Weekend picks: Catch Keith Urban at Allstate Arena
Down under country
Australian country star Keith Urban is back on the road with his "RipCORD World Tour" featuring guests Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris tonight at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $37.50-$59.50; $15-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28
Mechanical animals
The Robot Zoo is a free exhibit for families featuring eight giant robot animals and lots of hands-on activities. Find out how a giant squid propels itself, how a bat uses its sonar system to hunt prey at night or how a fly walks on the ceiling. The larger-than-life-size animated robots also include a rhinoceros and a platypus. The exhibit is ongoing through Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. No admission charge. (847) 742-2411 or gailborden.info/robotzoo. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; through Sunday, Dec. 11
Freaky Deaky
The three-day music festival brings some of the biggest names in electronic music to Toyota Park for a monster of a Halloween party. Headliners Disclosure, DJ Snake and Tiesto lead the lineup, but don't miss sets by some rising local stars: Gene Farris, Kyral X Banko, Mielo, Milk N Cooks, Redux, Whethan, Porn and Chicken and more. 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28; 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at Toyota Park, 7000 Harlem Ave., Bridgeview. Three-day general admission wristbands start at $189; single-day admission is $85 for Friday and Saturday, $75 for Sunday. See freakydeakyhalloween.com for tickets and schedules.
'The Way It Is'
Bruce Hornsby's long and creative career has taken him through multiple bands and solo projects, bounced him around different genres and earned him three Grammy Awards. Catch the spontaneous and always-evolving artist when he plays at College of DuPage for "An Evening with Bruce Hornsby" in the Belushi Performance Hall at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $65-$75. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28
Animation and more
Watch potential Academy Award-winning shorts and more at the 33rd Annual Chicago International Children's Film Festival, which returns Friday at multiple locations mostly in Chicago, but also with select screenings at the Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. $10 per screening; $6 kids ages 2-18. (773) 281-3075 or facets.org. Various times from Friday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 6
Zoning drama
The lives of three fictional Naperville families are torn apart over zoning issues tied to a Muslim Community Center in "Mosque Alert." Jamil Khoury's acclaimed Silk Road Rising drama is remounted in a special college production starting Thursday at North Central College's Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville. $8-$10. (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu/show. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28-29, and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30
Texan big talk
See comedian Jon Stringer draw from his Texas roots for three standup sets this weekend at the Comedy Shrine, 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. $20 plus a two-item purchase. (630) 585-0300 or comedyshrine.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28; 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
Metal mashup
Rock out to heavy metal music when the bands Dokken ("Alone Again," "Heaven Sent") and Winger ("Seventeen," "Miles Away") share a concert bill tonight at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $59-$89. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28
Do the 'Time Warp'
If the recent Fox-TV remake of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" left you disappointed, then catch the 1970s cult film original in two special screenings this weekend at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Rated R. $15. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28 and 29
'The Other Place'
What is real or just imaginary? The mystery/drama "The Other Place," about elusive love, looks at both fact and fiction and the past and present when it takes the stage at The Albright Theatre Company, 100 N. Island Ave., on the third floor of Batavia Government Center, Batavia. Rated PG-13. $12-$15. Reservations recommended. (630) 406-8838 or albrighttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28-29, and 2 p.m. Sunday Oct. 30
'Halloween Happening XXIV'
What's better than a free movie and free popcorn? Getting to wear you Halloween costume at the same time. "Halloween Happening XXIV" takes over the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove, with a costume contest for kids 12 and younger and a screening of the 2015 family film "Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip." Prizes will be awarded for various age groups. Free. classiccinmeas.com. Costume contest registration begins at 9 a.m.; film at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
Costumed canines
Laugh at all the creative costumes donned by dogs as part of the annual Spooky Pooch Parade on Saturday at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. $25 admission; $30 parking per car or van. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
Halloween Fun Fair
Kids can don their best costumes and enjoy games, prizes and a pizza lunch when Wheeling Township hosts its Halloween Fun Fair for kids 2-15 with disabilities and their families at Riley Elementary School, 1209 E. Burr Oak Drive, Arlington Heights. Free. Registration is required; call Wheeling Township at (847) 259-7730 or email azei@wheelingtownship.com. Please advise if your child will need special accommodations at the event. 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
Meet Svengoolie
