Weekend picks: Golden Dragon Acrobats delight at Raue Center

Dragons den

What better way to mark the current lunar year of the dragon than with a performance of the talented Golden Dragon Acrobats troupe. They perform at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $31-$37. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16

Autumn Festival

See handcrafted home decor items and gifts from 500 artisans from 30 states at the Autumn Festival at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center, 1033 N. Villa Ave., Villa Park. Admission is $8; $7 for seniors; free for kids younger than 10. (630) 941-9292 or odeumexpo.com or hpifestivals.com. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18

Meet the 'Wimpy Kid' author

Jeff Kinney, author of The New York Times best-selling “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, signs copies of his newest title in the series, “The Third Wheel,” at Still Middle School, 787 Meadowridge Drive, Aurora. Doors open for the event at 5 p.m. Friday, with snacks and photo opportunities with character standees and more. A ticket for the event comes with the purchase of “The Third Wheel” from Anderson's Bookshop at 123 W. Jefferson St., Naperville. Each ticket includes a number for the book-signing line. (630) 355-2665 or andersonsbookshop.com. 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16

Time for the tree!

Aurora gets set for the holiday season with its annual tree lighting on Friday at North Island Center, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Festivities include a holiday walk, photos with Santa Claus and more. Santa and Mrs. Claus will assist with the lighting of the tree. (630) 256-3370. 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16

'WGCI Big Jam 2012'

Rick Ross headlines this year's “WGCI Big Jam 2012” at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont.Plus, don't miss cameo performances by Usher, Keyshia Cole, Wale, Future, Kelly Rowland and Fat Joe. Tickets cost $25-$135. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16

Strike up the band

The Northern Illinois University Huskie Marching Band presents its year-end concert at the Convocation Center at Northern Illinois University, 1525 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. $5-$11. (815) 752-6800. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16

Carey on

Fans of the long-running TV game show “The Price is Right” and the sitcom “The Drew Carey Show” won't want to miss comedian Drew Carey performing a special standup gig this weekend at Zanies Comedy Club, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $30 plus a two-item menu purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

Holiday nostalgia

Fox Valley Repertory gets into the holiday spirit with “The Winter Wonderettes,” the seasonally themed sequel to the 1960s inspired revue, “The Marvelous Wonderettes.” Kristine Burdi, Nicole Horton, Katrina Kuntz and Natalie Myre play the Wonderettes, who take over headlining duties at a holiday party after Santa Claus turns up missing. Patrick Stinson (“Altar Boyz”) directs. FVR veteran Ken Jones serves as music director. See it at 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $32, $42. (630) 584-6342 or foxvalleyrep.org. Previews continue at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 16-17, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18

Anniversary dances

River North Dance Chicago commemorates the 20th anniversary of its artistic director, Frank Chaves, with two world premiere pieces by choreographers Adam Barruch and Nejla Yatkin this weekend at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $30-$75. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org or rivernorthchicago.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 16-17

Rev 'em up

Enthusiasts of customized cars from all over the globe converge this weekend for the Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $20. (847) 692-2222 or mcacn.com. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18

Toys galore!

See what's new in the world of toys as more than 250 toy and game exhibitors present their products at The Chicago Toy & Game Fair in Festival Hall A at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Products will be available for purchase. Other highlights include live stage entertainment, costumed characters, contests and more. Adults $10; children (ages 3 to 13) $5. Free admission for Scouts in uniform; educators and librarians; military (with ID); police officers (with ID); firefighters (with ID); and guests in the retail and trade industries. Visit chitag.com or call (312) 595-7437. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18

Fairy tale musical

Jeff Award nominee Dara Cameron plays the title role in Marriott Theatre's family-friendly “Cinderella,” featuring a Rodgers and Hammerstein score that includes “In My Own Little Corner” and “Impossible; It's Possible.” Brian Bohr plays the Prince and Susan Moniz injects a bit of magic as Cinderella's Fairy Godmother. Matt Raftery directs and choreographs the musical at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. $15. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com. 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17-18

Christmas at the Mill

Local artisans sell handmade gifts including hand-knit items, paintings, jewelry, holiday items, wood carvings and more at the Christmas at the Mill Boutique at the Graue Mill and Museum, 3800 S. York Road, Oak Brook. Santa Claus will make an appearance, plus enjoy strolling carolers and holiday trees decorated by local children. Free admission. (630) 920-9720 or grauemill.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17-18

To bee or not to bee

Visit the honey house for the Beekeeping Around the World program at Kline Creek Farm at 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Katie Klett, the American Beekeeping Federation's 2007 Honey Princess, will discuss the importance of bees to our environment. Guests can also learn about the beekeeping volunteers who gather honey from Kline Creek Farm's beehives. Free. (630) 933-72000 or dupageforest.org. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

An Almost Winter Day

Get in the mood for the holidays with horse-drawn sleigh rides, cookie decorating, bonfires, pony rides, s'mores making and the arrival of Santa Claus at the 11th annual An Almost Winter Day festival at SEBA park, 151 Water St., South Elgin. Don't miss Santa lighting the tree at the Footprints in Time Plaza. Free admission; some activities require a fee. Visit southelgin.com. Events begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

Caged fury

Cage fighters like Adam Maciejewski, Miodrag “Pele” Petkovich, Christian Reynoso, Jeff Lavallee and more are on the bout list for the XFO 46 Saturday at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $25-$65; $10 parking. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

U.S.A.! U.S.A.!

Celebrate all things American this weekend when the Elgin Symphony Orchestra performs defining U.S. music in “A Patriotic Salute” with opera star and Libertyville native Robert Orth at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $18-$68. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18

R&B royalty

From her gospel roots to her long-lasting R&B musical career, Grammy Award-winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mavis Staples still shows that she's got it. See Staples in concert Saturday at Elgin Community College's Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $35-$38. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/arts. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

'Scrooge the Musical'

See “Scrooge the Musical” at the Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. Last season's popular musical adaptation of the age-old holiday tale of redemption now has a fresh new staging. $23-$25. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

Comfortably numb

The Australian Pink Floyd Show, in tribute to the legendary rock band Pink Floyd, takes the stage of the Akoo Theatre at Rosemont, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont, this weekend. Tickets cost $43-$65. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

UFO sighting

British band UFO got started at the end of the 1960s. Today, more than 40 years later, the band's fans are as devoted as ever. UFO will bring its guitar-heavy sound — part hard rock, part heavy metal — to the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Tickets start at $39 for the Saturday show, $25 for the Sunday show. Go to oshows.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, and 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18