Weekend picks: New Smashing Pumpkins play the Allstate

Still smashing

Chicago's Smashing Pumpkins was arguably one of the top three bands of the alternative era, both artistically and commercially. (Nirvana and Pearl Jam being the other two.) Suburban native Billy Corgan and Co. combined the whimsy of psychedelia, the grandiosity of progressive rock and the hard edge of punk into a sound that was a huge hit on 1990s rock radio and in stadiums all over the world. The band's glory years are currently being examined via reissues of its classic albums, but don't think that the Pumpkins are resting on past laurels. Corgan has assembled a new version of the band, which released the album “Oceania” earlier this year, resulting in some of the best reviews the band has gotten since its Clinton-era heyday. See the new incarnation of the Pumpkins at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $50. Go to ticketmaster.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19

The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest

Join in a possible record-setting lighting of 32,000 jack-o-lanterns in one location at 6:30 p.m. Saturday during The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest in downtown Highwood. Take part in pumpkin carving (at 6 p.m. Friday join Highwood in trying to break the Guinness World Record for the most people carving pumpkins simultaneously), pumpkin bowling and other pumpkin-related activities, too. Other highlights include a costume contest, street vendors, live music, pony rides, a petting zoo, a 5K race Saturday and more. Free admission. There's a charge for some activities. For details, visit celebratehighwood.com. 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20

Des Plaines celebrates the arts

The Des Plaines Arts Festival is showcased at the Des Plaines Public Library, 1501 Ellinwood St., Des Plaines. Highlights include a musical and dance performances, improv comedy, a community mural creation, painting, printmaking, scratchboard drawing demos, art contests, poetry, storytelling and more. Free admission. (847) 376-2789 or dppl.org. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19; 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21

It's a barn burner!

Head to the annual Barn Burner BBQ at Lambs Farm, 14245 W. Rockland Road, I-94 at Route 176, Libertyville, where everyone is invited to compete in or judge the chili competition. Plus, learn expert tips from the barbecue competitors. The event also features contests, demonstrations, raffles, vendors, a beer tent and live music. Free admission. (847) 990-3714 or lambsfarm.org. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20

'Creatures of the Night'

Get into the Halloween spirit at the annual “Creatures of the Night” celebration at Brookfield Zoo, First Avenue and 31st Street, Brookfield. Families can enjoy both spooky and non-spooky events. Walk the “Trail of Terror” or ride “The Haunted Tram” through Zombieville. Younger children might like the “Crazed Maize,” a “Monster Mash Dance Party” and other lighthearted events. Guests can also explore the zoo's temporary “Xtreme BUGS exhibit.” For those who want to join in the fun during the day, the annual “Boo! at the Zoo” runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20-21. Activities are free with paid $8-$12 zoo admission. Free parking after 6 p.m. (708) 688-8000 or CZS.org. “Creatures of the Night” runs from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 19-21

Havana heat

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra celebrates Latin music this weekend with special guests violinist Isabella Lippi and trumpeter Ross Beacraft (Friday and Sunday only) and Cuban band Tiempo Libre (Saturday only) at two venues:Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg, $28-$48, and Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin, $18-$68. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, in Schaumburg; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, in Elgin

Clockwise gets soulful

Cassandra Ellwing and Marjie Southerland star in Clockwise Theatre's first musical “Soul Sisters,” a musical about an African-American woman and a Jewish woman who find common ground through their life experiences. The score consists of traditional and popular songs like “God Bless the Child” and “Miriam's Song.” Joyce Becker Lee directs the productions, which is being staged at 221 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $20. (847) 775-1500 or clockwisetheatre.org. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19-20, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21

Time Warp again

The cross-dressing mad scientist and his creations are back now that Williams Street Repertory revives its 2011 production of “The Rocky Horror Show” for five performances starting this weekend at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $22. (815) 356-9212, rauecenter.org or wsrep.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 27

Mexican traditions

Aurora's own Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl celebrates many regions, traditions and folk tales of Mexico in this colorfully cultural performance at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $25; $18 kids. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19

Glassy Inspiration

Alejandro Cerrudo's “One Thousand Pieces” is the first full-length piece created for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, taking its inspiration from Marc Chagall's “America Windows” and using a score by Philip Glass. “One Thousand Pieces” continues this weekend at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $25-$94. (312) 334-7777 or hubbardstreetdance.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19-20, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21

