Weekend picks: Pianist Terrence Wilson salutes America

Posted July 04, 2015 6:00 am

By Laura Milbrath Stewart and Scott C. Morgan

Pianist Terrence Wilson performs Gershwin's Concerto in F with the Grant Park Orchestra for an Independence Day Salute at Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago on Saturday, July 4.

American salute

Pianist Terrence Wilson joins the Grant Park Orchestra to perform Gershwin's Concerto in F as part of the Independence Day Salute Saturday at Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago. No admission charge. (312) 742-7638 or grantparkmusicfestival.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4

Manga meetup

More than 10,000 fans of Japanese animation and comics are set to converge on the Anime Midwest convention this weekend at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, 9300 Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont. $55-$120 weekend registration; $40 one-day-only admission. (847) 692-2220 or animemidwest.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 4; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, June 5

Browse or buy

More than 100 juried artists show off and sell their wares as part of an Art Festival this weekend at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. No admission charge, but parking is $25-$30 per car or van. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 4 and 5

Let freedom ring

The tradition of ringing two historic bells at a celebration of Independence Day continues at the Tanner House Museum, 305 Cedar St., Aurora. The Tanner House bell-ringing will be timed to coincide with the ringing of other Independence Day bells across the nation. Other highlights include performances, a petting zoo, tours of the museum, children's activities and a pie-eating contest. Free. aurorahistory.net or facebook.com/aurorahistory. Events run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 4. Bell-ringing takes place at 1 p.m.

Celebrate the Dead

Fans of the Grateful Dead, take heed. In honor of the Dead's sold-out 50th anniversary shows, Hard Rock Cafe Chicago, 63 W. Ontario St., is holding two more days of music, complete with two stages and loads of local talent, including Bullfights On Acid, EGi and Genome Saturday; and School of Rock Chicago, Murley and Thinner Teed on Sunday. Admission varies by day, but a portion of the proceeds goes to Fight2Feed, a not-for-profit organization working to fight hunger in Chicago. See hardrock.com for the full lineup and fees. (312) 943-2252 or hardrock.com. noon to 4 a.m. Saturday, July 4; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 5

Dead end

If you don't have tickets to see the Grateful Dead and its "Fare thee Well" tour live at Soldier Field in Chicago this weekend, then head to select theaters showing live simulcasts of each concert this weekend at select theaters on Saturday and Sunday listed at fathomevents.com. Ticket prices vary by venue, but largely $18; $20 in St. Charles. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 4 and 5

Prairie walk

Take a two-hour-plus prairie walk, led by museum biologist Jerome Johnson, at the Garfield Farm Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, Campton Hills. See the summer blossoms at Mill Creek Prairie and get a close-up look at the installation of a new bridge over Mill Creek. Admission is $6. Reservations are encouraged. (630) 584-8485 or email info@garfieldfarm.org. 9 a.m. Sunday, July 5

Settlement Sunday

Tour the museum and other historic buildings and dig in to ice cream sundaes during the Settlement Sunday celebration at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Take part in a number of hands-on family activities. Admission is $12 adults; $10 seniors; $8 kids 4-12. (630) 420-6010 or napersettlement.org. 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 5. Ice cream is served from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and is limited to the first 250 guests

Music majors

See the Top 20 finalists of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent compete in the first round of public performances for the summerlong talent competition this evening at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $10. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 5

Together again

Soprano Dawn Upshaw teams up with The Knights orchestra for an evening of Dvorak, Legeti, Zhou Long and more Sunday at the Ravinia Festival's Martin Theatre, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $40-$60 indoors seating; $10 lawn seating. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, July 5

See The Grateful Dead's "Fare Thee Well" tour at Soldier Field in Chicago and at select participating movie theaters offering simulcast screenings of the concerts. Associated Press, 2009

Anime Midwest returns to Rosemont. George LeClaire/gleclaire@dailyherald.com

Dawn Upshaw performs with The Knights at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park on Sunday, July 5.

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.