Best bets: Arlington Park celebrating mothers
Full gallop
Arlington Park's grand opening weekend gets off to a galloping start with two major events. “Chicagoland's Largest Kentucky Derby Party” provides an occasion to wear fancy hats and swanky spring clothes to watch all the horse races on Saturday, while a special Mother's Day promotion falls on Sunday (the first 5,000 women through the gate get a free rose). Arlington Park is at 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. $10 admission. (847) 385-7410 or arlingtonpark.com. 12:15 p.m. Saturday, May 7, for Derby Party; 11:15 a.m. Sunday, May 8, for Mother's Day
Big top fun
The Piccadilly Circus shares its 25th anniversary celebrations locally with elephant acts, motorcycle daredevils, a contingent of clowns and more for eight performances this weekend at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates.$32-$44; $13-$23 kids $10 parking. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6; 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7; 1 and 3:30 and 6 p.m. Sunday, May 8
Angelic harmony
Member of the New York-based vocal quartet Anonymous 4 harmonize together through 13th century sacred Latin songs and modern Anglo-American tunes in the concert “Sisters in Spirit” tonight at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $30-$40. (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu/showtix. 8 p.m. Friday, May 6
Non-idle Aussie
Colin Hay, former frontman of the Aussie rock band Men at Work, performs an acoustic solo concert featuring music from his latest album, “Gathering Mercury,” tonight at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $30; $28 students/seniors. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 8 p.m. Friday, May 6
America's Sister
If you love comedian Loni Love from her appearances on “Chelsea Lately” and her Comedy Central special “America's Sister,” then don't miss her weekend engagement at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $20. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, May 6; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, May 7; 7 p.m. Sunday, May 8
Who's top dog?
See which cunning canine comes out on top in traditional agility competitions (and more oddball ones like “Best Trick” and “Fastest Eater”) at the Eighth Annual Rover Rescue Pet Dog Show Saturday at the Aurora Turners Club, 1335 Mitchell Road, Aurora. Free admission; $5 to register dogs. (630) 897-7454 or roverrescue.org. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7
‘Diva' dames
Get into the spirit of “girl group” songs and humor with the Saturday concerts of The Four Bitchin' Babes present “Diva Nation” at College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu/tickets. 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 7
The music survives
The Chicago Arts Orchestra commemorates early 20th century composers like Franz Schreker and Hans Krasa (whose works were banned or who perished in Nazi concentration camps) in the concert “Works of Survival: A Holocaust Concert” this Saturday at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $15-$25. (800) 745-3000 or chicagoartsorchestra.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7
Cute monsters
Those friendly and furry public TV monsters step out to sing and dance onstage in Sesame Street Live with the show “1-2-3 Imagine! with Elmo & Friends” at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $15-$30. Also $40 gold circle and $85 “Sunny Seats” available. (800) 745-3000 or sesamestreetlive.com. 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 12 and 13; 10:30 a.m., 2 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14; 1 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday May 15