Sporting his trademark top hat and dark eye circles, meet Emmy-award winning TV personality and horror movie host Svengoolie (aka actor Rich Koz), get his autograph and have a souvenir photo taken with him at the Volo Auto Museum, 27582 Volo Village Road, Volo. This is Svengoolie's fifth annual visit to the museum during Halloween season. General admission is $15 for adults; $9 for kids 5 to 12; and free for kids 4 and younger. (815) 385-3644 or volocars.com. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
Spooky stories
Historian and actor Terry Lynch shares tales of historical Midwestern hauntings at the "Haunted History - Goosebump Stories of the American Midwest" program the Glen Ellyn History Center, 800 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. Hear stories about the S.S. Eastland, Brookfield Zoo, the Fort Dearborn massacre, John Dillinger and more. $10 for adults; $8 for GEHS members; $5 for students 18 and younger. Tickets available at Stacy's Corners Store, 800 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn, or (630) 469-1867. gehs.org. 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
Boo Bash
Mundelein Park District's Boo Bash gives kids another chance to wear a Halloween costume, meet costumed characters, and enjoy candy and treats at the Mundelein Park District Community Center and Community Park, 1401 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Kids ages 3 to 11 and their families can take part in games, storytelling, tractor-pulled wagon rides and more. Runs rain or shine. Free. Registration is not required. mundeleinparks.org. 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
Don't hold back
Frankie Sullivan may be the only founding member of Survivor still playing with the band, but the songs (and the passion) remain the same. Catch the hits - "Eye of the Tiger," "Is This Love" and more - from this Chicago original when Survivor plays Waukegan's Genesee Theatre with special guests John Waite and A Flock of Seagulls. Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $39.50-$69.50. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
Man out of time
The expressive-faced, stylishly bespectacled UK new wave artist Elvis Costello and his band The Imposters come to town with their "Imperial Bedroom & Other Chambers" tour. Hear nearly 40 years' worth of hits, including what is probably his best-known ballad "Alison," as they visit the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $38.50-$153.50. (312) 462-6300 or thechicagotheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
Dead man's party
Hear creepy classical music by composers such as Mussorgsky, Saint-Saens, Carlos Rafael Rivera and more when the Chicago Sinfonietta performs its concert "Dia de los Muertos: The Dance of Life and Death" on Saturday at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $10-$60; then on Monday at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $10-$99. (312) 284-1554 or chicagosinfonietta.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, in Naperville; 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, in Chicago
Mysterious Creeps?
Who doesn't need a little more Richard Simmons in their life? Get a load of electro surf rockers 8-Bit Creeps when they dress as the famed fitness guru for a Halloween show at Quenchers Saloon, featuring garage-punk trio Supershark and psych-rock headliner Mystery Crash. At Quenchers Saloon, 2401 N. Western Ave., Chicago. $5. (773) 276-9730 or quenchers.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
Monster Invasion!
Lombard's BrauerHouse presents the Monster Invasion! show featuring:
• The Fold & That Lying (Expletive) as the Ramones
• Fersher as Sublime
• The Mizzerables as Green Day
9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $6-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.
TACOween at Nellie's
Spice up your Halloween weekend as Palatine's Durty Nellie's presents the TACOween Halloween party featuring a taco buffet and costume contest, along with music by Boy Band Review playing favorite boy-band tunes from Boyz II Men to the Backstreet Boys, and Girl Power Night, featuring '90s girl power pop anthems. Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $7. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com. 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
Frightful rides
Test your taste for terror at Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America, 1 Great American Parkway, Gurnee. Scary creatures and attractions abound, especially after 6 p.m. Admission starts at $46.99. (847) 249-1776 or frightfest.sixflags.com/greatamerica/. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30; 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31
Go Cubs Go
Wrigleyville will be a madhouse all weekend long. So head to St. Charles to watch the Cubs on the Arcada Theatre's 40-foot screen as they take on the Indians in Game 5 of the World Series. It's at 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Free, but beer, hot dogs and other ballpark-worthy snacks will be for sale. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30
Sounds of 'Halloween'
Enjoy music from "Phantom of the Opera," "Nightmare Before Christmas" and more when the Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band presents its "Halloween - the Fantastic and the Supernatural" concert at Buffalo Grove High School, 1100 W. Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove. Tickets cost $10 in advance or $12 at the door; tickets for seniors and students cost $8 at all times. Free for kids wearing a Halloween costume. Tickets available at the Buffalo Grove Village Hall (50 Raupp Blvd.) or at bgsb.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30
Upcoming concerts</a><![CDATA[
Mewithou, Into It. Over It.: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $18-$20. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.
