Best Bets: Elmhurst History Museum opens new World War II exhibit
Exhibition examines World War II homefront
The Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst, debuts the exhibition “Victory at Home: 1941-1945,” which emphasizes the war efforts of people in Elmhurst and the Chicago area “through local manufacturing, rationing and recycling materials, planting Victory Gardens, and raising funds to support the war,” said curator of exhibits Sarah Cox. “Looking back at this period in history may help younger generations better understand what their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents endured during the 1940s.” 1-5 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Free. elmhursthistory.org. Friday, March 1, through Aug. 18
Monster truck jam
Scooby Doo, El Toro Loco and Megladon are among the 12,000-pound mega-trucks tearing up the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont — racing, doing back flips and two-wheel stunts — as part of Monster Jam. Tickets start at $25. rosemont.com/allstate/event. 7 p.m. Friday, March 1; 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, March 2; and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 3
Sting’s music (with dance)
Sting’s music inspired the new dance/theater show “Message in a Bottle,” featuring hip-hop and street choreography set to the rock star’s songs, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Tickets start at $33.50. broadwayinchicago.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 1; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3; and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 3
Chicago from the air
“Flyover,” a new immersive, multisensory attraction consisting of aerial shots showcasing Chicago “from perspectives never seen before,” opens this weekend at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. “Flyover” will be shown on a 65-foot spherical screen. Guests sit in flight-motion seats engineered to swoop, dip and turn, giving them the feeling of flight. Timed, dated tickets are $24.95 for adults, $14.95 for kids 13 and younger, $19.95 for military. experienceflyover.com/chicago. Opens Friday, March 1
Tenors at the MAC
As part of their 15th anniversary tour, The Texas Tenors return to the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Veterans of “America’s Got Talent,” the classically trained group will be performing selections ranging from country to classical. Because of health issues, Marcus Collins will not be performing. $55-$75. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 2
ESO in concert
Elgin Symphony Orchestra concertmaster and violinist Isabella Lippi performs Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 with the orchestra this weekend. The program also includes Sergei Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 and 20th-century Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas’ symphonic poem “Janitzio.” The concerts take place at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Tickets start at $20, $10 for students. elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 3
Robbie Fulks up close
Singer/songwriter and Chicago-area favorite Robbie Fulks headlines The Venue, 21 S. Broadway Ave., Aurora. The longtime Chicago resident and Grammy Award-nominee has released 15 albums over his 30-year career, including his latest, “Bluegrass Vacation.” $30-$40. (331) 212-8490 or themusicvenue.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 2
Celebrating Sor Juana
The National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago, hosts its 30th annual Sor Juana Festival, a multidisciplinary festival honoring Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a 17th-century Mexican nun, playwright, poet and mathematician who fought for a woman’s right to education. The lineup includes concerts; a screening of “Frida”; solo performances; female mariachi group Mariachi Sirenas; an interview with photographer Flor Garduño; “Ellas y Yo Mexicanas Work in Progress,” a contemporary dance work by Silvita Diaz Brown; and family-friendly storytelling with author Patricia Dominguez reading from her new book, “El Tesoro de Abuelo.” Free-$35. nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org. Saturday, March 2, through June 1
Flamenco festival
The Instituto Cervantes of Chicago, 31 W. Ohio St., Chicago, hosts its 22nd Chicago Flamenco Festival dedicated to the preservation, presentation and celebration of the multicultural art form of flamenco. Performers — both musicians and dancers — from Chicago, the U.S. and Spain will perform at the Instituto Cervantes; City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago; and Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $15-$40. facebook.com/instituto.cervantes.chicago. Through March 23
Trinity Irish Dance on stage
It’s that time of year for Chicago’s Trinity Irish Dance Company’s annual engagement at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago. The concert includes two world premieres: the vaudeville-inspired, multigenre “Taking the Mick” by Mark Howard and Chelsea Hoy, and a cutting-edge, tech-infused piece titled “P.O.V.” by Harrison McEldowney that examines what it is like to be a Trinity dancer. Tickets start at $25. auditoriumtheatre.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, March 3
Zach Bryan and friends
Country singer/songwriter Zach Bryan kicks off his “The Quittin’ Time Tour” at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. He’s joined by The Middle East and Levi Turner. Tickets start at $171. unitedcenter.com/events. 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, March 5-7
Grand Kyiv Ballet in Chicago
The Grand Kyiv Ballet — whose principal dancers Kateryna Kuhar and Alex Stoianov relocated to the U.S. following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — performs “Giselle,” the ballet by 19th-century French composer Adolphe Adam, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago. The ballet tells the story of a peasant girl who falls in love with a nobleman with tragic results. Tickets start at $52. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 6