Weekend picks: Folk duo Dala finds harmonies at Elgin's SecondSpace
Folk duo
Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine harmonize their soprano and alto voices as the folk duo Dala, which returns to the Elgin Community College's SecondSpace Theatre, Elgin. $32. (847) 697-1000 or elgin.edu/arts. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 18
10,000 pancakes!
Love pancakes? The Naperville Evening Kiwanis Club hosts its 62nd Annual Pancake Festival fundraiser at Naperville Central High School, 440 Aurora Ave., Naperville. Organizers estimate that 10,000 pancakes were served at last year's festival. This year's event features an all-you-can-eat pancake-and-sausage meal, live music from local groups, kids' activities, a raffle and more. All proceeds are donated to local not-for-profit organizations. Tickets are $8; free for preschool-aged children. naperville-evening.kiwanisone.org. 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 18
Celebrating maple sugar
The Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, celebrates maple sugar with a pancake breakfast and demonstrations of maple syrup production at the annual Sugar Bush Fair. While you're there, enjoy a puppet show and hayrides and buy syrup and other treats. Along with pancakes, the breakfast features maple syrup, sausage, juice and coffee. Free admission to the fair; breakfast tickets cost $4-$7. (847) 985-2100 or parkfun.com. 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday, March 18-19
A plethora of pets
Marvel at all different kinds of products and pets on show at the annual Chicagoland Family Pet Expo this weekend at the Arlington International Racecourse, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. $10; $5 kids 3-12; $7 parking. (Please leave your pets at home). (847) 385-7500 or petchicago.com or arlingtonpark.com. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 18; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 19
Painful beauty
Be wowed by all of the body art on display at the 8th Annual Chicago Tattoo Arts Convention this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $20 per day; $40 three-day pass; kids 12 and younger admitted free. (847) 692-2220 or villainarts.com or rosemont.com. 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Saturday, March 18; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 19
Hibernian happening
See Irish dancers, hear bagpipers and toast to St. Patrick's Day at the 7th Barrington Celtic Fest at McGonigal's Pub, 105 S. Cook St., and downtown Barrington. Free. (847) 277-7400 or barringtonpub.com. 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, March 18
Tiny trains
The Lake County Model Railroad Club showcases the hobby of model railroading and operates an HO scale permanent operating model railroad during its annual Spring Open House at 107 S. Main St. (rear entrance), Wauconda. The group's train layout reflects a theme of railroading back in the 1950-1970s, while using modern digital technology. Free. lcmrr.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 18-19
Paintings of wonder
See a solo exhibition of paintings by artist Mystele Kirkeeng at Swell Gallery, 123½ W. Main St., West Dundee. Kirkeeng's works often focus on female subjects, with themes of wonder, encouragement and hope. Free. swellgallery.com. 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays, March 18 and 25
Gospel choir
The College of Lake County's Gospel Choir presents a concert in the Mainstage Theatre of the James Lumber Center at the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $3-$4. The choir, directed by Charles Thomas Hayes, will perform selections of gospel tunes and spirituals. Note: The program is not appropriate for children younger than 3. For tickets, visit jlcenter.clcillinois.edu. 4 p.m. Saturday, March 18
CSO in the suburbs
Internationally renowned Japanese pianist Mitsuko Uchida performs Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in concerts led by maestro Riccardo Muti at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $60-$95; $15 students in Wheaton; $34-$210 in Chicago. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 18, 3 p.m. Sunday, March 19, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 21
Ike Reilly's two-night stand
Libertyville's own Ike Reilly doesn't sugarcoat Midwestern life. He revels in the struggles of the everyman and projects that through the stories in his songs. He and his band, the Ike Reilly Assassination, bring all the grit, the rock and the blues to the intimate Schubas for the second of a two-night stand Saturday, March 18, with guest opener Brendan O'Shea. Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $20. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, March 18
Green up time
A Butterfly Garden is new for 2017 at the annual Chicago Flower & Garden Show, which returns this weekend to Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $17-$19; $5 kids. (312) 241-1250 or chicagoflower.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday from March 18-26
Skunk cabbage
Join naturalists from the Forest Preserve District of Kane County on a hunt for skunk cabbage, a spring wildflower, during the "Skunk Cabbage" nature program at Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls, 40W095 Freeman Road, Gilberts. Help search for skunk cabbage and learn about its traits on a guided walk. Note: The hike could go into muddy areas; dress accordingly. This family program is for all ages. Free. Advance registration required. (630) 444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com. For details, see kaneforest.com. 10 a.m. Sunday, March 19
Celtic harp
In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, musician Lillian Reasor performs traditional Celtic songs on the harp at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights. Reasor, a graduate of Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music, holds a degree in harp performance, and has won medals in numerous Irish music competitions. Free. Register at ahml.info or call (847) 392-0100. 2 p.m. Sunday, March 19
Classical concert
Elgin Symphony Orchestra concertmaster/violinist Isabella Lippi presents a free concert featuring works by Brahms and Mozart at the Gail Borden Public Library District's main library at 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Refreshments will be served after the concert. Free. Tickets available at the main library, the library's Rakow branch or the South Elgin branch. (847) 429-4597 or gailborden.info. 2 p.m. Sunday, March 19
Classical chamber
Hear works by Gustav Mahler, Rebecca Clarke and Chicago-based composer Robert Kritz when the Orion Ensemble performs the concert "Connections" at the Music Institute of Chicago Nichols Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $26; $23 seniors; $10 students. orionensemble.org. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 19
Concert highlights
Gravesend, Within The Trenches, Bullet To The Heart, Comfort Scarcity, OUTDrejas, Two Ton Heads: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Rock. $10. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com.
