Weekend picks: Grammy-winning bluesman Robert Cray plays COD

Blues man

Grammy Award-winning blues guitarist Robert Cray performs on Saturday at the Belushi Performance Hall in the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $50-$65. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19

Ballet premieres

The Joffrey Ballet dance concert “Millennials” features world premieres by choreographers Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Myles Thatcher along with the Chicago premiere of Christopher Wheeldon's “Fool's Paradise” starting Wednesday at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $32-$155. (800) 982-2787 or joffrey.org. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20

Art show

Expo Chicago, an international exhibition of modern and contemporary art, kicks off on Thursday at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $20 one-day ticket; $30 three-day weekend. (312) 867-9220 or expochicago.com. 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18 and 19; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20

Comic resident

Catch up with standup comedy star Jo Koy as he performs two weekends of shows starting Thursday at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $33-$66. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 and 24; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18 and 25; and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 and 26

Vroom, vroom

The NASCAR Triple-Header Weekend is your last chance this year to see stock car racing in the Chicago area. Catch one of many races this weekend at the Chicagoland Speedway, 3200 S. Chicago St., Joliet. Friday races: $30-$50, $20 youth; Saturday races: $45-$95, $15-$65 youth; Sunday race: $60-$150, $30-$120 youth. For specific race times, call (888) 629-7223 or chicagolandspeedway.com. Various events start at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18; 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21; 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20

Oktoberfest in Palatine

Get your fill of German music, authentic German fare, a variety of beer and more under a heated tent during the Palatine Rotary Club's Eighth Annual Oktoberfest, on the corner of Smith and Slade streets in downtown Palatine. Family Day activities, which run from noon to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, include a bike ride, games, a soccer wall and more. Free. palatinerotary.com. 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, Sept. 18; noon to midnight Saturday, Sept. 19; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20

Symphony gift

Conductor Riccardo Muti leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in the music of Beethoven and Mahler for a free Concert for Chicago at Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 203 E. Randolph St., Chicago. No admission charge. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18

Soaring superheroes

See comic book and film franchise stars such as Spider-Man, Thor, Captain America and more when the tour of “Marvel Universe Live!” shifts this weekend to the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $25-$150; $13-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18; 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20

Beatbox master

If you loved the comic beatboxing sound effects devised by Michael Winslow (“Police Academy”), don't miss his three performances this weekend at the Comedy Shrine, 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. $30 plus a two-menu-item purchase. (630) 585-0300 or comedyshrine.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18; 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19

'A Few Good Men'

PM&L Theatre presents “A Few Good Men,” a drama focusing on two U.S. Marines who uncover a conspiracy within the military. Show contains adult language and is not recommended for younger audiences. PM&L Theatre is at 877 Main St., Antioch. $10-$15. (847) 395-3055 or pmltheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-19, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20

On deck

Collectors can browse through thousands of baseball, football, hockey and other sports cards at the Sports Card Show at the Elgin Holiday Inn, 495 Airport Road, Elgin. Free. For information, call Corky at (847) 815-5810 or email collectibles2@yahoo.com. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19

Depot Days

See “Maggie the Milking Cow,” take a hayride and play old-fashioned games at the annual Lisle Depot Days at the Museums at Lisle Station Park, 921 School St., Lisle. Other events include a sidewalk-art competition, a community birdhouse auction, a petting zoo, a model train layout, blacksmithing and beekeeping demonstrations, contests and more. Free. lisleparkdistrict.org. Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19-20

Irish afternoon

Irish tenor and balladeer Paddy Homan presents an afternoon of singing and storytelling at Christ Church United Church of Christ, 1492 Henry, Des Plaines. A reception follows the performance. Free. (847) 297-4230. 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19

Step right up

See exotic animals, contortionists and more now that the Kelly Miller Circus is touring around the suburbs. Catch a show at Evangel Church, 5700 Bartels Road, Hanover Park. $12; $6 kids in advance. (580) 326-9229 or kellymillercircus.com. 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18; 2, 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19; 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20; and 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21

Doubly funny

Famed comedians Louie Anderson and Rita Rudner share the bill for their Twice the Laughs tour on Saturday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $38-$55. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19

Americana band

Catch up with the Twin Cities' country-rock band Jayhawks (“Waiting for the Sun,” “Blue”) in concert on Saturday at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$69. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19

Fallapalooza

Get in the mood for fall with hayrides, pony rides, music, a petting zoo, games, carnival rides, food and more as part of the Fallapalooza celebration at Heritage Park, 333 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling. The country band Wild Daisy performs from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Free. wheelingparkdistrict.com. 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20

Sheep Sunday

Celebrate the woolly world of sheep during Sheep Sunday at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Events include sheepherding demonstrations, knitting and drop-spindle demonstrations, a make-it-take-it station and more. $12 adults; $10 seniors (62 and older) and $8 kids 4-12. Free for Naperville residents and members. (630) 420-6010 or napersettlement.org. 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20