Weekend picks: Scooby-Doo comes to life in song at the Genesee

Zoinks!

See animated characters like Shaggy, Daphne, Velma and that always-hungry dog Scooby-Doo come to life in song when “Scooby-Doo Live Musical Mysteries” plays two times Saturday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $20-$65. (847) 543-2300 or geneseetheatre.com. Noon and 3 p.m. Saturday, March 9

May the force be with you

Lego fans and “Star Wars” lovers: What more could you ask for when the Legoland Discovery Center hosts its Lego “Star Wars Days,” featuring the opening of the center's first Lego “Star Wars” miniland? This large-scale interactive model display focuses on “Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace.” Guests can meet and greet members of the “Star Wars” 501st legion, build their own Lego creations, take photos with a life-size Darth Vader and RT-D2 “Star Wars” Lego characters and more at the center, 601 Martingale Road, Schaumburg. Online tickets range from $12.75-$15.75. Tickets cost $21 per person at the door; ages 2 and younger admitted free. (847) 592-9700 or legolanddiscoverycenter.com. 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10

Kidding around

The 11th annual Chicagoland Kids Expo & Fun Fair returns this weekend with inflatable rides, a climbing wall, face painting, a petting zoo and more at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $10; $5 kids 3 to 12; kids younger than 3 admitted free. (847) 303-4100 or chicagokidsexpo.com. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 9, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 10

High Wheeler Model Train Show

Train enthusiasts can view 19 model railroads with trains of various sizes at the High Wheeler Model Train Show in Building M at Harper College, at Algonquin and Roselle roads in Palatine. Kids can operate trains at some of the participating railroads and can make train-themed crafts. Other highlights include face painting, raffles for trains sets and more. Admission is $9 adults; $7 seniors; $2 for kids ages 5-12; free for kids younger than 5. Discounted passes available at highwheelertrainshow.com. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10

Card competition

The 2013 Illinois Pokémon Trading Card Game State Championships take place at the Science and Arts Academy, 1825 Miner St., Des Plaines. Pokémon players, supporters and fans ware invited to attend the event for competitions, league play, card trading and more. For a daily schedule and competition requirements, visit topcutomcics.com. Free admission. Registration begins at 9 a.m. both days. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 9, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10

Stamp of approval

Hundreds of stamp dealers and collectors from throughout the country will be on hand to buy, sell and trade at the American Stamp Dealers Association's Midwest Stamp Show at the Lindner Conference Center, 610 E. Butterfield Road, Lombard. Highlights include viewings of an 1847 postal stamp with a photo of Benjamin Franklin and of the “CIA Invert” stamp, one of only a few U.S. Postal Service stamps to be printed upside down. Event is open to the public. Free admission. Visit americanstampdealer.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 9, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10

Family palooza

Chicago Fun Family Palooza is a two-day event filled with hands-on activities, games and entertainment options hosted by Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. Fly along a 200-foot indoor zip-line, bounce on inflatables and enjoy carnival rides and attractions for all ages. There also will be magicians, game shows and interactive performances live on the Family Palooza Stage. Little ones will enjoy the Choo Choo Express trackless train, petting zoo and pony rides, while older siblings can test their skills on a rock-climbing wall and the mini golf course. General admission is $8 or $15 for an unlimited activity wristband. (630) 584-6300 or chicagofun.com/palooza or pheasantrun.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10

Antique glass and pottery show

See a variety of handmade glassware, depression-era glass, pottery and more as the 20 30 40 Glass Society of Illinois sponsors its 41st annual Antique American Glass and Pottery Show and Sale at the Concord Plaza Midwest Conference Center, at 401 W. Lake St., Northlake. Other highlights include programs on specific collections including lamps, baskets and flower frogs. Guests can bring in their own glass items for the glass-identification table. A crystal repair service will be on-site. Hourly door prizes and raffles are included. Admission is $8. Children are free with a paying adult. For information, call Jane Schleinzer at (630) 851-4504, or send email to jsantiques@aol.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 9, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10

Spring preview

Turn your thoughts to a blossom-filled spring when the Chicago Flower & Garden Show sprouts up again at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $15-$17 weekday tickets; $17-$19 weekend tickets; $5 kids ages 4 to 12. (312) 595-7437 or chicagoflower.com. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, March 9 and 16; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays, March 10 and 17; and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, March 11-15

Water color

How about combining a visit to the Flower and Garden Show at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, with a cruise aboard the Spirit of Chicago? Cruises include food, views of the skyline and flower demonstrations by a professional florist. There's also DJ entertainment and an array of menu items including appetizers, entrees and desserts. Tickets include admission to the Flower and Garden show. Weekend Flower & Garden Show Lunch Cruises cost $48.90 per person; $45.90 on weekdays. (866) 273-2469 or spiritofchicago.com. 11 a.m. cruise runs from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday through Sunday, March 9-17

Emmett's Beer 101

Listen to the man, the myth, the brewer give a history about Emmett's beers and brewery, as well as the history of beer itself, at Emmett's, 5200 Main St., Downers Grove. The day includes samples of Emmett's brews and 10 guest beers. $32 per person includes beer tasting and a souvenir glass. (630) 434-8500 or emmettsalehouse.com. 1 p.m. Saturday, March 9

