Weekend picks: Wings Over Waukegan soars into town

Wings Over Waukegan

The Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds will show off their skills at the Wings Over Waukegan air show at the Waukegan Regional Airport, 3580 N. McAree Road, Waukegan. Other performers include the Navy F-18 Superhornet, Warbird planes and more. Tickets cost $10 for adults; free for kids younger than 12. (847) 244-0055 or wingsoverwaukegan.com. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8. Gates open at 9:30 a.m.

Bartlett Heritage Days

The annual Bartlett Heritage Days in downtown Bartlett offers a plethora of activities including an antique fair and flea market, a baggo tournament, arts and crafts, historical re-enactments, pony rides, inflatable playgrounds, a carnival, food, concerts and more. Free admission; some activities require fees. (630) 924-4263 or bartlettheritagedays.com. 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9

Festival of the Vine

Sample a variety of wines at the Festival of the Vine, at Third and State streets, Geneva. Other events include an arts and crafts show, a flower market and a variety of food from local restaurants. Free; charge for wine and food tastings. Visit genevachamber.com. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9

Vintage music collectors

Dig out that old record player from the attic and head to the Record and CD Show at the Best Western, 1725 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg. Browse though and/or purchase records and CDs, with music from the 1950s to the present, DVDs, posters and celebrity autographs. Admission is $3. For information, call Bill at (847) 409-9656. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8

Flashy chassis

Expect to see plenty of custom and classic vehicles from decades past and recent years at the Cruzin' the Mills Car Show Saturday at Gurnee Mills, 6170 W. Grand Ave., Parking Lot H, Gurnee. Free admission. (847) 23-7500 or gurneemills.com. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8

Dog Days of Dundee

Dogs and their human friends can spend time together at the Dog Days of Dundee festival at Randall Oaks Park, 17N350 Randall Road, West Dundee. The annual event includes contests, demonstrations, music, an Adoptable Pooch Pageant, free pet microchipping, rescue groups and specialty vendors. Dogs also can check out the doggy play area and agility area. Food, blankets and monetary donations will be accepted. Items will be given to local shelters and rescue groups. All pets must be on a leash, under control of the owner and current on all vaccinations including rabies. Free admission. (847) 428-7131 or dtpd.org. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8

Hot town, harvest in the city

Celebrate the harvest season at the historic Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago. During Harvest Days, enjoy the conservatory's big backyard with numerous family-focused activities that include horse-drawn hay rides, corn husk crowns and crafts, worm picking and compost harvesting, live goats and chickens, honey harvesting and tasting from the conservatory's hives plus beekeeping demonstrations. There also will be live music and dance lessons, lawn games and cooking demos. Admission is $3, children ages 3 and younger admitted free. (773) 638-1766 or garfield-conservatory.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 8-9

Charity Corn Roast

Have fun for charitable causes at the Fourth Annual Charity Corn Roast at Prairie House Tavern, 2710 Main St., Buffalo Grove. The event features live music, games, raffles, cotton candy, a cookout and a corn roast. Admission is $10. Proceeds benefit organizations including the Placing Paws animal rescue group and the Remembrance Rescue Project for fallen firefighters. (847) 415-2255 or prairiehousetavern.com. Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8

'Tempest' hike

Theatre-Hikes brings Shakespeare's “The Tempest” to the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle, in September. The play centers on Prospero, the usurped Duke of Milan and a powerful sorcerer, who has been exiled on a remote island. There he works his magic, with the help of the sprite Ariel and the slave Caliban, to find a prince for his daughter and to regain his throne for himself. Thrisa Hodits directs the show, which features music by David Kornfeld of Underscore Theater Company. $8, $12 members; $13, $19 nonmembers. (630) 725-2066 or theatre-hikes.org or mortonarb.org. 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 8-30

