Weekend picks: Catch SNL's Colin Jost at Zanies

Live from 'Saturday Night'

Catch up with "Saturday Night Live" head writer and "Weekend Update" anchor Colin Jost when he performs standup this week at two Zanies locations: 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago, (312) 337-4027, then at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. (847) 813-0484. $25 plus a two menu-item purchase. zanies.com. 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, July 15 and 16, in Chicago, and 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, in Rosemont

Surf rock

Gary Hoey ("Hocus Pocus," "Endless Summer II") shows off his mastery of guitar in concert on Thursday at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $29-$49. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16

Sing-a-Long 'Grease'

Belt out all the tunes from the 1978 blockbuster film "Grease" at Sing-a-Long: "Grease" at the Lakeside Pavilion at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. The film stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets. No outside alcoholic beverages are permitted. Free. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Thursday, July 23

Lego in nature

Marvel at the massive and multicolored sculptures featured in the new outdoor "Nature Connects Art with Lego bricks by Sean Kenney" exhibit beginning Friday at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. $9-$14; $8-$12 seniors; $6-$9 kids. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; through Sunday, Nov. 1

Kane County Fair

Concerts, a demolition derby, carnival rides, livestock displays, food and much more are part of the Kane County Fair at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. This year's fest features several new events including grizzly bears and European brown bears performing in Welde's Big Bear Show. $5-$10; free for kids 2 and younger. kanecountyfair.com. Noon to midnight Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, July 19

Artistic covers

Batavia's Threads From Past to Present Quilt and Textile Show unfolds at the Eastside Community Center, 14 N. Van Buren St., Batavia. More than 150 quilts will be displayed, along with a special display of patriotic quilts. Stick around for the quilting demonstrations and quilt and textile sales. Admission is $5-$6; free for kids 10 and younger. (630) 406-5274 or bataviaquiltshow.com. 1 to 6 p.m. Friday, July 17, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 18-19

Everyone's Irish!

Celebrate Irish food and culture at Irish Fest at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights. Highlights include Irish dancing, contests, bagpipe players, food and more. Blankets and lawn chairs welcome; no pets allowed. Adult admission on Friday is $5; free for kids younger than 15. Admission on Saturday is $5 adults and $2 for kids ages 3 and older. Proceeds benefit the museum. (847) 255-1225 or ahmuseum.org. 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 17, and 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 18

Country 'Voice'

Calling all Y'allers! Craig Wayne Boyd, the 2014 winner of season 7 of NBC's "The Voice," is bringing his gospel-country-tinged tunes from Nashville to Antioch Friday. Fresh off a recent guest appearance on "The Voice," where he debuted his new single "I'm Still Here," Boyd is preparing to release his first album. Catch some more of his new tunes at Blarney Island, 27843 W. Grass Lake Road, Antioch, along with guests Dylan McDonald & the Avians and Cliff Cody. General admission is $20; a VIP package is available for $50. (847) 395-3804 or blarneyisland.com. 6 p.m. Friday, July 17

Rise Against returns

Chicago's own hard-core punk rockers Rise Against return home with Killswitch Engage and letlive. for a Friday-night set at FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, 1300 S. Lynn White Drive, Chicago. The band's latest album, "The Black Market," was released last summer and spawned the hits "I Don't Want to Be Here Anymore" and "Tragedy + Time." Hear these and favorites from the entire catalog at an all-ages show on Northerly Island. Tickets start at $29.50. (866) 448-7849 or livenation.com. 7 p.m. Friday, July 17

Deep purple

Get a heady fill of heavy metal music when the band Whitesnake shares the bill with Foghat & The Answer at an outdoor concert tonight at Vasa Park, 35W217 Route 31, South Elgin. $25-$95. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 7 p.m. Friday, July 17

Stage 'Working'

The College of Lake County's theater, music and dance departments team up to present the musical "Working" in the Studio Theatre of the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. The production is based on the 1974 Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Studs Terkel. $12-$15. Buy one, get one free tickets on Friday, July 17, and Thursday, July 23 (at the door). (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, and Thursday through Saturday, July 23-25; and 2 p.m. Sundays, July 19 and 26

