Weekend picks: Cardboard Regatta takes float (maybe?) in Glen Ellyn

Hopes afloat

Cheer on the buoyant homemade ships (or giggle at the not-so-ship-shape ones) as part of the Lake Ellyn Cardboard Regatta on Saturday at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn. Boat preregistration is required and the deadline is at noon Friday, June 29. $50 per boat; free admission to view. (630) 858-2462 or gepark.org/regatta. 10 a.m. Saturday, June 30

Civic celebration

The 2018 Mundelein Community Days promises carnival rides, food, music, games and a July 1 parade and fireworks display. The fun starts Thursday at Kracklauer Park, Route 45, Mundelein. Free admission. mundelein.org. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 30; and 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, July 1

Botanic beauty

More than 100 artists will feature their nature-inspired work as part of an Art Festival this weekend at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Free admission, but parking is $25-$30 per vehicle. (847) 835-6801 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 30 and July 1

North vs. South

See re-enactors bring back the 1860s during Civil War Days this weekend at the Lakewood Forest Preserve, IL Route 176 at Fairfield Road, Wauconda. Daily: $10; $5 seniors (ages 62 and up) and youth (ages 4-17); weekend pass: $15; $7 youth and seniors (847) 367-6640 or lcfpd.org/education/events/civilwar. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 30; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 1

Up and away

Behold a bounty of beautiful hot-air balloons at the annual Lisle Eyes to the Sky Festival this weekend. This charity event also features carnival rides, family activities, music and more at Community Park, 1825 Short St., Lisle (parking at Benet Academy, 2200 Maple Ave., Lisle). $10 daily admission; $65 carnival megapass. eyestotheskies.org. Noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 30 and July 1

PIQNIQ party

Be on the lookout when 101-WKQX unleashes PIQNIQ Bear and Plainfield's Marina City to kick off the festivities at its PIQNIQ music festival Saturday. The single-day fest features some of the radio station's favorite artists - AWOLNATION, Dashboard Confessional, Bush, The Neighbourhood, Greta Van Fleet, The Front Bottoms, Bishop Briggs and Welshly Arms - on two stages at Tinley Park's Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, 19100 Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park. Tickets start at $20. 101wkqx.com. Gates open at noon, show at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 30

37th American Music Festival

Whether your musical tastes lean toward jazz, funk, rock, soul, indie or good old Americana, one of the weekend's best bets is the American Music Festival at FitzGerald's. The annual fest - a collection of national acts and hot talent from Chicago's music scene - has become a destination for music-lovers over the last 37 years, offering more than 60 bands on three stages over four days. See the full lineup and schedule at fitzgeraldsnightclub.com. Single-day tickets and four-day passes are available. FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $40 Friday, $40 Saturday, $50 Sunday and $50 Tuesday; four-day pass costs $140; $10 discount for tickets bought at the door with cash during the first hour of each day. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com. 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 30 and July 1; and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 3

Homegrown battles

The Homegrown Arts & Music Festival is heading into its sixth year, and founder Aaron Williams is filling two final slots on the lineup with a two-night Battle of the Bands competition. One winning band from each night will earn a slot at the fest, set for Saturday, July 21, at BaseCamp Pub. Saturday's lineup presents Tonic Freight Train, Observing With Annie, The Wild and Social Que. Bands will be selected by a panel of guest judges and crowd draw, so be sure to attend to support your favorite local musicians. BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $6 each night. (331) 777-4712 or aaronwilliamsmusic.com. Doors at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 30

Jersey guy

Actor and comedian Bret Ernst ("Cobra Kai," "This is Not Happening") capitalizes on his New Jersey and Italian-American upbringing for loads of laughs this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $19 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, June 30; 7 p.m. Sunday, July 1

Local laughs

Cheer on rising Chicago comedian Calvin Evans when he performs standup sets this week at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago, (312) 337-4027. $25 plus a two-item purchase. zanies.com. 7, 9 and 11:15 p.m. Saturday, June 30; and 8 p.m. Sunday, July 1

Chicago Styles

Harry Styles, the erstwhile frontman of Britpop band One Direction who last year made his acting debut in Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk," brings his sold-out world tour to Chicago's United Center. Country singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves will join Styles during his Chicago stop. United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. Tickets start at $29.50. (800) 745-3000 or unitedcenter.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, June 30

Acoustic ace

Tickets are scarce to see "Neil Young Solo" ("Campaigner," "Human Highway") in concert this weekend at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $350. (312) 341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 30 (sold out) and July 1

Concert highlights

• 101-WKQX PIQNIQ: Noon Saturday, June 30, at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, 19100 Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park. Tickets start at $20. 101wkqx.com.