Mad about Paul

Comedian Paul Reiser is famed for TV sitcoms (“Mad About You,” “My Two Dads”), films (“Beverly Hills Cop,” “Aliens”) and humorous books (“Couplehood,” “Familyhood”). Catch him in a special standup comedy appearance Saturday at Zanies Comedy Club, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $25. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8

The Boss from above

Rock legends Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band play another sold-out show tonight at Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison, Chicago. But fear not: Wrigleyville Rooftops is offering fans a chance to see the show from one of three rooftops near the park — at 1032 W. Waveland, 3609 N. Sheffield and 3643 N. Sheffield. Tickets cost $100 per show, and that includes unlimited food, beer, wine and more. For information on rooftop tickets, call (773) 248-ROOF or visit wrigleyvillerooftops.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8

Closing Knights

The New York-based orchestra The Knights closes out the Ravinia Festival's 2012 summer season with some special star guests: violinist Itzhak Perlman and opera soprano Dawn Upshaw in two weekend concerts at 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $10-$15 lawn tickets, $75 pavilion or Martin Theatre tickets. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. Itzhak Perlman at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, and Dawn Upshaw at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9

Kooky Judy

See how the nonsensical gets taken to new heights when award-winning comedian Judy Tenuta performs with guests Greg Glienna (a writer on “Meet the Parents”) and host Alan Grafton this weekend at the Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway St., Chicago. $20-$35, plus a two-drink minimum purchase. (773) 327-3175 or laughfactory.com. 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8

Dwayne Perkins

Stand-up comedian Dwayne Perkins, recently seen on television's “Conan” and “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” headlines Zanies comedy club at 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. Admission is $20, plus a two-item food/beverage minimum. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 9 and 11:15 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8

Turkish delight

It's not exactly the courtyard of Topkapi Palace, but Daley Plaza, at 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, makes a fine open-air setting for the 10th annual Chicago Turkish Festival. There will be demonstrations of Turkish art, film, dance, music and food and a chance to learn a bit about the history, culture, heritage and cuisine of the Asian-European country. Watch performances of Turkish folk dances and authentic Turkish music, demonstrations of silk carpet weaving, paper marbling and calligraphy and more. Free admission. (847) 722-3884 or chicagoturkishfestival.org. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, Sept. 9-12

Fast and the curious

More than 60 high-performance, vintage and newer model Ferraris will be on display at the Ferraris in the Loop event outside the Italian Village restaurant, at Monroe Street between Clark and Dearborn streets, Chicago. The 85-year-old restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat-and-drink Italian feast, along with live music and special activities just for the bambinos. Tickets cost $30; kids 5 and younger admitted free. (312) 332-7005. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9

Cornfest

Head out to an old-fashioned family picnic at the Cornfest celebration at Graue Mill and Museum, 3800 S. York Road, Oak Brook. The fest features plenty of fare, including pies, taffy apples and corn. Other highlights include games, races and music. Free admission. Tickets are required for food and some activities. (630) 655-2090 or grauemill.org. 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9

Tom Chapin & Friends

Tom Chapin & Friends play a variety of music in a kids' concert in the pavilion at Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $10; lawn $5. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9

'A Change in the Air'

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra opens its 63rd season with its “A Change in the Air” concert at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Pianist Joyce Yang performs and guest conductor and ESO music director finalist Dorian Wilson leads the orchestra. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9

BG Singers

The Buffalo Grove Park District's BG Singers present their “Platinum” concert in the performing arts center at Stevenson High School, 1 Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire. Tickets are $16-$17 in advance; $20 at the door. Visit bigdealproductions.org or call Lindsay at (847) 850-2132. 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9

'Mr. Madison's War'

Terry Lynch portrays President James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, in “The War of 1812: Mr. Madison's War” in the Century Memorial Chapel at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. The program is part of the “History Speaks” lecture series. For all ages. Tickets cost $5-$6 in advance; $6-$7 at the door. (630) 420-6010 or napersettlement.museum. 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9