Best Bets: Classical, contemporary music and dance fill local stages

Music in the air

• The New Philharmonic celebrates the legacy of its late founding music director Harold Bauer during concerts this weekend at the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. The program includes Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, sometimes known as “Fate,” and He Zhanhao and Chen Gang’s “Butterfly Lovers Violin Concert” featuring award-winning violinist Yang Liu. $57, $10 for kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 13

• The St. Charles Singers conclude its 40th anniversary season with “Dancing Tree,” a new work for choir and harp set to eight poems by British poet Charles Causley and composed for the ensemble by John Rutter. The program also includes Gabriel Fauré’s composition for choir and harp “Cantique de Jean Racine.” Performances take place at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles. $45 for adults, $40 for kids, $12 for students. (630) 513-5272 or stcharlessingers.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 13

• Pianist Susan Merdinger joins the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto at Glenbrook North High School’s Sheely Center for the Performing Arts, 2300 Shermer Road, Northbrook. The program also includes Franz Schubert’s Ninth Symphony, also known as “The Great.” Music director Mina Zikri conducts. $50-$75. (847) 272-0755 or northbrooksymphony.org. 4 p.m. Sunday, April 13

• The Jazz Ambassadors, the United States Army’s official touring band, perform a free ticketed concert at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. The program ranges from big-band classics to contemporary tunes. Free; reservations required. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 16

C2E2 returns

The pop culture convention Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo returns this weekend to McCormick Place South Building, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Among the celebrities expected to appear during the three-day fest are “The Breakfast Club” cast members Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy celebrating the 40th anniversary of the coming-of-age film. Also appearing are “Lord of the Rings” stars Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis, Sean Astin and John Rhys-Davies along with cast members from “Futurama,” “RoboCop” and “Starship Troopers.” Comic creators Charles Soule, Frank Cho, Gene Ha, Humberto Ramos, Kami Garcia and Steenz and exhibitors also will be on hand. Single day tickets start at $70; $45 for kids with a paid adult ticket. c2e2.com. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 11-12, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 13

The circus comes to town

The fourth Chicago Circus and Performing Arts Festival showcasing Chicago-area circus artists and dance companies comes to The Atria, 3146 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. Shows range from family-friendly to adults-only and include aerialists, acrobats, jugglers, vaudeville and burlesque performers among others. $12-$40. ccpaf.org. 6-11 p.m. Friday, April 11; 2-11 p.m. Saturday, April 12; and 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 13

Good dogs

• Radio Flyer, the Chicago-based manufacturer of wagons, scooters, tricycles and strollers, teams up with PAWS Chicago, a no-kill animal adoption center, for Wag & Ride at PAWS Chicago Training and Adoption Center, 1933 N. Marcey St., Chicago. A combination meetup and adoption event to commemorate National Pet Day, it includes a dog play area, a Radio Flyer play area, a photo booth, raffles and giveaways. Those who initiate dog adoption proceedings will receive a new pet wagon. See Wag & Ride eventbrite.com. 3- 5 p.m. Saturday, April 12

• Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, welcomes human and canine visitors this weekend for Dog Admission Day. General admission tickets must be reserved in advance, including tickets for dogs. $17 for adults, $15 for seniors, $12 for kids, $5 per dog. mortonarb.org. 7 a.m. to sunset Sunday, April 13

Bloomin’ in the ’burbs

• Kids can hunt for Easter eggs, take photos with Mr. and Mrs. Bunny and watch the 2011 film “Hop” at Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. $16 per car. Families can also enjoy a buffet brunch at Le Jardin. No reservations required. $27 for adults, $17 for kids 3-12, free for kids younger than 3. cantigny.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13; brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days

• Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield, hosts its first Spring Fest featuring an art fair, entertainment, kids’ crafts and chats about the zoo animals. $29.95 for adults, $24.95 for seniors, $20.95 for kids. brookfieldzoo.org/springfest. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13

On their toes

• The contemporary New York City ensemble Parsons Dance, founded by choreographer David Parsons, performs at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago, for the first time in 30 years. The program includes 2005’s “Wolfgang” set to the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; 2020’s “Balance of Power” set to a percussive score by Giancarlo de Trizio; 2024’s “Juke,” a solo piece choreographed by Parsons and set to Miles Davis’ music; and 2004’s “Shining Star,” an homage to the Chicago super group Earth, Wind & Fire. $30-$120. (312) 341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12

• Praize Productions premieres “Complexions,” a multidisciplinary performance that combines dance, theater, music and spoken word to examine Black women embracing “their inherent power and beauty,” at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St., Chicago. $52, $87. praizeproductions.com. 6 p.m. Sunday, April 13

• Red Clay Dance Company, a Chicago Afro-contemporary ensemble, celebrates its 16th year with a new staging of founding artistic director Vershawn Sanders-Ward’s “Written on the Flesh” about confronting systemic racial inequities. The program also includes the premiere of a work by New York-based choreographer Bebe Miller. Performances take place at The Dance Center, Columbia College Chicago, 1306 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $30, $10 for students. redclaydance.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 17-19