Best bets: Parades galore, Great America 'officially' opens, play fest

Saluting those who servedRemember those brave men and women who died while serving our country this weekend by attending a Memorial Day parade or ceremony in your local community. Parades are scheduled in Arlington Heights, Barrington, Itasca, Naperville, Palatine, St. Charles, Wauconda and many more communities. Various times on Monday morning, May 31New at Six FlagsThe celebrated 1950s Kiddie Land roller coaster Little Dipper lives another day as one of the new attractions officially debuting this weekend at Six Flags Great America. Also new is the live action adventure game MagiQuest and the Glow in the Park Parade. Catch them all at I-94 and Route 132, Gurnee. $34.99 online; At the park: $54.99; $34.99 for kids under 48 inches; $15 one-day parking. (847) 249-2133 or sixflags.org. Hours vary daily between 10 a.m. to 9 or 10 p.m. through the summer seasonPlay timeJanus Theatre presents its first-ever Elgin Short Play Festival this weekend, which focuses on the work of playwright Theresa Rebeck ("Law and Order," "Bad Dates") at the Elgin Art Showcase, 8th Floor of the Professional Building, 164 Division St., Elgin. $12. (847) 841-1713 or janustheatre.wordpress.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 28 and 29; 3 p.m. Sunday, May 30Art you can buyMore than 150 painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelers and other artists are featured in the Prairie Arts Festival, which is held this weekend on the grounds of the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center, Schaumburg Road and Summit Drive, Schaumburg. Free admission. (847) 923-3605 or prairiecenter.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 29 and 30Art architectureCome for the art or tour the grand house this weekend at The Cuneo Gardens Art Fest, held at the Cuneo Mansion and Gardens, 1350 Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills. Free admission, but there is a $5 parking fee. Mansion tours are $10. (847) 726-8669 or dwevents.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 29 and 30Temple chorusesMore than 200 singers gather together this weekend for the fourth annual Bahai Choral Festival Concerts at the Bahai Temple's House of Worship, Sheridan Road and Linden Avenue, Wilmette. Free admission. ((847) 853-2330 or bahaitemple.org. 9 and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 30Too Badu for youSoul and RB singer Erykah Badu may have shocked the world with her nude appearance in her latest music video, but you probably won't have to shield your eyes when she performs next week at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $49.50-$69.50. (800) 745-3000 or thechicagotheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, June 2 and 3Fancy danceA world premiere by choreographer Aszure Barton and revivals of Alejandro Cerrudo's "Deep Down Dos" and Toru Shimazaki's "Bardo" are all featured in Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's Summer Series next week at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $25-$90. (312) 850-9744 or (312) 334-7777 or hubbardstreetdance.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 3; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 4; 3 p.m. Sunday, June 6New sitcom star?Don't miss your chance to boast to your friends "I saw comedian Billy Gardell live," especially now that CBS has just picked up the new Gardell-helmed sitcom "Mike Molly" for the 2010 fall season. Gardell performs next week at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $17-$19. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 3; 8 and 10:15 p.m. Saturday, June 4; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, June 5; 7 p.m. Sunday, June 6False700506The 1950 Little Dipper roller coaster formerly of Kiddie Land in Melrose Park rises again in Gurnee at Six Flags Great America.Courtesy Six Flags Great AmericaFalse