DuPage Co. families calendar

• Submit events at least two weeks in advance to dupageneighbor@dailyherald.com or by fax, (630) 955-0895.

Today

• A teen gaming program will be offered from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. today at the Addison Public Library, 2 Friendship Plaza. Students in grades six through 12 will be able to play Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution, board games and more. Admission is free. For details, call the Adult Services desk at (630) 458-3318.

• Bensenville Elementary School District 2 Spanish Storytime for toddlers and preschoolers will be offered from 4 to 4:30 p.m. today and April 7 at Bensenville Public Library, 200 S. Church Road, Bensenville. Parents of Spanish speakers and those who want their child exposed to the Spanish language are invited to enjoy stories, rhymes, finger plays and songs. For details, contact District 2 Birth-to-Three Coordinator Christy Poli at (630) 766-5940, ext. 116. Parents can also call the Bensenville Library at (630) 766-4642.

Wednesday

• The Fox Valley Bicycle and Ski Club will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave. Three brothers will discuss their bicycle journey from their parent's home in Aurora to Kitty Hawk, N.C., on a quest to spend quality time together. Guests are welcome. The club meets the second Wednesday of each month. For details, visit www.fvbsc.org.

• Artist Paul Merklein will help celebrate Youth Art Month at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Addison Public Library, 2 Friendship Plaza. Merklein will paint characters from children's books and people from the audience on a 6-foot-tall canvas. The program is free, but tickets are required. For details, call the Ask Me Desk at (630) 458-3338.

• Parenting classes will be offered at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through March 19 at First United Methodist Church of Downers Grove, 1032 Maple Ave. Upcoming topics include: The Gift of Struggle on Wednesday and The Need for Nature on March 19. Nurse Shelly Zabielski will lead each class. For details, call (630) 968-7120.

• The Literacy Volunteers of DuPage English Conversation Groups for ESL students and their tutors meet from 10 a.m. to noon the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at the Naper Boulevard Library in the lower-level meeting room, 2035 S. Naper Blvd., Naperville. The program is free. For details, call Mary Bannon at (630) 961-4100, ext. 2231.

Thursday

• Michael Sullivan, author of "Connecting Boys with Books" will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Bloomingdale Public Library, 101 Fairfield Way. Sullivan will discuss how parents, teachers and librarians can help boys by teaching them to love reading. Admission is free, but reservations are required. For details, call Youth Services at (630) 924-2740,

• Students will perform the musical "West Side Story" at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at Driscoll Catholic High School, 555 N. Lombard Road, Addison. Tickets cost $7. The school's Parents' Club will offer a special dinner and play option at the Saturday performance. The cost is $20, which includes admission to the musical, as well as pasta, salad, bread and dessert. For details or advance tickets, call (630) 543-6310.

• Willowbrook High School choral ensembles will present their winter concert at 7 p.m. Thursday in the school's auditorium, 1250 S. Ardmore Ave., Villa Park. The beginning mixed chorus, the treble choir and the concert choir will perform works by Mozart, Randall Thompson, John Rutter and Thomas Morley. Tickets may be purchased at the door. Senior Citizen Gold Cards and student activity passes will be honored. For details, call the music department at (630) 530-3963.

• AbilityLinks Consortium Employment Expo registration deadline is Thursday. The expo is from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. March 20 at the Doubletree Guest Suites, 2111 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove. Keynote speaker is J. Randolph Lewis, senior vice president of distribution and logistics at Walgreens Co. The event is for exhibitors, job seekers, employers and service providers. For details or online registration, visit www.AbilityLinks.org or call Steve Fry at (630) 942-3854.

• The Great Egg Scramble registration ends Thursday. The program offers children ages 2-10 with an adult companion time to view animal presentations, crafts and stories at the Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton. The events include an egg hunt held rain or shine at 10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. Saturday or 12:30 p.m. Sunday. The fee is $10 per resident, $15 for others. For details, call (630) 665-5534.

• The Winfield Public Library Friends will hold the book sale beginning from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the library, 0S291 Winfield Road, Winfield. Admission on Thursday is $5. The sale continues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday with free admission. For details, call (630) 653-7599.

• The Glenside Public Library will offer after school adventures for grades 4-5, Keeping secrets, Explore Diaries, Codes and More from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday at the library, 25 E. Fullerton Ave., Glendale Heights. Registration is requested. A movie club is at 2 p.m. Saturday. For details, call (630) 260-1550.

• Glenbard South High School will present the comedy "You Can't Take It with You" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the school, Butterfield Road and Park Boulevard, Glen Ellyn. Tickets are $5 with all seats reserved. Booster family passes may be used. For details or tickets, call (6300 942-6640.

Friday

• The Lombard Park District will hold a dance for students in grades six through eight from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Lombard Community Building, 433 E. St. Charles Road, Lombard. Teens from Lombard, Oakbrook Terrace and Villa Park may attend. Student ID is required. Admission is free with a Teen Club Membership card, $5 for others. For details, call (630) 620-7322 or visit www.lombardparks.com.

• The Carol Stream Park District will hold a Where the Party's At from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at the Simkus Recreation Center, 849 Lies Road, Carol Stream. The event for middle school students includes a DJ, dance contests and Power Play. Admission is $8. Those attending must have a WTPA ID that costs $5. For details, call (630) 784-6100.

• A performance of the "Wizard of Oz" will be presented by the Carol Stream Park District at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Glenbard North High School, 990 N. Kuhn Road, Carol Stream. Tickets are $7 in advance, $8 at the door. For details, call (630) 784-6100.

• A spring/summer children's clothing and toy sale will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Warrenville Fire Station No. 1, 3S472 Batavia Road, Warrenville. The half-price sale is from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. No children, please. The sale is cash only. For details, call Beth at (630) 393-0639.

