Weekend picks: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy swings at Raue
Saturday
Swing, swing, swing
Hear some of the best exponents of modern day swing music when Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performs Saturday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $47-$53. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12
Scarecrows and more
See more than 150 handcrafted scarecrows at the annual St. Charles Scarecrow Festival, at Main and 4th streets, St. Charles. Other highlights include a carnival, petting zoo, Canine Corner for dogs, food, the Autumn on the Fox arts and crafts show, live entertainment and more. Free admission. (800) 777-4373 or scarecrowfest.com. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13
Cantigny Fall Festival
Cantigny celebrates autumn with the Cantigny Fall Festival at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Highlights include pony rides, a stiltwalker/juggler, petting zoo, candy dive, inflatables, arts and crafts and seasonal treats. Free with $5 parking. Nominal fee for some activities. Visit cantigny.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12
Art full of soul
Screen printing, sculpture, illustration, woodworking, photography, jewelry, digital art and other media are showcased in businesses and galleries throughout Andersonville during its 11th annual Andersonville Arts Weekend. Count on a fabulous night of parties throughout the neighborhood in dozens of stores. Browse shops, see dance and improv performances, listen to literary readings, watch film screenings, peruse arts demonstrations and join the pub crawl in the Andersonville business district, 5300 N. Clark St. Chicago. (773) 728-2995 or andersonville.org/andersonville-arts-weekend. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 12-13
Fight!
See an international lineup of mixed martial arts fighters like Tyrone Spong, Nathan Corbett and more at the Glory 11 Heavyweight World Championship Tournament Saturday at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $28-$153. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12
Mavericks' Rockstar Rodeo
Rockstar Rodeo takes over Mavericks Bar and Grill, 2061 W. Maple Ave., Mundelein, with a high-energy country rock star kind of night Saturday. Drink specials include $3 MGD bottles, $3 shot specials and $5 bombs. No cover. (847) 949-0858 or mavericksinfo.com. Saturday, Oct. 12
Standup mom
Comedian Tammy Pescatelli, famed for her appearances on Comedy Central, “Last Comic Standing” and the WEtv reality show “A Standup Mother,” headlines this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $22 plus a two-item menu purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, and 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13
Scares in St. Charles
For the third year running, Steel Beam Theatre serves up seasonal scares beginning this weekend in Kane County when theater artists and volunteers play the ghouls inhabiting a 6,000-square-foot, 3-D haunted house at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St., Charles. $15. Participants must be 13 or older. kcscaregrounds.com. 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, October 12
Who's talking?
Acclaimed comedian, ventriloquist and all-around entertainer Terry Fator, a winner of “America's Got Talent,” will perform Saturday at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $79-$99. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12
Anniversaries aplenty
The DuPage Symphony Orchestra begins its Diamond 60th Anniversary Season with selections by Wagner, Mascagni, Britten and guest pianist Daria Rabotkina performing the Tchaikovsky Concerto for Piano No. 1 Saturday at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $30-$35; $26-$31 seniors; $12-$17 students. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12
Autumn dance
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's Fall Series features works by Alejandro Cerrudo, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin and Robyn Mineko Williams at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $25-$94. (312) 334-7777 or hubbardstreetdance.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13
McDonald making music
Five-time Tony Award-winner and TV actress Audra McDonald (“Ragtime,” “Private Practice”) performs selections from her latest album, “Go Back Home,” Saturday at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $40-$80. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12
Radio stars
The popular Public Radio series Radio Lab returns to Chicago with the show “Radio Lab: Apocalymtical” Saturday at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $28-$78. (312) 462-6300 or thechicagotheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12
Sunday
'A Beautiful Noise'
The Denny Diamond Family Trio performs songs by Neil Diamond and other legendary artists during the group's “A Beautiful Noise” concert at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Tickets cost $15. This is a fundraiser for the Schaumburg Food Pantry, soguests are encouraged to donate paper products (paper towels, facial tissues, toilet paper). For tickets, call (815) 893-9202 or visit dennydiamond.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13
Free bird's the word
The current incarnation of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd headlines a rock concert that also features John Kay & Steppenwolf on the bill Sunday at Festival Park next to the Grand Victoria Casino, 250 S. Grove Ave., Elgin. $45-$99; $25 lawn seats. (888) 508-1900 or grandvictoriacasino.com. 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13
Glam rock
Get a sense of Elton John's 1970s concerts when the tribute show “Remember When Rock Was Young” featuring Almost Elton John and the Rocket Band Starring Craig A. Meyer plays tonight at College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $32-$42; $31-$41 seniors; $12 kids. (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu/tickets. 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13