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Best bets: The Arlington Million returns; Alonzo Bodden plays the Improv

Amazing race

Cheer on the horses and jockeys or just have a ball with all sorts of spectator contests and concerts tied to the 37th running of the Arlington Million on Saturday at Arlington International Race Course, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. $30 general admission; $6 youth; VIP packages also available. (847) 385-7500 or arlingtonpark.com. 12:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10

Fab followers

Get your fill of tribute acts, merchandise and musicians who have ties to the Fab Four at the annual Fest for Beatles Fans this weekend at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Rosemont. $56 Friday admission; $82 daily admission Saturday and Sunday. (866) 843-3378 or thefest.com. 5 p.m. to midnight, Friday, Aug. 9; noon to midnight, Saturday, Aug. 10; noon to 11 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

Do tell

Award-winning comedian Alonzo Bodden ("Last Comic Standing," "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!") returns to perform another series of standup sets this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $22 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10; 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

Evanston's own

Fans of the HBO series "Entourage" won't want to miss "An Evening of Standup Comedy with Jeremy Piven" featuring Jay Mandyam. Piven, an Evanston native, performs tonight at the Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago. $35-$70. (877) 987-6487 or victheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9

Mexican traditions

The Fox Valley's own Ballet Folklorico de Quetzalcoatl celebrates traditional Mexican music and regional dances tonight at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $25-$30. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9

Symphonic 'contender'

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs Leonard Bernstein's score to "On the Waterfront" live alongside a screening of the Academy Award-winning 1954 film tonight at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $35-$90 pavilion seating; $25 lawn seating. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9

Jazz fusion

Grammy Award-winning jazz fusion composer and musician Herbie Hancock shares a concert bill with Kamasi Washington on Saturday at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, 1300 S. Linn White Drive, Chicago. $29.50-$149.75. (800) 745-3000 or livenation.com. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10

Majestic butterflies

The Monarch Coalition and the Crystal Lake Park District team up to celebrate butterflies at the "Monarchs & Music" event with activities, games and monarch education. There's also the opportunity to buy a pollinator plant to help with butterfly re-population efforts on Sunday at Main Beach, 300 Lake Shore Drive, Crystal Lake. Free admission. (815) 459-0680 or crystallakeparks.org. 12:30 to 4:15 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

The 37th Arlington Million race is run at Arlington International Racecourse on Saturday, Aug. 10. Daily Herald File Photo, 2018
Comedian Alonzo Bodden returns to the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg from Friday to Sunday, Aug. 9 to 11. Courtesy of Todd Rosenberg
Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl returns to the Paramount Theatre in Aurora on Friday, Aug. 9. Courtesy of Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl
Grammy Award-winner Herbie Hancock performs at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago on Saturday, Aug. 10. Associated Press, 2016
Evanston native Jeremy Piven does standup comedy at the Vic Theatre in Chicago on Friday, Aug. 9. Associated Press, 2018
Eva Marie Saint and Marlon Brando starred in the 1954 Academy Award-winning film "On the Waterfront." The Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs Leonard Bernstein's film score with a screening of the film at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park on Friday, Aug. 9. Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
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