Saturday

• Madison Elementary School's fifth annual Fun Fair will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the school, 150 W. Madison St., Lombard. Admission is free. Wristbands that allow unlimited games cost $10. Individual game tickets and raffle entries also will be sold at the door. Raffle prizes include overnight hotel stays and Mia, the newest American Girl doll. For details, call (630) 827-4100.

• Rick Pickren will present "Songs from the Lonesome Prairie" at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Villa Park Public Library, 305 S. Ardmore Ave. Pickren, a descendant of Buffalo Bill Cody, will perform both traditional and original tunes to accompany a series of historical anecdotes. Admission is free. For details, call (630) 834-1164 or visit www.villapark.lib.il.us.

• Loretto Early Childhood Center will hold a Pizza with the Easter Bunny fundraiser from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the center, 1600 Somerset Lane, Wheaton. The event includes pizza provided by Gino's East, an egg hunt, games and prizes, face painting and a keepsake picture frame from a visit with the Easter Bunny. The fee is $25 per family. A silent auction also will be held. Raffle tickets are $1 or 12 for $10. Tickets are available at Wheaton Religious Gift Shop, 113 W. Front St., Wheaton or by sending a check to Loretto Center, ATTN: Sister Julie Stapleton, 1600 Somerset Lane, Wheaton, IL 60187. For details, call (630) 690-8410.

• Congregation Beth Shalom will present "Passover: The Musical" at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the synagogue, 772 W. Fifth Ave., Naperville. Music for the Purim play was written by Wheaton residents Gail Sonkin and Bob Osgood. Advance tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for children and $25 per family. At the door, admission costs $15 for adults and $7 for children. For details, call (630) 961-1818.

• Leones y Corderos (Lions and Lambs) will be present in Spanish from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Addison Public Library, 2 Friendship Plaza. The program will include stories and games about spring. Registration is required. Children 9 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. For details, call the Ask Me Desk at (630) 458-3338.

• The Warrenville Youth and Family Services Bowlathon will be Saturday at Bowling Green Sports Center, 30W150 Roosevelt Road, West Chicago. Warrenville mayor David Brummel will throw out the ceremonial first ball, then fellow bowlers may play from 9 to 11:30 a.m. or from noon to 3 p.m. The event also will include a raffle of more than 40 prizes. Registration is required. Lane sponsorships are available. Proceeds will benefit WYFS, a division of Outreach Community Ministries that provides individual and family counseling, referral services, Hispanic outreach, youth programs, crisis intervention and more. For details, call Linda Miller at (630) 682-1910, ext. 244.

• The Lombard Park District's Take Time for Tots Day will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Sunset Knoll Recreation Center, 820 S. Finley Road, Lombard. The event will include pony rides, storytelling, crafts, music, adaptive equipment demonstrations and more, as well as visits by Lombard police officers and Ronald McDonald. The Lombard Kiwanis Club will distribute DNA ID kits. Admission and all activities are free. For details, visit www.lombardparks.com or call (630) 620-7322.

• Kidz Kabaret will perform "The Electric Express" at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Saturday; noon Sunday; 7 p.m. March 18 and 10 a.m. and noon March 22 at The Comedy Shrine, 22 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. The musical is a tribute to the 1970s. Tickets cost $8, $7 for students and senior citizens and $6 for children 10 and younger. For details, call Kidz Kabaret at (630) 355-9212.

• The Steel Beam Theatre will present "The Velveteen Rabbit" Saturdays during March at the theater, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. Show times are 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. March 22 and 29. Tickets cost $10. Reservations are required. For details, call (630) 587-8521 or visit www.steelbeamtheatre.com.

• Wheaton College's Community School of Arts presents the Piano Monster Concerts at 4:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday at Edman Memorial Chapel, northeast corner of Washington and Franklin streets, Wheaton. About 200 students will perform in ensembles on eight grand pianos. Entry level students perform at 4:30 p.m. and intermediate and advanced level students at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 for both concerts. For details, call (630) 752-5518.

• The Carol Stream Public Library will hold a non-competitive chess play for ages 8 and older from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the library, 616 Hiawatha Drive, Carol Stream. For details, call (630) 653-0755.

• Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 will hold a Spanish Parent University beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Johnson School, 2S700 Continental Drive, Warrenville. Lunch will be provided. The free event is for the entire family with childcare and children's activities. For details, call Tim Callahan at (630) 393-1787.

• West Chicago's Community High School will present an All Night Long St. Patrick's Day Bash and auction beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday at Klein Creek Golf Club, 1N333 Pleasant Hill Road, Winfield. The event will benefit a safe after-prom event for students. Tickets are $20 per person, $25 at the door. Donations will be accepted. For details, call (630) 202-9654.

• The YWCA Child Care Resource and Referral will hold a workshop, How to Start a Family Child Care Home from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at 739 Roosevelt Road, building 8, Suite 200, Glen Ellyn. Advance registration is required. The fee is $10. For details, call (630) 790-3030, ext. 474.

• The Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois will hold its annual Gem Mineral Fossil show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in the K Commons Center of the College of DuPage, near Fawell Boulevard and Lambert Road, Glen Ellyn. Parking and admission are open and free for everyone. The show features members and their knowledge and collections of fossils, rocks and gems. For details, visit the Web site at www. esconi.org.

Sunday

• The ABD Cycle Club and Prairie Path Cycles will hold an indoor downhill cycling event from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Prairie Path Cycles Batavia, 122 W. Wilson St. Participants may race along a simulated downhill course for up to 20 minutes on a computerized cycling trainer. Each rider should raise a minimum of $20 in pledges. Proceeds will be donated to the Batavia Police Department's Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program. Registration is required. For details or a pledge form, visit www.prairiepathcycles.com.