Beatles tribute

Hear the music of The Beatles under the stars when the tribute band American English performs on Friday at College of DuPage's Lakeside Pavilion, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Free. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 17

Savvy mistress

Chicago Folks Operetta continues its 10th anniversary season by presenting a rare production of "Madame Pompadour." Leo Fall's 1922 comic operetta about the favored mistress of French King Louis XXV begins this weekend at the Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St., Chicago. $30-$35; $40 VIP seating. (773) 342-4141 or chicagofolksoperetta.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday (also Thursday, July 30); 2 p.m. Sunday; through Aug. 2

Sister act

What's not to love about comedian Loni Love? Fans of TV shows like "The Real" and "Chelsea Lately" know all about "America's Sister" (her self-titled comedy TV special), and will likely want to see her return this weekend to The Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $24 plus a two menu-item minimum. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. Friday, July 17; 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, July 18; 7 p.m. Sunday, July 19

Improv games

Become a part of the improvised action with the intensively audience-interactive show The Second City's Game Night starting this weekend at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $25-$30. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 10:30 p.m. Friday and 9:30 p.m. Saturday; through Aug. 8

Ko-Thi Dance Company

The Ko-Thi Dance Company performs in a Ravinia Kids' Concert in the Martin Theatre at Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. The dance company uses a variety of instruments and costumes in its performances of traditional African-American and Caribbean dance and drumming routines. $10; lawn seating $5. ravinia.org. 11 a.m. Saturday, July 18

PAWfest

Bring your pet in for a day of both human and pet activities at PAWfest 2015 at Animal House Shelter, 13005 Ernesti Road, Huntley. Events include a demonstration by the McHenry County K-9 police unit, a dunk tank, a giant water slide, doggy boutiques, a pet groomer, music, kids' games, a pet photographer, low-cost pet vaccinations, micro chipping and more. Free. (847) 961-5541 or email animalhousefundraising@gmail.com. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 18

Shakespeare in the Park

The Midsummer Theatre Troupe performs Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" as part of Geneva's Shakespeare in the Park program at Island Park, at routes 38 and 25, Geneva. Bring chairs and blankets for seating. Sandwiches and ice cream will be available for purchase. Event is sponsored by the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission. Free; $5 donations welcome. (630) 938-4530, genevarts.org or facebook.com/genevashakespeareinthepark. 6 p.m. Saturday, July 18. Picnic in the park begins at 5 p.m.

'Shake It Off' at Soldier Field

Pop-country starlet Taylor Swift has won a large and diverse fan base with her fun, witty hits the kids love and the wholesome appeal that parents can get behind. While her latest album, "1989," and its first singles are planted firmly in the pop genre, her down-home charm is a huge part of what's going to fill the stands as she brings the "1989 World Tour" for two nights to Soldier Field, 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, along with openers HAIM, Vance Joy and Shawn Mendes. Tickets start at $122. (866) 448-7849 or ticketmaster.com. 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 18-19

Loose match

Rob Thomas, the singer with the band Matchbox Twenty, performs in concert with DuPage natives Plain White T's as the opening act on Saturday at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $85-$95 pavilion seating. $38-$43 lawn seating. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 18

Hi Infidelity

Hear great rock hits like "Keep on Loving You," "Can't Fight This Feeling" and more when REO Speedwagon performs on Saturday at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. $45. (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, July 18

Remembering greatness

Spend time with former White Sox players like Jermaine Dye, Jon Garland, Paul Konerko, Scott Podsednik, Cliff Politte and more at "A Season to Remember: A Night with the 2005 World Series Champions" today at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State Street, Chicago. $43.50-$253.50. (800) 745-3000 or thechicagotheatre.com. 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 19

Back in time

Fans of 1980s music and the film "Back to the Future" won't want to miss the band Huey Lewis and the News tonight at Festival Park near Grand Victoria Casino, 132 S. Grove Ave, Elgin. $30 lawn seating; $65-$75 reserved seating. (847) 468-7000 or grandvictoriacasino.com. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 19