Summer bucket list: Make the most of those hot July days
Tuesday, July 1
Concert in the Park
When: 7 p.m.
What: New Invaders (Beatles and early '60s) perform
Where: Main Beach Crystal Lake, 300 Lake Shore Drive, Crystal Lake, crystallakeparks.org
Admission: Free
Wednesday, July 2
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
When: 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Where: 2001 N. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, (888) 935-6878 or medievaltimes.com/chicago.aspx
Tickets: $32.95 adults; $29.95 kids 12 and younger with code JULY4WEB online
Thursday, July 3
Three Dog Night with California Transit Authority
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave., Elgin, (888) 508-1900 or grandvictoriacasino.showare.com/
Tickets: $19 lawn; $39, $59, $79 seats
Friday, July 4
Fireworks
When: Dusk
Where: Towns across the suburbs; see p. 3 for a list
Saturday, July 5
Lee DeWyze and 10,000 Maniacs
When: 7 p.m.
Where: RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora, (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com
Tickets: $12
Sunday, July 6
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
When: 8:30 p.m.
Where: Naperville Exchange Club's Ribfest, Knoch Park, 724 S. West St., Naperville
Tickets: $15
Monday, July 7
Santa's Village Azoosment Park
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What: Unlimited rides, shows, animals and attractions
Where: 601 Dundee Ave., East Dundee, (847) 426-6751 or santasvillagedundee.com/
Tickets: $19.75; $16.75 seniors (65 and older); free for military with ID and kids 2 and younger
Tuesday, July 8
Movies in the Park After Dark
When: 8:30 p.m.
What: “Monsters University;” bring picnics and lawn chairs
Where: Woodglenn Park, Golf View and Trinity drive, Lisle
Cost: Free
Wednesday, July 9
Classical Blast concert
When: 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Citizens Park, 511 Lake Zurich Road, Barrington, (847) 381-0687 or barringtonparkdistrict.org
Cost: Free
Thursday, July 10
Janelle Monae with opener Gary Clark Jr. at Taste of Chicago
When: 5:30 p.m. (doors open at 4 p.m.); Taste open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Petrillo Music Shell, 235 S. Columbus Drive, Chicago, cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/taste_of_chicago.html
Tickets: $25; free lawn seating in Butler Field
Friday, July 11
Lady Gaga's artRave: The ARTPOP Ball
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago, (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com
Cost: $35-$225
Saturday, July 12
Bristol Renaissance Faire
When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: 12550 120th Ave., Kenosha, Wisconsin, (847) 395-7773 or renfair.com/bristol/
Tickets: $23.95 adults; $11.50 kids 5-12; free for kids 4 and younger
Sunday, July 13
Civil War Days
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Lake County Discovery Museum, 27277 N. Forest Preserve Road, Wauconda, (847) 968-3400 or www.LCFPD.org/CivilWar
Admission: $10 adults; $5 kids 4-17 and seniors 62 and older; free for kids 3 and younger
Monday, July 14
Bastille Day Chicago 2014
When: 5 to 9 p.m.
What: Performances by HK & Les Saltimbanks and Naila, plus waiters' races, pétanque and more
Where: Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, bastilledaychicago.org
Cost: Free
Tuesday, July 15
Music on the Esplanade: Kimberly Gordon Big Band
When: 6 to 8 p.m.
Where: Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe, (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org
Cost: Free, parking is $20
Wednesday, July 16
Donley's Wild West Town
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What: Wild West show, pony rides, pan for gold pyrite, cowboy roping lessons and more
Where: 8512 S. Union Road, Union, (815) 923-9000 or wildwesttown.com
Cost: $16; 2 and younger admitted free
Thursday, July 17
Cosley Zoo Uncorked
When: 5:30 to 8 p.m.
What: Wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres and more
Where: Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton, (630) 665-5534 or cosleyzoo.org
Tickets: $35 individual, $60 couple
Friday, July 18
Pitchfork Music Festival
When: Gates open at 3 p.m.
What: Three-day music fest featuring Beck, Sun Kil Moon, Neneh Cherry and more
Where: Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., Chicago, pitchforkmusicfestival.com
Tickets: $60
Saturday, July 19
Ernest Hemingway's birthday
When: 7 to 10 p.m.
What: “Hemingway's Paris,” with cocktails, food, music and readings
Where: Scoville Square Building, 137 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park
Tickets: $25
Sunday, July 20
Woodstock Folk Festival
When: 12:30 to 6 p.m.
What: Local and national folk performers such as Christine Lavin & Don White and Megon McDonough
Where: On the historic square, 112 W. Van Buren St., Woodstock, (815) 479-4848 or woodstockfolkmusic.com/folkfestival
Suggestion donation: $15 individual; $25 family; $10 seniors/students
Monday, July 21
Matt Nathanson and Gavin DeGraw
When: 7 p.m.; gates open at 4 p.m.
Where: Pavilion at Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org
Tickets: $33 lawn; $50-$60 reserved
Tuesday, July 22
Chicago White Sox day at Brookfield Zoo
When: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; zoo open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What: Meet and get autographs from current White Sox players and Southpaw
Where: 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, (708) 688-8000 or czs.org/
Admission: $16.95 adults; $11.95 seniors (65 and over) and kids 3-11
Wednesday, July 23
Bark in the Park at the Kane County Cougars game
When: 6:30 p.m.
What: Dog parade prior to the game; contests during the game; dogs can run the bases after the game
Where: Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, 334W002 Cherry Lane, Geneva, (630) 232-8811 or kccougars.com
Tickets: $9-$13; dogs get in free
Thursday, July 24
Movie in the Park
When: 8:30 p.m.
What: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory;” bring blankets, chairs, snacks
Where: Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, (630) 668-5161 or cantigny.org
Cost: Free with paid parking ($2)
Friday, July 25
Comedian Jay Pharoah
When: 8 and 10:30 p.m.
Where: MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com
Tickets: $25 plus a two-item menu purchase
Saturday, July 26
“Suds: The Rockin' '60s Musical Soap Opera”
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams, Crystal Lake, (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org/
Tickets: $32.50-$38.50
Sunday, July 27
Raging Waves Waterpark
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
What: “Sinbad and the Search for the Golden Pineapple” dive show at noon, 2 and 4 p.m.
Where: 4000 N. Bridge St., Yorkville, (630) 882-6575, www.ragingwaves.com
Cost: $29.99 over 48 inches; $19.99 under 48 inches
Monday, July 28
The Bangles
When: 8 p.m.
Where: City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago, (312) 733-9463 or citywinery.com/chicago/
Tickets: $55-$75
Tuesday, July 29
Big Ten Experience
When: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What: 13 interactive exhibits plus the Big Ten Theater, which gives a behind-the-scenes look at student-athletes and college traditions
Where: First floor of the Big Ten Conference Headquarters, 5440 Park Place, Rosemont, bigten.org/ot/big-ten-experience.html
Admission: Free
Wednesday, July 30
“The Merry Wives of Windsor”
When: 8:15 p.m.
Where: Outdoors at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st. St., Oak Brook, (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org
Tickets: $30 adults; $26 seniors and students
Thursday, July 31
Live The Who performs and fireworks
When: 7 p.m.
Where: 5501 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 349-5008 or rosemont.com/mbfinancialpark/
Admission: Free