Best bets: Charlie Berens, Kyiv City Ballet, Gordon Lightfoot & Arnez J

An apple a day

Tasty apple treats are the draw to Long Grove's 31st annual Apple Fest, but with food and drink specials, kids' activities, a carnival and music all weekend, the fest at 308 Old McHenry Road is a feast for all the senses. $5; free admission for kids 12 and younger. longgrove.org. Noon to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25

The Goose's block party

Goose Island's 312 Block Party is back with two nights of music, food and, of course, its own special brews. Gates open at 5 p.m. Friday at the Fulton Street Brewery, 1800 Fulton St., Chicago, to see headliner Deer Tick, along with White Reaper and Tobacco City. Saturday, gates open at 4 p.m. for headliner Bomba Estéreo, with Nation of Language, Brijean and Serengeti. Food vendors will be on hand, including Goose Island Clybourn Pub, Harold's Fried Chicken, Connie's Pizza, Farmer's Fridge, Happy Lobster, Yum Dum and more. A variety of drink specials from partnering breweries also will be available. Free, but a $10 donation is encouraged at the door to support a variety of local charities. gooseisland.com. 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, and 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24

Standup in Schaumburg

Former flight attendant and onetime Harlem Globetrotter turned standup comedian Arnez J, host of BET's "Comic View" for two seasons, headlines the Chicago Improv, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $28. For ages 18 and older. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com/chicago. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, and 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25. Saturday shows are sold out.

Chicago Live

Enjoy a sampler platter of some of the best artists Chicago has to offer as more than 60 of the city's top groups in music, dance, theater, comedy and writing - including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Black Ensemble Theater, Joffrey Ballet, Improv Olympics, Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, Young Chicago Authors, the Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Blue Man Group, Jazz Institute of Chicago, the Neo-Futurists and many more - celebrate their crafts with back-to-back performances for two days at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Free. See navypier.org for the schedule. Noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25

Holy moly, he's funny

Emmy-winning journalist, sketch comedian and YouTube star Charlie Berens brings his Midwestern charm and hilarious Wisconsin-isms from his new book, "The Midwest Survival Guide," to Waukegan's Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., for a night of comedy and poking fun at all the quirks Midwesterners have grown accustomed to. $32.50-$62.50. geneseetheatre.com. 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24

'Voice of resistance'

Ukraine's Kyiv City Ballet, which has been described as a "voice of resistance," performs at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida Wells Drive, Chicago, this weekend in support of its embattled country. The day before Russia's invasion, the company took one of the last flights out of Ukraine to begin a tour, and its members have not returned since. After initially sheltering in France, the company toured that country and Europe before commencing its U.S. tour last week. The program, featuring ballerinas Krystina Kadashevych and Oksana Bondarenko, includes contemporary works and wedding pas de deux from the ballets "Paquita," "La Bayadere" and "Don Quixote." $48-$102. (312) 341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25

Gordon Lightfoot in Joliet

The man behind "The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald," "If You Could Read My Mind" and many others - Gordon Lightfoot - takes the stage at the Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet. $49-$89. rialtosquare.com. 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26

The Cult comes to town

For five decades, Blue Öyster Cult has been touring the world, playing their hits (such as "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," "Burnin' For You" and more) to a loyal fan base. Next week, the rock band heads to two different venues in the suburbs, starting at the Des Plaines Theatre (1476 Miner St., Des Plaines, desplainestheatre.com, $49) Thursday, Sept. 29, then heading to the Arcada (105 E. Main St., St. Charles, arcadalive.com, $49) the following Saturday. 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, in Des Plaines and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, in St. Charles