Rough Draft: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Penny Road Pub, 545 Penny Road, Barrington. (847) 428-0562 or pennyroadpub.com.
Nightmare on Weed Street featuring Indigo Sun, Kris Lager Band, Chicago Loud 9, The North 41, Local Motive: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Joe's on Weed Street, 940 W. Weed St., Chicago. Rock. $10-$12. (312) 337-3486 or joesbar.com.
Jim Scott with "Pete Seeger Tribute Concert": 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road, McHenry. Folk; musical tribute to Pete Seeger at benefit concert. $12-$20 admission donation, based on ability to pay. treeoflifeuu.org.
Dokken, Winger: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Heavy metal, hard rock. $59-$89. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.
SunFallen: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Trophy Room, 170 W. Ontario St., Chicago. Rock. $35. (312) 600-6920 or trophyroombar.com.
Potter's Halloween featuring Kings of Class, GoodSex, Nikho, DangerWayne and more: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Potter's Place, 29 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. (630) 355-9165 or pottersplacenaperville.com.
Semple: 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at EvenFlow, 302 W. State St., Geneva. (331) 248-0269 or evenflowmusic.com.
New Orleans Suspects:: 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, FitzGerald's, 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. Blues and more. $15-$18. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgerldsnightclub.com.
Frank Bang & The Cook County Kings: 9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn. Rock, soul and more. $6. (708) 484-3610 or harlemavenuelounge.com.
Lake Forest Symphony: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois St., Lake Forest. Musical director Vladimir Kulenovic. $50. (847) 234-6060 or gortponcenter.org.
"Scare-illon" concert: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, Millennium Carillon at base of Rotary Hill, 443 W. Aurora Ave., Naperville. Halloween music. Free. napervilleparks.org.
The Manhattan Transfer, Take 6: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $53-$78. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org.
"The Peggy Lee Legacy": 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. Musical tribute to legendary singer Peggy Lee; performers include vocalists Jenifer French, Ann McGregor, Monique Moyet, Daryl Nitz and Johnny Rodgers; Chuck Christiansen on drums, Joe Policastro on bass, Eric Schneider on sax/clarinet and Johnny Rodgers on piano. $28. (847) 677-7761 or skokietheatre.org,
Fletcher Rockwell: 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Ballydoyle Irish Pub, 5157 Main St., Downers Grove. (630) 969-0600 or ballydoylepub.com.
Prichard Harter, Dream Council: 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Flagstone Crafts & Cocktails, 101 W. State St., Geneva. (630) 232-7238 or flagstonecrafts.com.
Afterlife featuring Jay Lumen, Twitchin Skratch, Kings of Class, Bentley Dean and more: 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, Annex Nightclub, 1958 W. North Ave., Chicago. Electronic. $10-15. (773) 278-4646 or afterlifechi.com.
Bella Cain: 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Austin's Fuel Room, 481 Peterson Road, Libertyville. $10. (847) 549-1972 or fuelroom.com.
Cody Webb: 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, Bub City, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. Country, rock. For ticket information, call (847) 261-0399 or visit bub-city.com.
Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band: 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, Buffalo Grove High School, 1100 West Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove. Band presents its 15th annual fall concert. Selections include tunes from "Phantom of the Opera," the movie "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and more. $10 in advance; $12 at door. Seniors and students are $8 at all times. Free admission to all children who arrive wearing a Halloween costume. Tickets available from band members, at the Buffalo Grove Village Hall (50 Raupp Blvd.), or at bgsb.org. (847) 718-4020.
Culture Club: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Rock, pop. $45-$150. (800) 982-2787 or ticektmaster.com.
Charlie Daniels Band: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov 3, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St Charles. Country, rock. $59-$99. (630) 962-7000.
Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings visit dailyherald.com/calendar.