Weekend picks: Selena Gomez, Gilbert Gottfried come to Rosemont

Rising pop star

Selena Gomez, the latest actor-musician double-threat to hit the entertainment world, will make a stop this weekend in the suburbs. Gomez, a star of the “Wizards of Waverly Place” television show, is equally known for her acting — she appeared in “Spring Breakers” earlier this year — and her contemporary pop, as showcased on her latest album, “Stars Dance.” Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $25; ticketmaster.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22

FRIDAY

Coins and currency

Seventy-five dealers from 22 states will be on hand to buy sell and trade collectible paper money and coins at the National Coin and Currency Convention at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare, 5440 N. River Road, Rosemont. A rare currency auction is also featured. Admission is $5 for a three-day pass. Visit pcdaonline.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, and Saturday, Nov. 23; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24

Not cool to be cruel

Alphabet Soup Productions updates three fairy tales with anti-bullying messages as part of “The Bully Show: The Anti-Bullying Musical.” The Chicago company performs the family-friendly show at Naperville's North Central College at Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton, Naperville; $6.75-$8 groups, $9 single tickets; (630) 932-1555 or absproductions.com. 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22

Holiday launch

To help usher in the end-of-year shopping season (and to show off its newly renovated Village Green), the Oakbrook Center is holding a Holiday Extravaganza complete with live reindeer, art creations and more. Get a jump on holiday shopping at Route 83 and 22nd Street, Oak Brook. No admission charge. (630) 573-0700 or oakbrookcenter.com. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22

Wildfire hosts beer dinner

Wildfire picks its favorite seasonal brews and pairs them with a five-course meal. Featured brewers are: Anderson Valley, Krombacher, Stone Brewing Co., Finch's Beer Co. and Almar Orchards. Food includes grilled Pacific swordfish. $50 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Wildfire is located at 235 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. (847) 279-7900 or wildfirerestaurant.com. 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22

'Willy Wonka Junior'

Find out who gets the golden ticket as youngsters try to win a tour of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory in the “Willy Wonka Junior” production at the Community Recreation Center, 505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg. Tickets are $11 for adults; $6 for youth, ages 12 and younger; free for children under age 2 (if being held). (847) 490-7015 or parkfun.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, and Saturday, Nov. 23; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24

'The Christmas Tree'

The Gallery Theater presents “The Christmas Tree,” a comical tale of two strangers who arrive at a Christmas tree lot on Christmas Eve and find there is only one tree left. The program runs at the Gallery 200/Studio, 203 Turner Court, West Chicago. Tickets are $9; students and seniors are $8. For tickets and information, call (630) 234-5919 or send email to gallerytickets@aol.com. Showtimes at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, and Saturday, Nov. 23; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24

Elfing it

Mitchell Fain reprises his role as the sardonic elf Crumpet in Theater Wit's 10th anniversary production of “The Santaland Diaries,” inspired by humorist David Sedaris' stint as a Macy's elf. The show opens, at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22 and 23, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24

Troy Quin'Ton

Chicago area R&B singer Troy Quin'Ton presents “An Evening with Troy Quin'Ton” at the Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Songs from the 1970s to the present will be featured. Concert is for guests ages 18 and older. For reserved seating, send email to tquinton@troyquinton.com. Free admission. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22

Hungarian Folk

The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble is often held up as one of the world's great folkloric dance ensembles. Catch the acclaimed dance troupe tonight at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $25-$68. (800) 982-2787 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22

Oh, Gilbert!

