Weekend picks: Who will Frank Caliendo channel at the Paramount?
Funnyman Frank
Comedian Frank Caliendo is famed for his spot-on impersonations of celebrities ranging from sports commentator John Madden to former President George W. Bush. See whom Caliendo channels in his comedy routine tonight at the Paramount Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $55-$65. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7
Local punks
The Northwest suburbs are again well-represented in Riot Fest, the annual celebration of punk music taking place at multiple venues in Chicago. Among the local bands on the bill are The Smoking Popes (Saturday, Oct. 8), Shot Baker (Oct. 8) and Dan Vapid & The Cheats (Sunday, Oct. 9). The fest also brings such powerhouse acts as Weezer, Urge Overkill and The Descendents. Times and prices vary by show and venue. For full schedule, go to riotfest.org. Runs Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 5-9
Scarecrows in St. Charles
See hundreds of handcrafted scarecrows and vote on your favorites at the 26th annual St. Charles Scarecrow Festival in Lincoln Park, at Main and Fourth streets, and various other downtown sites in St. Charles. Other highlights include a carnival, live entertainment, food, the Autumn on the Fox arts and crafts show and more. Free admission. Some activities require fees. Visit scarecrowfest.com. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7-8, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9
More chills and thrills
Halloween inspired Steel Beam Theatre's annual fundraiser, which consists of a haunted house called The Kane County Scaregrounds, at the Kane County Fairgrounds, Randall Road and Route 38 in St. Charles. Designed by former Walt Disney World artist R. J. Ogren, the 4,000-square-foot facility was built by members of Steel Beam's board of directors, some of whom may do double duty as Larry the Hairy Werewolf, Howard the Angry Comic Butcher and other residents of the scary domicile. See kcscaregrounds.com or steelbeamtheatre.com. 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 7 to 10 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 30
Chicago Cossacks
The Chicago Cossacks folk group presents an evening of traditional songs and dances of the Russian, Ukrainian and Russian Gypsy traditions at the Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St., Mount Prospect. Entertainment includes a brief commentary (in English) on song lyrics, and an overview and history of Eastern Slavic traditional dances and musical instruments. Free. Registration is required. (847) 253-5675 or mppl.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7
Wine dinner
Villaggio Ristorante hosts the Ferrari Carano Winery during a special wine dinner Friday. Menu items and pairings include carpaccio di manzo paired with Ferrari Carano pinot grigio; ravioli di zucca paired with Ferrari Carano Siena; cernia alla puttanesca paired with Ferrari Carano merlot; tagliata alla griglia paired with Ferrari Carano cabernet sauvignon; profiterole paired with adult chocolate milk. $65 per person. The restaurant is located at 1242 W. Lake St., Roselle. (630) 671-9000 or villaggioonline.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7
Frightful nights
Theatre Nebula and Music on Stage team up to produce “Dracula: The Musical” inspired by Bram Stoker's novel, with music by Frank Wildhorn and lyrics and book by Don Black and Christopher Hampton. The musical follows the famous count as he moves from his Transylvania estate to London where he encounters Mina, who he believes is his long-lost love reincarnated. See it at the Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center, 150 E. Wood St., Palatine. $19-$22. (847) 202-5222 or draculathemusical.net. Opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7; runs at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 6
All that glitters
The Prime XPO Jewelry and Gifts Show comes to the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. Free admission. (847) 303-4100 or schaumburgconventioncenter.com. Noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9
Stocking up for the stock
Help pick, shock, shuck, shell and store corn that will help feed Kline Creek Farm's cows and sheep over the winter during the farm's Corn Harvest event at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Free. (630) 876-5900 or dupageforest.org. 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Oct. 8-10
Svengoolie in Long Grove
See horror-show film icon Svengoolie, as he meets and greets fans at the Harper's Hollow Halloween Shop at 203 Robert Parker Coffin Road, Long Grove. (847) 478-8036. 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8
A boggy ‘Boo!'
Families with kids eager to get an early dose of Halloween fun might want to check out Ghost Stories and a stroll along a Ghost Trail starting Saturday at the Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside. $5; $2 kids. (815) 344-1294 or dnr.state.il.us/education/interprt/volo/VOLOBOG.htm. 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8
Want to waltz?
Join the Dance World group for a dance party at the Triphahn Community Center, 1685 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. Adults of all ages and dancing abilities are welcome to take part in ballroom, swing, Latin and hustle dances. Attire is dressy/casual. No jeans or gym shoes allowed. Light refreshments will be provided. Admission is $5 for members and $10 for guests. There is an additional $3 charge for the dance lesson. Visit ballroomchicago.com/dance_world.htm or call (847) 429-5922. An optional one-hour waltz lesson starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8; open dancing runs from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.
Transformative tale
Chicago's classical Indian dance company Natya Dance Theatre presents a Bharata Natyam version of the famed South Indian folk tale “The Flowering Tree” on Saturday at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $24-$50. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8
Classical mix
The DuPage Symphony Orchestra opens its season with music by Shostakovich, Stephen Albert and Tchaikovsky for a concert titled “Passionate and Poignant” on Saturday at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $28-$30; $25-$27 seniors; $11-$13 students. (630) 778-1003 or dupagesymphony.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8
Dumpster drumming
Recycled and once-trashed materials are retrofitted to make musical instruments in the high-energy concert revue ScrapArtsMusic this Sunday at the Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $36; $34 seniors; $16 teens; $8 kids. (847) 543-2300 or scrapartsmusic.com or clcillinois.edu/tickets. 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9