The Giving Moon at the Independent Arts and Music Festival (IamFest) at the House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $17-$22. (800) 745-3000 or battle.iamfest.com. 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25
'Rhinoceros' in Naperville
The Organic Theater Company remounts its 2012 production of Eugene Ionesco's “Rhinoceros” at North Central College's Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville. The action unfolds in a small town with the sudden appearance of a rhinoceros. More follow as residents transform until only one man remains, a man who refuses to relinquish his humanity. Artistic director Alexander Gleman directs. $20, $30. (630) 637-7469 or organictheater.org. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26
Naperville Wine Festival
Get ready to relax and savor some fruits of the vine at the 10th Annual Naperville Wine Festival at CityGate Centre, at I-88 and Route 59. Enjoy wine tasting, live music, exhibits, food and more. Wine-tasting tickets cost $28 in advance or $35 at the door. Designated driver tickets cost $10 in advance and at the door. Visit napervillewinefestival.com. 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25
Ribs galore
Fill your belly with ribs from local vendors while listening to the sounds of Matt Andersen (9 p.m. Saturday) at the Little Bear Ribfest, at Century Park, 1001 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills. Bring lawn chairs for seating. Admission is $5 per person for ages 5 and older; food and beverage fees are extra. All ages are welcome, but the event is geared toward adults. littlebearribfest.com or vernonhills.org. 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25
JUB!LEE
Who doesn't like face painting, games, sack races, pony rides, live music, food and more? It'll be fun for the whole family at the free JUB!LEE festival at Poplar Creek Church, 300 Schick Road, Bartlett. Visit poplarcreek.com. 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday Aug. 25
Bands on sands
Bands like The Guys, Scott Wesley Band, Second Hand Smoke and The Wailers are all on the bill this Saturday for Bands in the Sand IV at Sideouts, 4018 Roberts Road, Island Lake. $5. (847) 526-7174 or sideouts.com. 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25
Manly laughs
Expect plenty of testosterone-fueled laughs when comedian Bryan Callen (“The Hangover,” “The Hangover II”) brings “The Man Class Tour” to the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg. $19-$22 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26
Symphonic breeze
Broadway favorites and light classics will be played by The Symphonic Pops Orchestra of Chicago at a Summer Breeze Concert at the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center, Schaumburg Road and Summit Drive, Schaumburg. Free admission. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25
Big names at Ravinia
Anita Baker headlines the Ravinia Festival pavilion, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, on Saturday, Aug. 25. $60; lawn $27-$32. John Hiatt and Combo with guest Steve Earle round out the weekend with a concert in the pavilion on Sunday, Aug. 26. $55; lawn $22-$27. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. Anita Baker: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, and John Hiatt and Combo: 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26
TimeLine's 'Variations'
TimeLine Theatre Company opens its 16th season with director Nick Bowling's Chicago-area premiere of Moises Kaufman's “33 Variations.” Janet Ulrich Brooks plays an ailing music scholar trying to solve the mystery of why Ludwig van Beethoven (Terry Hamilton) devoted the final years of his life to composing variations on a mediocre waltz by music publisher Anton Diabelli. See it at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $22-$42. (773) 327-5252 or timelinetheatre.com. Previews at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26. The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30.
Birthday bash
Chicago singer-songwriter Michael McDermott will have two things to celebrate this weekend — his birthday and the release of his latest record, “Hit Me Back.” McDermott emerged on the scene in the 1990s with his successful debut record, “620 W. Surf,” and its hit single “A Wall I Must Climb.” He's never stopped making music, and his Chicago-area shows are always energetic. See him at the Montrose Room, located inside the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare hotel, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $12. Go to montroseroom.com. 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25
20 years ago ...
Steve Albini is a giant in the local indie-rock world because of his wizardry as a producer, his commitment to business ethics and his acerbic wit. But he's also an accomplished musician, and his current group, Shellac, is celebrating 20 years of making bracing and intelligent rock 'n' roll. The band, a bruising trio that features Todd Trainer on drums, Bob Weston on bass and Albini on guitars and vocals, will play three 20th-anniversary shows at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Shellac always puts on a scorching live show — don't miss them. $16. Go to lincolnhallchicago.com. 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 25-26
Ivanhoe Heritage Festival
Mundelein's Ivanhoe Congregational Church hosts its Ivanhoe Heritage Festival, featuring a chicken and corn roast, an arts and crafts show, blacksmithing and spinning demonstrations, a bake sale, live music, kids' activities and more. Free admission. Ivanhoe Congregational Church is at 21078 West Route 176, Mundelein. (847) 566-5204 or ivanhoechurch.org. Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26. Chicken and corn roast from noon to 5 p.m.; craft show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Not your average car show
Head out to the Geneva Concours d'Elegance, at Third and State streets, to see participants from across the country display antique, classic and modern automobiles.Free. Visit genevachamber.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26
How does your garden grow?
Garden enthusiasts can tour heirloom gardens and meet Midwestern growers who are displaying heirloom flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables at the Heirloom Garden Show at Garfield Farm Museum, on Garfield Road off Route 38, Campton Hills. Admission is $6 for adults, and $3 for children under age 13. (630) 584-8485 or garfieldfarm.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26
Golf for veterans
Help support The Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans this Sunday by joining the Golf Outing and Texas BBQ fundraiser at Klein Creek Golf Club, 1N633 Pleasant Hill Road, Winfield. $125 individual golfer; $500 golf party of four; $50 dinner-only reservation. (630) 871-8387 or helpaveteran.org. 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26
Military music
U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America presents an outdoor concert at Cantigny Park and First Division Museum, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Bring chairs or blankets for seating. Free with paid $5 parking fee. (630) 668-5161 or cantigny.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26
Lions and lagers
Sample a wide variety of premium microbrews at the Zoo Brew celebration in the pavilions at Brookfield Zoo, First Avenue and 31st Street, Brookfield. This 21-and-older beer-tasting event features more than 40 craft beers from 14 breweries. Food will be available for purchase. Don't miss the live music and a silent auction. The cost is $45 per person (zoo members receive a $10 discount) and includes tickets for 20 3-ounce samples, a commemorative glass, admission to the zoo and parking. Photo ID is required. Tickets are limited. Go to czs.org/zoobrew or call (708) 688-8000. 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26
Alison Krauss and Union Station
End your weekend with a rousing concert when Alison Krauss and Union Station bring their country/bluegrass sounds to the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $75-$95. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26