Best bets: Fall colors, Robin Williams on stage, Ed Asner as FDR
Fall color kickoff
Celebrate the autumn season with Morton Arboretum's Fall Color Festival. There's a special Scarecrow Trail, a taffy apple bar, a Fall Color 5K Run and Walk and so many more activities. The arboretum is at 4100 Route 53, Lisle. $8 admission. Call (630) 968-0074 or visit mortonarb.org for a full schedule of events. 7 a.m. to sunset daily from Saturday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Nov. 1
Classical guitars
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra opens its 60th season this weekend by hosting a world-class guitar quartet, The Romeros, for a concert series featuring the music of Rossini, Resphigi and a special guitar piece by Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo. Hear them all at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $25-$63. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 1:30 and 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2; 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3; 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4
Ballet heat
The Miami City Ballet opens the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University's 2009-10 Dance Series this weekend with a mixed program including: Balanchine's "Symphony in Three Movements," Petipa's "Black Swan Pas De Deux" from "Swan Lake" and Twyla Tharp's "In the Upper Room." Get en pointe at 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $30-$89. (800) 982-2787 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2 and 3; 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4
Rapid-fire comedy
Academy Award-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams had to cancel his previously scheduled March dates at the Rosemont Theatre due to heart surgery. But now Williams is back touring his standup act this weekend at 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $49.50-$95. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2 and 3
CSO gala opener
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 2009-10 season Saturday with superstar American soprano Renée Fleming. On the bill are songs by Richard Strauss, Bernstein's Divertimento for Orchestra and Barber's "Knoxville: Summer of 1915." Celebrate at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $55-$249. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3
Asner as FDR
Emmy award-winning actor Ed Asner ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Up") portrays President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in a one-man show "FDR" this Saturday at Elgin Community College's Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $41-$45. (847) 622-0300 or tickets.elgin.edu. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3
She will survive
Disco queen Gloria Gaynor, best known for the legendary hit song "I Will Survive," performs in concert Saturday at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $35-$55. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3
Canadian Celtic
Great Big Sea is a Celtic group based out of Newfoundland, Canada. Hear them pay tribute to their many influences ranging from Bob Marley to Johnny Cash Saturday at the College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $28-$38. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3
Croon for you
Chicago entertainer Ron Hawking takes on the vocal personas of artists like Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Billy Joel and more in his concert show "The Men and Their Music." Hawking performs twice this Tuesday at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. $38 (lunch and dinner packages available). (630) 530-0111 or drurylaneoakbrook.com. 1:30 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6