• 37th American Music Festival: 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 30 and July 1; and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 3, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $40 Friday, $40 Saturday, $50 Sunday and $50 Tuesday; four-day pass costs $140; $10 discount for tickets bought at the door with cash during the first hour of each day. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

• Nick Moss Band album release: 7 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at S.P.A.C.E., 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $15-$25. (847) 492-8860 or evanstonspace.com.

• Homegrown Battle of the Bands: Doors at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $6 each night; Friday features The Red Moons, The Instinct, Eugeine Grey and The Bad Habits, The Roaches and Loose Cannons; Saturday's includes Tonic Freight Train, Observing With Annie, The Wild and Social Que. (331) 777-4712 or aaronwilliamsmusic.com.

• Fire It Up, When Wealthy Fell, The Max Bet: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at The Outta Space, 6840 32nd St., Berwyn. $5. (773) 972-3307 or theouttaspace.com.

• Matt Vrba, Rachele Lynae: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at RocHaus, 98 W. Main St., West Dundee. $10-$15. (815) 893-9768 or rochaus.com.

• Harry Styles, Kacey Musgraves: 8 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. Tickets start at $29.50. (800) 745-3000 or unitedcenter.com.

• The Sane Abandoned, Caroline Lucius: 8 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Silvie's Lounge, 1902 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. $10. (773) 871-6239 or silvieslounge.com.

• Dave Matthews Band: 8 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Huntington Bank Pavilion, 1300 S. Linn White Drive, Chicago. Tickets start at $98. (312) 540-2668 or pavilionnortherlyisland.com.

• Six to Midnight, OMFG: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $3. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

• Downers Groove, Mountain Brothers: 9 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Ballydoyle, 5157 Main St., Downers Grove. Free. (630) 969-0600 or ballydoylepub.com.

• There Goes the Neighborhood acoustic: 9 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Spears, 723 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling. Free. (847) 353-8933 or spearschicago.com.

• Twenty Over: 10 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Lamplighter Inn, 60 N. Bothwell St., Palatine. $3. (847) 991-2420 or lamplighters.com.

• (SIC), Linkin Experience: 10 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $7-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• The Giving Moon EP release, Mary Vaughn, Burly Gates, Arbor Creek: 7 p.m. Sunday, July 1, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $10-$25. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

• Gold Steps, Detour North: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 1, at Evolution Music, 923 Curtiss St., Downers Grove. (630) 541-5022 or evolutionmusic.com.

• Ciaran Lavery, Jess Robbins: 8 p.m. Sunday, July 1, at S.P.A.C.E., 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $12-$20. (847) 492-8860 or evanstonspace.com.

• Snarky Puppy, Damien Escobar, Jacob Collier: 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 2, at Ravinia Festival, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park. $20-$50. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org.

• Boy Band Night: 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 2, at Schaumburg Town Square, 100 Roselle Road, Schaumburg. Free. (847) 985-4000 or SchaumburgLibrary.org.

• Paramore, Foster the People, Jay Som: 7 p.m. Monday, July 2, at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, 1300 S. Linn White Dr., Chicago. $39-$99. (800) 745-3000 or livenation.com.

• Hello Weekend: 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 3, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. Free. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

• Mid-Summer Classics Concert Series with Big & Rich: 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 4, at Rotary Green and Village Green, 150 Lions Drive, Elk Grove Village. Free. elkgrove.org.

• Hillbilly Rockstarz: 6 p.m. Thursday, July 5, at Plaza del Lago, 1515 Sheridan Road, Wilmette. Free. (972) 801-6021 or plazadelago.com.

• Janelle Monae "Dirty Computer Tour": 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 5, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $99-$350. (312) 462-6300 or msg.com.

• Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with the venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings or to add an event, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.