Cheap stuff to do: Irish dancing, 'Stuart Little', alternative pets
Cheap events? Contact Laura Stewart at lstewart@dailyherald.com
Free
Start your St. Patrick's Day a little bit early
The McNulty Irish Dancers get their toes tapping for an early St. Patrick's Day celebration. The dance troupe begins its performance on the upper floor of Paddy's on the Square Irish shop in downtown Long Grove, and will move outdoors (weather permitting) for the second half of the show.
Facts: Runs 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 7, at Paddy's on the Square, 228 Robert Parker Coffin Road in downtown Long Grove. Free. (847) 634-0888 or visit LongGroveOnline.com.
A free trip (sort of) to jolly, old England
The Mount Prospect Public Library hosts a "Discover England's Southwest" program - a virtual visit to the villages and coastal areas in England, ranging from Gloucestershire to Land's End in Cornwall. Guests will learn about Devon cream teas, see thatched cottages and hear about the legend of Stonehenge. Registration is required.
Facts: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, at the Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St., Mount Prospect. Free. Call to register. (847) 253-5675 or mppl.org.
$10 and under
'Kidjazz!'
The Arts Center Jazz Ensemble of the McAninch Arts Center hosts a "Kidjazz!" program for jazz lovers of all ages. Learn about the background, the musical instruments and the musicians associated with jazz music.
Facts: 7 p.m. Friday, March 6, at the McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $8-$10. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org.
A little mouse has a big adventure
Steel Beam Children's Theatre presents a stage adaptation of E.B. White's beloved book "Stuart Little," the tale of a mouse who comes to live with a human family.
Facts: 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $10. (630) 587-8521 or SteelBeamTheatre.com.
Meet the tarantula of your dreams
If you have ever dreamed of owning a cuddly kitten, tarantula or scorpion, stop by the All Animal Expo to see what pet might be available. The expo features reptiles, birds, puppies (no puppy mills), kittens, poultry and exotic animals including hedgehogs, scorpions and, yes, tarantulas for sale. Pet owners can buy cages and other pet supplies, too.
Facts: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester Road, Wheaton. $5. Children ages 10 and younger are free. (630) 213-6050 or allanimalexpo.com.
Two hours with two presidents
The Lincoln Bicentennial DuPage Coalition hosts a get-together with two former U.S. presidents, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Actors R.J. Lindsey and Max Daniels portray the presidents as they discuss whatever comes to mind. What will be the topics? It's anyone's guess.
Facts: 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Glen Ellyn History Center, 800 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. Admission is $3. Call (630) 469-1867 for information.
Still a bargain
Home and cabin show
The Third Annual Lake Home and Cabin Show features more than 175 exhibitors from across the country, showcasing items relating to a lake home and cabin lifestyle. Highlights include presentations, a live indoor prairie garden, a special loon exhibit and a log cabin built on site at the show.
Facts: 2 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 6; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. Admission is $5-$12. Children younger than 5 are free. (847) 303-4100 or lakehomeandcabinshow.com.