Weekend picks: St. Patrick's parades, Kids Expo, Michael Buble & more
West Suburban Irish St. Patrick's Day parade
The annual parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday from Naperville North High School, 899 N. Mill St., then proceeds south to Jefferson, east to Main Street, then south on Main to Water Street. www.wsirish.org. The St. Paddy's Day 5K Walk or Run starts at 8 a.m. Saturday from West and Jackson, near Centennial Beach. For details, see stpaddysday5k.org/. 5K at 8 a.m.; parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 16
Family fun
Bring your little ones for all kinds of indoor fun at the Kids Expo this weekend. There will be a reptile show, face painting, crafts and other activities at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, 1551 Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $9; $6 kids. (847) 303-4100 or familytimemagazine.com. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 16; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 17
Palatine Paints the Town Green parade
Kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 16, at Wood and Oak streets in downtown Palatine and continues west on Wood to Smith and north to Colfax. The fun includes a scavenger hunt from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants can register on the website or at the American Legion, 122 W. Palatine Road. Stick around for entertainment and food specials at local restaurants. stpatspalatine.com.
Changing rooms
Get ideas for sprucing up the interiors and exterior of your abode at The 33rd Annual St. Charles Home Remodeling Show this weekend at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 Randall Road, St. Charles. Free. (630) 385-4000 or chicagohomeshows.net. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 16-17
Eco living
See how you can live your life in a more environmentally friendly way by visiting the Green Living Fair this weekend at the Libertyville Civic Center, 135 W. Church St., Libertyville. Free admission. (847) 918-8880 or libciviccenter.org. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16
Lake Zurich central
The Lake Zurich Chamber of Commerce shines a civic light on its Lake County businesses and organizations at its Everything Expo at Concord Banquets, 20922 N. Rand Road, Kildeer. Free. (847) 438-5572 or lzareachamber.com. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 16
Barrington Celtic Fest
This year's fest will be held indoors at McGonigal's Pub & The Loft at 105 S. Cook St., Barrington. Expect lots of live Irish music and dancers, bagpipers, giveaways, special guests, local merchants, and Irish food and beverages. Free. See mcgonigalspub.com for details. 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, March 16, and 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday, March 17
Cooking with beer class
Saranello's chef Mychael Bonner is collaborating with Prairie Krafts Brewing for an interactive demonstration on how to incorporate beer into cooking and how to pair it with your food. On Saturday, Bonner will demonstrate how to make beer-battered fish and chips, beer-braised brisket and sticky toffee pudding with homemade stout ice cream. The class costs $32.95 per person. Saranello's is at 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 777-6878 or saranellos.com/. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16
Lake Villa's St. Patrick's Day parade
The annual parade begins at Palombi School, 133 McKinley Ave., and ends at the Metra station on Cedar Avenue. The festivities continue at the Lake Villa VFW, 130 Grand Ave., where visitors can buy a corned beef and cabbage lunch. www.lake-villa.org. Noon Saturday, March 16
St. Patrick's Day at FitzGerald's
FitzGerald's Nightclub is raising the tent again for its St. Patrick's Day festivities. The Mayer School Irish Dancers kick off the day with Paul McHugh and Mary Mayer McHugh from 2 to 6 p.m. in the heated tent, followed by The Dooley Brothers from 7 to 11. Inside the club, Fitz & the Celts play at 3 p.m., The Belvederes at 6 and 9 p.m., and Cannonball at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. St. Patrick's Day fare and your favorite Irish beverages will make the day complete. It all takes place at FitzGerald's Nightclub, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $10 at the door; $5 for kids 12 and younger. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com. Doors open at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16
St. Patrick's Day Fireworks
The Dundee Scottish Bagpipes will kick off The Thom McNamee Memorial St. Patrick's Day Fireworks over the Fox River in East Dundee. Get there early to grab a spot; parking bans will be in effect. dundeestpats.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 16
Displacement dramas
The Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the local premiere of "An American Dream," a new opera set in the 1940s that follows a Japanese American forced to leave her home and a German-Jewish immigrant preoccupied by those she left behind. It features a score by Jack Perla and libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo, and plays this weekend at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $55-$125. Sung in English with projected titles. (312) 334-7777 or lyricopera.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, March 17
Sister Suffragettes
Commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment by seeing Annette Baldwin's performance in "The Long Road to Victory." Learn about five suffragettes who protested for women to get the vote at Wood Dale Public Library, 520 N. Wood Dale Road. Free admission, but reservations are requested and donations are appreciated. (630) 766-6762 or wooddalemuseum.org or wooddalelibrary.org. 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 17
Lone Star singers
The Texas Tenors, famed for their classical/country crossover songs on "America's Got Talent," perform a rescheduled concert at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $50-$70. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 4 p.m. Sunday, March 17
'Sway' with him
Spend An Evening with Michael Bublé in concert at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $125-$750. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 8 p.m. Sunday, March 17