Heaven x 2

Local band Seventh Heaven plays both Lake and Cook County this weekend at two venues: Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire, $10-$15, (847) 499-5000 or viper-alley.com, and Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg, $20-$22, (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, in Lincolnshire; 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, in Schaumburg

Walk like a zombie

Kids: Put on your Halloween costume and head down to BatFest Saturday at the Batavia Riverwalk, Houston Street and Island Avenue, for trick-or-treating from 10 a.m. to noon, a Halloween parade at 11:45 a.m., games, hayrides and a costume contest at 1:30 p.m. The Pumpkin Roll runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Zombie fans: Here's your chance to be transformed into the walking dead. Register for the Zombie Walk from noon to 2 p.m.; the first 300 participating get a zombie makeover. There is a $10 registration fee. See downtownbatavia.com. BatFest runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Zombie Walk starts at 4 p.m.; Zombie dance party from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20

Records and more

Dig out your old record player from the basement or attic, and head to the Record Show at the Holiday Inn, 7800 S. Kingery Highway, Willowbrook. Shop for vintage records, movie posters and more. Admission is $3. (847) 409-9656. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20

Form, Function, Craftsmanship

The Chicago Suburban Antiques Dealers Association's 38th Annual Fall Fox Valley Antiques Show — Form, Function, Craftsmanship — takes place at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Shoppers can see an array of Americana art, 18th and 19th century furniture, jewelry, textiles and other folk art items. Proceeds benefit the DuPage County Historical Museum. Admission is $8. csada.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21

CROCtoberfest

Learn about the world of reptiles and meet Bubba, an American alligator, at the CROCtoberfest event at the Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm, 1401 Middlefork Road, Lake Forest. Presentations will include live alligators, crocodiles, caimans and other reptiles. Other highlights include crafts, storytelling, raffles and more. Proceeds benefit crocodile conservation organizations. Admission is $5 per person at the door. (847) 615-4388 or wildlifediscoverycenter.org. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20

Hometown stories

Storytellers and professional actors relive significant moments of 125 Years of Arlington Heights history in performance Saturday at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20

'Floyd Fest Chicago'

Pink Floyd fans won't want to miss “Floyd Fest Chicago,” a musical tribute to the legendary band featuring In the Flesh and Comfortably Floyd performing at the Des Plaines Theater, 1476 Miner/Dempster St., Des Plaines. Admission is $12; open to all ages. For information, call Paul at (630) 715-3936 or visit floydfest.brownpapertickets.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20

'Born' again

Suburban rock band the Smoking Popes will perform one of its best-known albums “Born to Quit” in its entirety during a special show at the Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The performance will take place just days before the Tuesday, Oct. 23, reissue of “Born to Quit” via SideOneDummy Records. The reissue will include bonus tracks, new liner notes and remastered sound. It's one of the alternative era's most infectious rock records. $15. Go to doubledoor.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20

Talking dead

The dead rise up (via costumed actors) to lecture on their life and times in the 21st edition of Tale of the Tombstones, which carries the theme of “Parks, Preserves and a Deadly Excursion” Saturday at Forest Home Cemetery, 863 Des Plaines, Forest Park. $15. (708) 848-6755 or oprfhistory.org. 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21

'Macbeth'

GreenMan Theatre presents “Macbeth,” William Shakespeare's tragedy about a murderous thane and his wife who are willing to commit regicide to gain the Scottish throne. The program runs at First United Methodist Church, 232 S. York, Elmhurst. $15-$17. (630) 464-2646 or greenmantheatre.com (630) 834-2440. 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21

Remembering Ray

The Waukegan Symphony Orchestra presents its “Beyond Ordinary: Music in Memoryof Ray Bradbury” concert at Waukegan High School, 2325 Brookside Ave., Waukegan. $7-$15. Free for students ages 18 and younger. Children younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult. (847) 360-4740. 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21

High comedy

Comedian Doug Benson, known for his “Super High Me” and “The Marijuana-Logues,” comes to the suburbs for a special engagement Sunday at Zanies Comedy Club, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $20 plus a two-item menu purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21

Local H at Montrose Room

Catch Local H Sunday at the Montrose Room at the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont. At the bar, cool off with $5 Half Acre beers and $5 select mixed drinks. Or try the signature martinis served in glasses made of ice for $9-$12. General admission is $15. (847) 544-5300 or montroseroom.com. 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21