Weekend picks: Is Ed Regine a comedy machine?
Comedy machine: See if Ed “The Machine” Regine lives up to his nickname when he performs his standup routine at the Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $23 plus a two menu-item purchase. (630) 584-6342 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Friday, May 30, and 7:30 and 10 p.m. Saturday, May 31
FRIDAY
Fine-feathered friends: Bird enthusiasts can join the search for migrating birds and summer residents as the Kane County Audubon Society hosts its Bird Walk at the Dick Young Forest Preserve, 39W115 Main St., Batavia. Sandhill cranes and Common Yellowthroats are two bird species on the group's “to find” list. Participants should meet in the north parking lot, just west of Nelson Lake Road on Main Street. Free. For information, contact tour leader Jon Duerr at (630) 584-5891. Free. 8 a.m. Saturday, May 31
Really rosy: The annual Rose Festival promises a parade plus loads of games and rides this weekend at the Roselle Metra Station, Irving Park Road and Maple Avenue, Roselle. $20 wristband for rides. (630) 980-2000 or il-roselle.civicplus.com. 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, May 30; noon to midnight, Saturday, May 31; and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 1
Vivaldi Strings: The Wheaton College Community School of the Arts hosts a Vivaldi Strings Benefit Concert in Pierce Memorial Chapel at Wheaton College, at Washington and Franklin streets, Wheaton. The Vivaldi Strings. CSA's string ensemble, includes 26 advanced violinists, violists, cellists and pianists ages 11-17. The program features classical music by Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart and Shostakovich. Tickets are $5. (630) 752-5567 or visit wheaton.edu. 7 p.m. Friday, May 30
Bilingual & bawdy: Veteran comedian Paul Rodriguez aims to get his humor across this weekend in English with a sprinkling of Spanish at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $28 plus a two-menu item. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, May 30; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, May 31; and 7 p.m. Sunday, June 1
Classic pop gems: Fans of 1960s pop will no doubt already be in line to see Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone playing at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles, this weekend. Original lead singer Noone leads this incarnation of the beloved British Invasion band. (A different version is led by longtime drummer Barry Whitwam.) Tickets start at $49; oshows.com. 8 p.m. Friday, May 30
SATURDAY
Artwork galore: See a variety of artwork from 150 artists at the 12th Annual Deerfield Festival of Fine Arts, on Park Avenue, north of Deerfield Road and west of Waukegan Road, Deerfield. Other highlights include music, food and family activities. Free. Visit dwevents.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1
'The Tale of Snow White': Steel Beam Children's Theatre presents the classic story “The Tale of Snow White” at the Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. Tickets $10-$15. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com. 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, May 31, and 1 p.m. Sunday, June 1
Bike Safety Rodeo: The Village of Libertyville and Advocate Condell Medical Center host a Bike Safety Rodeo at the Advocate Condell Conference Center, 801 S. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Participants can test their biking skills on an obstacle course, confirm that helmets fit properly and learn about bicycle and traffic safety. Goody bags are offered. Free. (847) 990-5017. Visit advocatehealth.com/condell. Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 31
Waukegan regatta: Get your sea legs ready to raise funds for downtown Waukegan development at the 3rd Annual Scoop the Lake Regatta & Dinghy Poker Run at the Waukegan Yacht Club, 199 N. Harbor Place, Waukegan. $50 regatta registration; $30 Poker Run registration. (847) 623-4188 or scoopthelake.org. 1 p.m. Saturday, May 31
Magic Matinee: Sean Masterson combines magic, storytelling and puppetry in his Magic Matinee program at the Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. $12. (847) 677-7761 or visit skokietheatre.com. 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31
A '70s sound: If you love 1970s song hits like “Top of the World” or “Rainy Days and Mondays,” then check out the tribute revue “Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters” Saturday at Fox Valley Repertory at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $32. (630) 584-6342 or foxvalleyrep.org. 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 31
Hops and dairy: Our neighboring state up north is famous for its breweries and dairy farms, so don't miss the Wisconsin Beer & Cheese Tour, which features many microbrews and artisanal cheeses on Saturday at the RiverEdge Park, 360 Broadway St., Aurora. $20-$75. (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com. 4 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31
Country superstar: Brad Paisley is one of the most popular entertainers on the country scene. His tour, which brings him to the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, 19100 S. Ridgeland, Tinley Park, this weekend, will most likely include tunes from his upcoming (and as of yet untitled) album, which is due in August. Tickets start at $24.50; livenation.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, May 31
Show tunes aplenty: There are just two more chances left this weekend to see the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus revue “Bouncing Off the Walls: Broadway Our Way” following recent performances in Rockford and Skokie. Catch the chorus at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. (312) 334-7777, then at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $25-$35. (630) 637-7469 or cgmc.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 31, in Chicago and 7 p.m. Sunday, June 1, in Naperville
SUNDAY
Square dancers celebrate: The Arlington Squares square dance group celebrates its 65th year by inviting the public to an Anniversary Dance at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 111 W. Olive, Arlington Heights. Guest callers are Jimmy Robinson, Tom Davis and Bobby Poyner. Event is open to all round and square dancers. Other highlights include a silent auction, raffles and more. Tickets $12 per person at the door. Visit arlingtonsquares.com. 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 1
Family fringe: The Elgin Fringe Festival hosts a Family Fringe Day this weekend in advance of its first festival taking place Sept. 11-14. Sunday's family-friendly event features music, performances, a barbecue, games, face painting and art projects at State Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin. Fringe Festival buttons, necessary to purchase tickets to fringe performances and for admission to Fringe events and parties, are available for $3. Free; elginfringefestival.com. 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 31
Revengeful wrestling: WWE stars like Triple H, John Cena, Dean Ambrose and more appear in Payback tonight at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $25-$500; $13-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 1
Ice dancing: Highland Park native and Olympic Bronze medal winner Jason Brown is one of the featured performers in American Ice Theatre's inaugural show “Let's Dance” Saturday at the McFetridge Sports Center, 3843 N. California Ave., Chicago. $30 general admission; $60 VIP seating and skaters reception. americanicetheatre.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, May 31
Release him: Veteran singer Engelbert Humperdinck performs many of his hits like “The Last Waltz,” “After the Lovin'” and more tonight at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$175. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 1