Take a peek at how chocolates are made in Long Grove

Cheap events? Contact Laura Stewart at lstewart@dailyherald.com

Free

Can you eat 70 pounds of chocolate?

Find out some of the secrets to making delectable chocolate treats during The Long Grove Confectionery's "Easter Carnival and Open House." Guests can get an up-close tour of the chocolate factory, sample some chocolates and purchase Easter treats including chocolate bunnies, eggs and chicks. Take part in the "Count the Jelly Bellys" contest and meet "Mr. Jelly Belly" who, along with his Jelly Belly mobile, will be on hand to greet guests. One lucky raffle winner will receive a 70-pound chocolate bunny. Youngsters can hop on small carnival rides and view vehicles at the "Touch a Truck" exhibit.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (rain or shine) Sunday, April 5, at Long Grove Confectionery Co., 333 Lexington Drive, Buffalo Grove. Free admission. (847) 459-3100 or longgrove.com.

A 'Spring Fling'

Browse through handcrafted items at the craft and vendor fair, and then stop by the bake sale for some tasty treats during the "Spring Fling 2009" event.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at Byrd School, 265 Wellington Ave., Elk Grove Village. Free admission. Open to the public. (708) 906-8190.

Follow the yellow brick road

Celebrate the 70th anniversary of the beloved 1939 family film "The Wizard of Oz" with an afternoon of "Oz" events at the Des Plaines Public Library. See two screenings of the film and take part in a sing-a-long of the film's tunes. All ages can dress up and march in the "Oz" costume parade. The library's own Singing Librarians troupe will present a live musical performance of "The Wizard of Oz." Treats and prizes round out the day.

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at the Des Plaines Public Library, 1501 Ellinwood St., Des Plaines. Free. No registration is required. Call (847) 376-2839 or visit dppl.org.

'The Habitation of Dragons'

See "The Habitation of Dragons," Horton Foote's drama about two sparring brothers in Depression-era Texas.

7:30 p.m. Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4, at the Perry Theatre at Aurora University, 1305 Kenilworth Place, Aurora. Free, but reservations are required; nonperishable food donations are requested to benefit the Holy Angels Church Food Pantry in Aurora. (630) 844-4924.

$10 and under

Mary's world

Actress Lynn Rymarz portrays Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of America's 16th president, in "The Trials of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln." See Mary Todd as she meets her future husband and becomes a mother, the nation's first lady and a mourning wife after her husband's assassination. The program also focuses on Mary Todd Lincoln's later years - including her stay at a mental asylum in Batavia.

Noon to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, at The Garlands of Barrington Performing Arts Center, 1000 Garlands Lane, Barrington. $5 for the show. Note: an optional preshow lunch of quiche and dessert is available for $21.56 (includes show). (847) 304-1996 or TheGarlands.com.

Now that's a lot of antiques!

Arlington Park's "Sixth Annual Spring Antiques Show" features more than 150 booths of antiques from dealers across the United States and Canada. Antiques will be on display throughout the upper and lower indoor levels of the trackside clubhouse.

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, April 3; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 4; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 5, at Arlington Park, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. Admission is $8. Children under age 12 are free. Visit arlingtonparkantiques.com. (708) 366-2710 or (847) 870-6747 or arlingtonpark.com.

A night of rock and roll

A Birdsong Valentine, Moxxy, 3 Years Hollow and Echo Son provide an evening of rock music at Durty Nellie's.

8 p.m. Friday, April 3, Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $6. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Classic Roald Dahl

The tale of "James and the Giant Peach," by famed children's book author Roald Dahl ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"), becomes a musical at the Paramount Theatre. Seven-year-old James Henry Trotter's parents are tragically killed by a rhinoceros. James comes to live with his two cruel aunts and, through a bit of magic, stumbles into an amazing adventure with an enormous peach.

Showtimes at 9:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 7 p.m., Thursday April 9, at the Paramount Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $8- $10. (630) 896-6666 or theparamounttheatre.com.