SXSW preview

More than 1,300 bands will gather in Austin, Texas, for the South By Southwest music festival, which runs March 12-17. As always, a huge contingent of the bands will hail from Chicago and the suburbs, and fans have a chance this weekend to see a bunch of those bands playing live before they make the trip down south. The annual SXSW Send Off Party will take place at Chicago's intimate Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, Chicago, and it will include performances by Judson Claiborne, Scott Lucas & the Married Men (led by Lucas, a suburban native) and the almighty Waco Brothers, who remain one of the best live bands around. This is an all-day event that easily offers the most bang for your rock 'n' roll buck this weekend. $10. Go to hideoutchicago.com. Starts at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9

Broadway lady

Five-time Tony Award-winning Broadway star and TV actress Audra McDonald (“Ragtime,” “Private Practice”) appears for the 33rd Annual Trustee Benefit Concert at Lund Auditorium in Dominican University's Fine Arts Building, 7900 W. Division St., River Forest. $25-$75 show only; $350 concert, cocktail reception and dinner. (708) 488-5000 or dom.edu/pac. 5 p.m. Saturday, March 9

In the P!nk

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter P!nk brings her “P!NK — The Truth About Love Tour” to Chicago's United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. Special guests will be The Hives. $29.50-$99.50. Visit unitedcenter.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 9

Bending genres

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra welcomes guest conductor Alastair Willis and the classically trained garage band Time for Three for performances of music by Estacio, Higdon and Tchaikovsky at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $18-$68. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 10

Comic Caponera

Chicago comedian John Caponera returns this weekend to do local standup after many appearances on HBO, Comedy Central and ESPN. He will be at Zanies, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $25 plus a two-item menu purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 8 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9

Northlight's 'Stones'

A pair of down-on-their-luck locals get roles as extras in a big-budget movie being filmed in their small Irish town in Marie Jones' two-hander “Stones in His Pockets” at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Northlight Theatre's revival, produced in conjunction with the Utah Shakespeare Festival, stars the festival's co-artistic directors Brian Vaughan and David Ivers playing more than a dozen characters, each of whom hopes for a Hollywood-style happy ending. J.R. Sullivan, artistic director of New York's Pearl Theatre, returns to the area to direct. The show opens Friday, March 15. $25-$72. (847) 673-6300 or northlight.org. Previews at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 9, and 2:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday, March 10

Everyone's Irish for the day

Guests of all ages can get into the spirit of St. Patrick's Day early at the St. Patrick's Family Day event at Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant at 5157 Main St., in Downers Grove. Highlights include performances by the McNulty Irish Dancers, live music, face painting, jewelry and bead-making and more. Free admission; food and drinks for purchase. (630) 969-0600 or ballydoylepub.com. Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 10

'The Cat In The Hat'

Emerald City Theatre Company presents “Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat” at the Apollo Theatre, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Based on the classic children's book by Dr. Seuss, the story looks at two youngster who are visited by a large, mischievous cat in a hat on a rainy day. $10-$16. (773) 935-6100 or emeraldcitytheatre.com. 1 p.m. Sunday, March 10

'Tea With the First Ladies'

Actress-singer Jenny Riddle dramatizes, in character, the personal lives of three first ladies, Mary Todd Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt and Jackie Kennedy, during the “Tea With the First Ladies” program at the Studio Theatre at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, 1 Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire. $8. (847) 415-4121 or jennyriddle.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10

'Daisy's Girls'

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts as Betsey Means of WomanLore portrays Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low in the first-person presentation, “Daisy's Girls: Camping With Juliette Gordon Low,” in the Century Memorial Chapel at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. The program is part of the settlement's History Speaks Lecture Series. $5-$7. (630) 420-6010 or napersettlement.org. 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10

Saving the Queen

The glory days of Queen, the bombastic rock band once led by the late Freddie Mercury, will come alive this weekend during “One Night of Queen,” a lavish tribute to the British band, courtesy of Queen superfans Gary Mullen and the Works. See it at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. Tickets start at $30. Go to ticketmaster.com or northcentralcollege.edu/showtix. 6 p.m. Sunday, March 10

Timely topic

WGN-TV entertainment reporter Dean Richards and actress Megan Cavanagh take part in the Oak Park Festival Theatre, Circle Theatre and 16th Street Theater's presentation of the Oak Park Area Lesbian & Gay Association's reading of Dustin Lance Black's gay marriage play “8” at the Oak Park Visitors Center, 1010 N. Lake St., Oak Park. $20; $15 seniors and students; $10 youth. (708) 445-4440 or oakparkfestival.com. 7:30 Sunday, March 10

Meet Stephenie Meyer

Stephenie Meyer, best known for her “Twilight” series, signs copies of the movie-related edition of her book “The Host” at Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. Meyer visits the bookstore with actors Max Irons and Jake Abel, who appear in the film version, which is due in theaters March 29. The author will sign a maximum of two books per customer. Fans who purchase Meyer's book from Anderson's Bookshop will receive a mini movie poster that can be autographed. Tickets are limited. Contact Anderson's to reserve a place at the event. (630) 355-2665 or andersonsbookshop.com. 2 to 5 p.m. Monday, March 11