Generations of kids know comedian Gilbert Gottfried from voicing the villainous parrot Iago in Disney's “Aladdin,” but he's edgier for adults-only audiences live onstage. See Gottfried this weekend at Zanies Comedy Club at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $25 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23

Getting a-head for the holidays

Separated from Santa and mounted on a taxidermy shop wall, Dasher needs a miracle to rejoin the reindeer team in Quest Theatre Ensemble's holiday musical “The People's A Christmas Wish,” at The Blue Theater, on the St. Gregory Church Campus, 1609 W. Gregory St., Chicago. Admission to the family-friendly production is free, but reservations are required and donations are accepted. (312) 458-0895 or questensemble.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24

SATURDAY

Beefy and sleek

Classic car enthusiasts and gear heads who crave horsepower should check out the Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $25. (847) 692-2222 or mcacn.com. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24

Christmas on the Fox

Find a variety of holiday items — everything from homemade dips and soup mixes to holiday greens and more — at the Christmas on the Fox Art & Craft Show in the Prairie Events Center at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Holiday trees, music and food are also featured. Admission is $2. Visit artoftheheartlandinc.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, and Sunday, Nov. 24

Model railroad club

View the annual holiday train display from the Kishwaukee Valley & Eakin Creek Model Railroad Club at the Prairie Lodge Social Lounge, 12880 Del Web Blvd., Huntley. There will be a drawing for three Lionel trains. This year's model is a Santa Fe Super Chief O Gauge train set with traditional war bonnet markings. Free admission. (847) 669-2392. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, and Sunday, Nov. 24

Faith singers

Contemporary Christian singer TobyMac brings his Hits Deep Tour with guests Brandon Heath, Mandisa, Jamie Grace, Colton Dixon, Chris August and Capital Kings this Saturday to the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $31-$41; $20 parking. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23

Whatever happens ...

Janus Theater Company is among the ensembles participating in “Whatever Happens ... Happens,” Elgin's celebration of the arts featuring performances by Project 606 Dance, Elgin Theatre Company and Koopa & Los Mysterios among others along with the announcement of Elgin's inaugural Fringe Festival in 2014, at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., Elgin; free. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23

Nuns for all seasons

Steel Beam Theatre welcomes the endearingly quirky Mount Saint Helen's nuns in “Nuncrackers: A Nunsense Christmas Musical.” The holiday edition of composer/lyricist Dan Goggin's “Nunsense” series finds the sisters putting on an annual Christmas pageant featuring the Reverend Mother as the Sugar Plum Fairy at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $23-28; (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23

'That's the way ...'

KC and the Sunshine Band, a group that combined rock, soul, funk and disco in such songs as “That's the Way (I Like It)” and “Shake Your Booty,” will revisit those hits from yesteryear at a performance this weekend at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton, Naperville. Tickets start at $60. Go to finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23

SUNDAY

Art indoors

The summer art festival season may be over, but The Inside Art & Wine Show gives you an indoor chance to find pieces to decorate your home. Plus, there's a wine tasting, too. Experience it today at the Highland Park Country Club, 1201 Park Avenue West, Highland Park. No admission charge, but $10 for the wine tasting. (847) 926-4300 or theinsideshow.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24

Hearty ales

Sample a number of brews at the Ale Quest Craft Beer Festival, which finishes up today at the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, 2001 N. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. $34-$69. (888) 935-6878 or medievaltimes.com. 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24

Sweet home Chicago

Find out why the Windy City became such a magnet for classic confectionary creations when Leslie Goddard presents “Chicago's Sweet Candy History” this Sunday at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $10; $5 students and seniors. (847) 673-6300 or prairiecenter.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24

Jazz Vespers

Jazz guitarist Frank Portolese and his trio are the featured performers at the Jazz Vespers service at St. Lawrence Episcopal Church, 125 Church St., Libertyville. Note: One half-hour before the service, the student Jazz Combo from the College of Lake County in Grayslake will perform. Free. Refreshments served following program. (847) 362-2110 or stlawrencechurch.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24. Doors open at 6 p.m. The CLC Jazz Combo performs at 6:30 p.m.

Latin heartthrob

Latin singing sensation Alejandro Fernandez is famous for blending pop with traditional Mexican music forms. See him in concert today at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $49-$150. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24