Weekend picks: Germanfest brings beer, brats to Hoffman Estates

Brats & beer

Hoffman Estates' Platzkonzert Germanfest expands to two days for 2014. There's German food, beer, games and more this weekend at the Virginia Mary Hayter Village Green, 5510 Prairie Stone Parkway in the Prairie Stone Business Park next to the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. No admission charge. (847) 781-2669 or platzkonzertgermanfest.com. 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12; 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13

Comic come home

Best known from his TV appearances on the “Late Show With David Letterman” and “World's Dumbest,” comedian, Kevin McCaffrey proudly points out that he's spent time living in the Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills area. See McCaffrey perform standup at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $23 plus a two-menu item purchase. (630) 584-6342 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Sept. 10-12, and 7:30 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13

Arts all over

Concerts, film screenings and gallery shows are all part of the Charlie's Center for the Arts — All of the Arts, All Over Town event starting on Thursday at different St. Charles venues ranging from the Arcada Theatre at 105 E. Main St. to the Fine Line Creative Arts Center at 37W570 Bolcum Road. Ticket prices vary depending upon event, and many are free. (630) 443-3794 or stcharlesartscouncil.org. Various times from Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 11-14

FRIDAY

Weed Ladies Fall Floral Sale

Find seasonal floral arrangements, silk and dried florals and dried bouquets at the annual Weed Ladies Fall Floral Sale, in the Daniels House at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Visit napersettlement.org. Free admission. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, and Saturday, Sept. 13; 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14

Des Plaines celebrates autumn

Des Plaines hosts its Fall Fest 2014 at Lake Park Memorial Pavilion, 2200 Lee St. The annual celebration features concerts on the main stage, carnival rides, games, food, pony rides, Dave DiNaso's Traveling World of Reptiles, a custom car show and many other family activities. Free admission. Visit fallfestdesplaines.com. 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13; noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14

Music on the lakefront

The Howard & The White Boys band presents an evening blues, rock, funk concert at Waukegan Municipal Beach's Stiner Pavilion, 201 E. Seashore Drive, Waukegan. Admission is $5. Visit facebook.com/wauksummersat/info. 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13

Sung madness

The Main Street Opera brings a tour of Donizetti's classic opera “Lucia di Lammermoor” about a Scottish maiden who goes mad on her wedding night to two locations starting this weekend at the Forest View Education Center, 2121 S Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, then at Casa Italia at Alta Villa Banquets, 430 N. Addison Road, Addison. $26; $22 seniors/students; kids ages 12 and under admitted free. (847) 718-6583 or mainstreetopera.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12; 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 in Arlington Heights; 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28 in Addison

German classics

Conductor Andrew Grams conducts Beethoven's Fifth Symphony with orchestral opera selections by Wagner and Weber for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra Opening Night this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $25-$60. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14

Folksy evening

Folk singer Mark Dvorak performs in the inaugural concert of a new monthly concert series at the Acorn Coffeehouse at the Burning Bush Art Gallery, 215 N. Main St., Wheaton. $10 admission. For reservations, call (630) 393-1247. 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13

'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'

PM & L Theatre presents “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” at 877 N. Main St., Antioch. The production is based on Ken Kesey's 1963 novel. Admission is $13 for adults and $11 for seniors and students. Visit pmltheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, and Saturday, Sept. 13; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14

Steel Beam at 14

Townspeople fall in and out of love in a fictional northeastern town in John Cariani's romantic comedy, “Almost Maine,” the first show in Steel Beam Theatre's 14th season, which opens at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $23-$28. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12

Mixing ska & swing

The Cherry Poppin' Daddies have cultivated a devoted following by mixing ska with classic swing (and a dash of punk rock). The band will pay tribute to the Rat Pack when it performs at the McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage, Park and Fawell boulevards, Glen Ellyn. Tickets start at $39. Go to atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12

Rockin' weekend

Attention, children of the Reagan era: The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles has two big rock shows coming up that should thrill anyone who grew up in the 1980s. First up is Lita Ford, the hard-rock guitar goddess who started with the pioneering all-female group the Runaways before scoring solo hits like “Kiss Me Deadly.” A day later, ex-Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm takes the stage. His soulful (and suggestive) vocals were the highlight of hits like “Hot Blooded,” “Urgent” and “Juke Box Hero.” Head to the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Tickets for both shows start at $49. Go to oshows.com. Lita Ford (with openers Vixen and Bloody Mary) performs at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12; and Lou Gramm performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13,

SATURDAY

Doggies outdoors

Trot your dogs along 16 miles of hiking paths when Tails on Trails returns this Saturday at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. $5 per dog on top of regular admission of $12, $11 for seniors and $9 for youth ages 2 to 17. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 7 a.m. to sunset Saturday, Sept. 13

Raise The Woof Pet Festival

Humans and their canine friends are invited to Clearbrook's Raise The Woof Pet Festival in Melas Park, 1500 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect. The event features a pet parade and walk, pet vendors, demonstrations, the Petco Adoption Zone and an activity zone with a puppy kissing booth, paw art booth and crafts for kids. Pet contests include Best Dressed, Most Obedient and more. Free general admission. For information, or to register for the parade, contests or activity zone, visit clearbrook.org, or contact Sarah Shaw at (847) 385-5009 or sshaw@clearbrook.org. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13

Remembering the war

Hundreds of living history actors from the Northwest Territory Alliance take part in the Revolutionary War Re-enactment at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Visitors can watch mock battles and view life in the 18th century at an encampment of soldiers and civilians. Free with paid $5 parking fee. Visit cantigny.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, and Sunday, Sept. 14

Wowing women

Wynonna Judd, Nene Leakes and Tabatha Coffey are just a few of the celebrities making an appearance at the Chicago Ultimate Women's Expo this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $10. (847) 692-2220 or chicagowomensexpo.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14

Ruth Page Civic Ballet

Dancers from the Ruth Page Civic Ballet troupe present a dance concert for youngsters and their families in Bennett Gordon Hall at Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $10. No lawn sales. Visit ravinia.org. 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13

Latin heat

Chicago's own Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater turns up the temperature with passionate flamenco dancing in performance on Saturday at College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $28-$35; $27-$34 seniors; $12-$15 youth. (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu/tickets. 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13

From the block

Comedian and actor John Leguizamo returns to the Windy City with a one-night-only performance of his Broadway show “Ghetto Clown” on Saturday at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $39-$79. (800) 745-3000 or thechicagotheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13

A new style

Seattle-based hip-hop group Shabazz Palaces has earned acclaim from critics and fans for its audacious and unfettered take on rap music. The soundscapes are dreamy one minute, jagged the next. The beats meander, float and change direction with no warning. Led by Ishmael Butler, formerly of the 1990s alt-rap group Digable Planets, Shabazz recently released its second full-length, “Lease Majesty,” on Sub Pop. They stop in Chicago for a show at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $15. Go to lincolnhallchicago.com. 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13