Ron Eshoo: 7 p.m. Saturday, March 18, David Adler Music & Arts Center, 1700 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville. Classical Celtic guitar concert for St. Patrick's Day. $20 general admission. Adler Center members and all students receive a discount. Purchase tickets at adlercenter.org.
Miranda Lambert: 7 p.m. Saturday, March 18, BMO Harris Bank Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford. Country. Tickets start at $37. livenation.com.
Acappellago with "Escape to ... Birdland" concert: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook, and at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 19, at the Congregational Church of Batavia, 21 S. Batavia Ave. (Route 31), Batavia. Classical and more. $12-$15. (708) 484-3797 or acappellago.org.
Liverpool Legends: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18, Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Pop/rock; Beatles tribute group. $38-$40. (847) 895-3600 or villageofschaumburg.com.
Mallrats: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 18, BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. Party rock. $5. (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com.
Rebel Soul Revival, Oblio and Arrow, Anthony Padilla: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 18, Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison, Chicago. Blues rock. $5. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.
Cold War Kids, Middle Kids: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 18, Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., Chicago. Indie. $30. (773) 275-6800 or rivieratheatre.com.
Lewis Copeland, The Student Body: 9 p.m. Saturday, March 18, Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. Country, rock. $5. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.
Mike Wheeler Blues Band: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18, Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn. Blues. $6. (708) 484-3610 or harlemavenuelounge.com.
Sander Kleinenberg & Mike Vale at Afterlife: 10 p.m. Saturday, March 18, Annex Nightclub, 1958 W. North Ave., Chicago. Electronic, house. $7-$15. (630) 291-5986 or afterlifechi.com.
Palatine Concert Band's "British Invasion" concert: 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 19, in the Altergott Auditorium at Palatine High School, 1111 N. Rohlwing Road, Palatine. $5-$8. Children 12 and younger free. Tickets are available at the door, or in advance online at cuttinghall.org or by phone at (847) 202-5222.
East Avenue, One Steel Wound, Soulsharer, The Red Moons: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 19, Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. Progressive, metal. $8-$10. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.
Donna Herula and Tony Nardiello: 7 p.m. Sunday, March 19, Grayslake Heritage Center, 164 Hawley St., Grayslake. Acoustic blues duo performs country, folk and Chicago blues tunes. Concert is sponsored by the Lake County Folk Club. Suggested donation $13-$18. Call (847) 602-8882 for reservations. Visit thelakecountyfolkclub.org.
Lakes Area Community Band: 7 p.m. Monday, March 20, at Lakes Community High School, 1600 Eagle Way, Lake Villa. Free. lacb.org.
Meg Papadolias: Noon Tuesday, March 21, in Aurora University's Crimi Auditorium, 1347 Prairie St. in Aurora. Aurora University music instructor Meg Papadolias performs "The Tree of Life," a classical concert. Free. aurora.edu.
George Thorogood & The Destroyers: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, and Wednesday, March 22, Arcada Theatre, 105 E Main St., St. Charles. Rock. Tickets start at $59. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.
Airpark: 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. Pop. $10. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.
The Sonics, The Evictions, Guns: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 23, Reggies, 2105 S. State St., Chicago. Garage rock. $25-$30. (312) 949-0120 or reggieslive.com.
Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.