Best bets: Highland fling, garden boutique
Take out your tartan today to celebrate all things from Scotland at the 23rd Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games. There's a Kilted Mile Run/Walk, sport and dance competitions, a British car show, Celtic concerts and more at the Oak Brook Polo Grounds, 700 Oak Brook Road, Oak Brook. $75 weekend pass. $12-$17 daily; kids ages 12 and under admitted free. (708) 447-5092 or Chicago-scots.org. 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 19; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 20
Garden boutique
Tour three private Barrington Hills estate gardens, go antique shopping and more at the 8th annual Barrington Country Garden and Antique Fair today and Saturday. Proceeds benefit the charity Hands of Hope. Free parking and shuttle from Barrington High School, 1616 W. Main St., and 800 Hart Road (Saturday only), Barrington. Tickets are $50-$75. Call (847) 622-5201 or visit handsofhopeonline.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20
Pint-size pirates
Shanghai the kids (ages 3-10) Friday or Saturday morning for the Mercury Skyline Cruiseline's "Wacky Pirate Cruise." Buccaneer Bob narrates the 90-minute lake and river cruise, which also includes discounts to the Field Museum's "Real Pirates" exhibit. Visit the "pirate cove" at the southeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive in Chicago. $23; $13 kids. (312) 332-1353 or wackypiratecruise.com. 10:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays; through Aug. 15
Ralph & renovations
Kids music favorite Ralph's World and opening act, Dr. Cool and Pride, help to reopen the renovated Habitat Park of the Kohl Children's Museum with a special fundraising outdoor concert today at 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. $25 concert and museum admission. (847) 832-6600 or kohlchildrensmuseum.org. 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 19
Aqua teen force
See local teen bands battle it out when the statewide Illinois Battle of the Bands makes a pit stop Saturday at the Algonquin Swimming Pool & Splashpad, 599 Longwood Drive, Algonquin. Admission is $5. algonquin.org or myspace.com/illinoisbattleofthebands. 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 20
Indoor Slaughter
A perfect pre-Father's Day gift for football-loving dads is the playoff game between the undefeated Chicago Slaughter versus the Wisconsin Wolfpack. See serious indoor football action Saturday at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $8-$40; $10 parking. (800) 745-3000 or searscentre.com. 7:05 p.m. Saturday, June 20
Daddy beach day
In honor of Father's Day, the Mundelein Park & Recreation District is briefly admitting dads (accompanied by their paying kids) for free Sunday at Diamond Lake Beach, 1016 Diamond Lake Road, Mundelein. Regular admission is $7 otherwise; free for kids ages 3 and under. (847) 566-0650 or mundeleinparks.org. 10 to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 21
Ability awareness
People with disabilities and caregivers can catch special exhibits, conference sessions and more next week when the Abilities Expo Midwest comes to the Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. Free admission. (310) 450-8831 ext. 130 or abilitiesexpo.com. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 25-26; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 27
Sans Clark
Historical scholar Clay Jenkinson (best known for his portrayal of Thomas Jefferson) tackles another American icon with a Thursday performance as famed explorer Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis and Clark fame) at the Performing Arts Center of Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. See Jenkinson and WGN radio personality John Williams for $25. (847) 925-6100 or harpercollege.edu. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25