Weekend picks: Go country with McGraw, Wilson

Kick off to summer

Starting off his Two Lanes of Freedom tour, country music star Tim McGraw headlines the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, 19100 Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park, this weekend. $30.24-$70. For ticket information, visit ticketmaster.com. 7 p.m. Friday, May 24

Country favorite

Gretchen Wilson has garnered acclaim for following her own instincts in the occasionally conformist world of country music. She adds elements of soul and 1970s classic rock to her sound, and she records on her own label, Redneck Records. The Grammy-winning Illinois native makes a stop at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Tickets start at $39. Go to oshows.com. 8 p.m. Friday, May 24

Textile creations

An exhibit of fabric art pieces by Bonnie Peterson and Diane Cooper go on display this weekend at the College of Lake County Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Free. (847) 543-2240 or gallery.clcillinois.edu. 7 to 9 p.m. reception Friday, May 31; exhibit runs 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday, June 28

Comic reaction?

Find out how a former “Seinfeld” writer responds to his wife's diagnosis of early onset Parkinson's disease in “Side Effects May Include ...,” a one-man comic drama by Marc Jaffe and Eric Coble performed by actor Andrew J. Pond at Fox Valley Repertory at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $32. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation. For mature audiences only. (630) 584-6342 or foxvalleyrep.org. 8 p.m. Friday, May 24

Standup at the Shrine

Rocky Osborn headlines Aurora's Comedy Shrine, 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora, this weekend. The 90-minute standup comedy set also features host Jack Baker. The adults-only version of the Shrine's audience-interactive, improv show “Whose Line?” (inspired by the TV show hosted by Drew Carey) follows the standup show at 10 p.m. $20 for each show. (630) 585-0300 or comedyshrine.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 24-25

Come fly with her

Internationally jet-setting air hostess Pam Ann (actually Australian comedian Caroline Reid) brings her class biases and wicked sense of humor to the Windy City as part of her “Cockpit! USA Tour” at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $35-$65. For mature audiences only. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 8 p.m. Friday, May 24

Bike Rodeo

The Hawthorn Woods Police Department hosts its Bike Rodeo at the Hawthorn Woods Community Park, at Quentin and Old McHenry roads, Hawthorn Woods. Events include free bicycle helmets, hot dogs and ice cream, free safety inspections and McGruff the Crime Dog. Free admission. (847) 847-2300 or vhw.org. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 25

Schaumburg Prairie Arts Festival

The annual Schaumburg Prairie Arts Festival takes place on the grounds of the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center, 101 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. The outdoor fine art show and sale also showcases live entertainment, food vendors and children's activities. Free admission and parking. (847) 923-3605 or (847) 895-3600 or ci.schaumburg.il.us. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 25-26

Flit and flutter

The Butterflies & Blooms exhibition returns this weekend with hundreds of butterflies from around the world on display in a special garden area at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. $6 adults; $5 seniors; $4 children (3-12), plus $25 parking per car. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (weather permitting) from Saturday, May 25, through Sept. 2

Browse & buy

See the work of artists from around the world at the Barrington Art Festival, now commemorating its 30th season at the Village Center, Cook and Station streets, Barrington. Free. (847) 926-4300 or amdurproductions.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 25-26

To market, to market

Browse antiques, fancy foods and global crafts, attend the Vinyl Swap Meet with your best LPs or see what's new at the Indie Designer Market. It's all going on the opening weekend of the Randolph Street Market Festival, 1350 W. Randolph St., Chicago. The European-flavored indoor and outdoor event offers unusual items from more than 200 dealers, gourmet foods, entertainment and a farmers market. Catch a free trolley from Water Tower Place or take advantage of free parking near the site. Admission is $10 at the door or $8 online, students $5 at the gate or $3 online, kids 12 and younger admitted free. www.randolphstreetmarket.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 25-26

Weekend at the farm

Susanna Farms hosts its Memorial Day Weekend celebration, featuring a variety of family activities including hayrides, kite flying, farm animals, obstacle courses and a plant sale. Two special ladybug releases will take place. Cups of lady bugs (who are beneficial to gardens) will be available for $3 a cup. Susanna Farms is at 24153 Townline Road, Lake Villa. Admission is $2; hayrides cost $5. (847) 838-0798 or susannafarms.com. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Monday, May 25-27

Music, music music!

Chicago-area tribute bands are the stars of the day at the 29th annual Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival, on Sheffield Avenue, from Belmont to School Street, Chicago. Bands including Dot Dot Dot, 7th Heaven and Journey Recaptured will take to the stage. Crafts and food also available. $5 admission donation. (773) 868-3010 or chicagoevents.com. Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 25-26

Big-top fun

See acrobats, clowns, contortionists and more when the Piccadilly Circus arrives this weekend at the DuPage County Expo Center, 4050 E. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 443-7158 or thefuncircus.com. 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 25; 1, 3:30 and 6 p.m. Sunday, May 26; and 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 27

Paying honor

In addition to a number of community parades and ceremonies throughout the suburbs (see listing on Page 4), commemorate Memorial Daywith a special Memorial Day Salute concert featuring poetry and the music of Bob Dylan and Neil Young performed by the bands Broken Arrow and Positively 4th Saturday at theMetropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 25

Spot-on magic

Magician Dan Martin blends improv comedy with illusionist tricks in his “Magically Delicious Tour,” which features special mentalist guest Chris Carter Saturday at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Recommended for teens and older. $10. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 7 p.m. Saturday, May 25

Hairbanger's Ball

The Hairbanger's Ball band headlines with an evening of party rock at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. The group plays tunes from a variety of legendary rock groups including Van Halen, Twisted Sister, Def Leppard and others. $7. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com. 10 p.m. Saturday, May 25

Light up the night

You don't have to wait until the Fourth of July to celebrate summer. End your day in the city with spectacular fireworks displays over Lake Michigan synchronized to music. The summer schedule for Navy Pier fireworks officially kicks off on Memorial Day weekend, and there will be a synchronized show every Saturday through summer. See it from Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. (312) 595-7437 or www.navypier.com. 10:15 p.m. Saturdays, May 25-Aug. 31

Count the coins

Guests can buy, sell and trade U.S. and foreign coins and paper money, as well as gold and silver bullion, at the Crystal Lake Coin Club's Memorial Day Weekend Coin Show at the Holiday Inn on Route 31, a quarter mile north of I-90, in Elgin. Free admission and parking. For information, call Dave at (815) 814-1255 or Fred at (630) 677-3866. 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 26

Final chance

Libertyville native Ike Reilly and his band, the Ike Reilly Assassination, will play the final show of their recent “residency” at Chicago's Schuba's Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, this weekend, bringing to a close a string of shows that began in March. The band is putting the finishing touches on its sixth full-length album, and fans will get previews of the new songs at the Schuba's show. This is a great chance to see a local favorite in one of Chicago's best rock venues. Jason Heath & the Greedy Souls will also perform. $10. Go to schubas.com. 8 p.m. Sunday, May 26

Memorial Day Remembered

Experience the history and tradition of honoring fallen soldiers at the Memorial Day Remembered program at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. The program, which is co-hosted by the Center for History in Wheaton, includes songs and speeches reminiscent of ceremonies that took place in the 1890s. Free. (630) 876-5900. 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 27