Weekend picks: Tim Walkoe keeps it clean at Zanies

Clean comedy

Chicago comedian Tim Walkoe is famed for his clean material, so catch up with his show Thursday through Saturday at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $20, plus a two-item menu purchase. (630) 524-0001 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 6 and 7; 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8

All sewn up

Stitches Midwest offers classes, new merchandise and more for die-hard knitters starting Thursday at the Renaissance Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $645-$695 comprehensive packages; $55-$90 select events; $100-$510 class hours. (847) 303-4100 or knittinguniverse.com/Midwest. 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday preview, Aug. 6 (for registrants only); Open market: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 7 and 8; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9

Songstress tribute

The Artists Lounge Live at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre continues with the tribute show "Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song starring Karen Marie Richardson" on Thursday at 111. W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $40-$45. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6

Classical guests

Conductor Rafael Payare and Israeli violinist Pinchas Zukerman guest with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to perform music of Berlioz, Bruch and Rimsky-Korsakov on Thursday at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $25-$50 pavilion seating; $10 lawn seating. (847) 266-5000 or ravinia.org. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6

Who will win?

Find out the ultimate winners of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent for 2015 when the competition's top 10 finalists perform together in concert on Saturday at the Taste of Arlington Heights, at the intersection of Vail Avenue and Campbell Street, Arlington Heights. No admission charge. (847) 253-1703 or discoverarlington.com or dailyherald.com/entertainment/talent. Mane Event: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7; Taste of Arlington Heights: noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug 8, with Suburban Chicago's Got Talent show at 2 p.m.

Lake Villa fun

Head to Lake Villa Days for live music, food, rides, games and bingo in Lehmann Park, 89 Cedar Ave., Lake Villa. Free. (847) 356-2525. 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 7; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9. Firefighter water fights take place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8

Turtle Trek

"Adopt" a plastic turtle for a chance to race it and win prizes at the Turtle Trek Race and raffle on Friday, Aug. 7, at the Twin Lakes Recreation Area, 1200 E. Twin Lakes Drive, Palatine. A grand prize winner will receive $500. There are more than 40 additional prizes. Plastic turtles can be adopted on-site until 6:15 p.m. on day of event. $5 per turtle, three for $15 or five for $20. The band Exit 147 performs following the race at 7:30 p.m. Concert is free. For information, call Rachel at (847) 934-6050 ext. 201, or visit saltcreekpd.com. Race begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7

Come alive

Aurora's Downtown Alive! series lights up Friday night with Chicago favorite Maggie Speaks at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. Since 1997, Maggie Speaks has been packing the dance floor with its energetic rock covers of songs from the '50s to today. Toss in Catfight as an opening act, and you've got a night of deliriously fun local star power. $3; (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7

Comedy songs

See what kind of witty and funny music Lahna Turner makes when the comedian and songwriter performs this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $17 plus a two-menu purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8; 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9

Flying high

Take the advice from the songwriters to the film "Mary Poppins" at the annual Kite Festival this weekend at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Free admission; $30 parking per car or van. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8 and 9

Strong musical roots

Lombard's Brauerhouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard, is packing the joint with blues, from the down-home Delta variety to bluegrass to ragtime and the jazzy. The Blues & Roots Jamboree features the skills of Devil in a Woodpile, Joe and Vicki Price, Scotch Hollow, Mississippi Gabe Carter and Lonesome Tony, in addition to a few more as-of-yet unannounced musical guests. $15; (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com. 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8

An outdoor groove

Palatine's Groove Fest takes over the Fred P. Hall Amphitheatre at Community Park, 262 E. Palatine Road, Palatine, Saturday, Aug. 8. Incoming Groove kicks off the night at 6:45 p.m.; Jackson Mud plays the blues at 7:45 p.m.; and Rough Draft closes the festivities with a set at 8:45 p.m. No food will be sold at the park, so pack your coolers and bring blankets or lawn chairs for the event. Free; (847) 380-0248 or roughdraftrocks.com. 6:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8

Metal men

Heavy metal band Mötley Crüe brings The Final Tour "All Bad Things Must Come to an End" with guests Alice Cooper and The Raskins on Saturday to the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $30.50-$1,382.72; $13-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8

Jazz master

Jazz musician Ramsey Lewis performs in concert with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on Saturday at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $25-$75 pavilion seating; $10 lawn seating. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8

TV vocals

See reality TV contests Nick Fradiani, Clark Beckham, Jax, Rayvon Owen and Tyanna Jones all sing in concert when the tour of "American Idol Live!" plays on Saturday at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $32.50-$70. (800) 745-3000 or thechicagotheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8

'Nightshift' men

If you love songs like "Easy," "Three Times a Lady" and "Brick House," then don't miss The Commodores in concert on Saturday at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $25-$99. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8

A touch of France

Say oui to French Connection Day at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. The festival celebrates everything French and includes an open-air market, street performers, French fare, music and a 23-foot version of the Eiffel Tower. Free with paid $5 parking fee. cantigny.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9

Harpeth Rising

The Harpeth Rising trio performs folk, roots, bluegrass and rock in a concert in Towner Green, at 132 Old McHenry Road, downtown Long Grove. The group uses violin, banjo, cello, foot-percussion and three-part vocals. The concert is presented by the Long Grove Arts and Music Council. Guests are invited to bring chairs and blankets for seating. Picnic baskets are welcome. Free. visitlonggrove.com. 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9

Piano jazz

Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist and vocalist Diana Krall performs in concert tonight at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $85-$95 pavilion seating; $38-$43 lawn seating. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9