Best Bets: Bristol Renaissance Faire returns; Anime Midwest animates Rosemont
Elizabethan experience
See jousting, falcon demonstrations, Elizabethan costume parades and more when the Bristol Renaissance Faire reopens for the season starting Saturday at 12550 120th Ave., Kenosha, Wisconsin. $25.95; $10 kids ages 5-12; $160 season pass. (847) 395-7773 or renfair.com/bristol. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, through Sept. 1; also Monday, Sept. 2
Drawn together
Anime Midwest returns with costume balls, video game competitions, merchandise sales and lots of other activities for die-hard fans of Japanese anime and manga this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $70 three-day admission; $40-$50 one-day admission. (800) 745-3000 or rosemont.com. 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, July 5; 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, July 6; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 7
Flora fun
More than 90 artists show off their creations as part of an outdoor Art Festival this weekend along the Esplanade of the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Free admission, but parking is $30 per vehicle. (847) 835-6801 or amdurproductions.com or chicagobotanic.org. Public preview 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, July 5; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 6 and 7
Creature confab
The series of Scott Smith's All Animal Expo continues this summer with lots of reptiles, birds, hedgehogs, ferrets and other creatures on Saturday at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. $5. (630) 668-6636 or dupagecountyfair.org. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 6, Sunday, July 14, and Saturday, Aug. 3
Prog rockers
Prog rock legends Yes, Asia, John Lodge of The Moody Blues and Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy are all on the bill of the "The Royal Affair Tour," which plays Saturday at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. $29 general admission; $39-$89 reserved seating; $175-$299 VIP seating. (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 6
Music icons
Music stars Michael McDonald and Chaka Khan share a concert bill on Saturday with Isaiah Sharkey as the opening act at Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $80-$90 pavilion seating; $33-$38 lawn seating. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, July 6
WWI restoration
See loads of restored and colorized World War I footage in the acclaimed documentary "They Shall Not Grow Old," which is directed by Peter Jackson ("The Lord of the Rings" trilogy), on Sunday at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Free admission, but RSVP required. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 7
Park cinema
Streamwood Park District screens the 2016 animated feature "The Secret Life of Pets" as part of its Movie & Play in the Park event Thursday at Hoosier Grove Park, 700 W. Irving Park Road, Streamwood. Free admission. (630) 483-3010 or spdcares.com. 6 p.m. Thursday, July 11