Best Bets: Virtual reality EXP opens, Cirque Italia extravaganza and more

What’s new, Rosemont?

• EXP, a new virtual reality venue, opens this week at 9900 Berwyn Ave., Rosemont. Visitors can experience the 4,500-year-old architectural wonder of ancient Egypt’s Pyramid of Khufu as part of the 45-minute VR experience “Horizon of Khufu,” which allows visitors to ascend the pyramid’s summit and sail along the Nile River. The second experience, “Life Chronicles,” is a family-friendly immersive journey spanning 3.5 billion years of evolution from early microbes to marine life, prehistoric forests, the Jurassic era of giant reptiles and dinosaurs up to the rise of mammals and humanity. Timed entry tickets start at $27. exprosemont.com. Opens Friday, Sept. 26; 1-7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

• Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Place, hosts the village’s first Rosetoberfest, which begins with a 5K walk or run ($32 advance registration required) followed by free Oktoberfest-inspired activities including music, traditional German dancing, arm wrestling and more. Free. parkwaybankpark.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27

Cirque Italia spectacular

Cirque Italia, which incorporates aerialists, acrobats, jugglers, contortionists and dancing waters, hopes to wow audiences this weekend at Gurnee Mills, 6170 W. Grand Ave., Gurnee. $30-$60 for adults; $15-$55 for kids. cirqueitalia.com/water-circus. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, and 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27-28

Laugh it up

• Comedian Doug Benson, host of the podcast “Doug Loves Movies,” headlines The Comedy Vault, 18 E. Wilson St., Batavia. $31 plus a two-item minimum. (630) 454-4174 or comedyvaultbatavia.com. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26-27

• Comedian and NPR regular Paula Poundstone (“Wait, Wait … Don't Tell Me!”) headlines The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $58.80-$244.46. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27

• Also at The Comedy Vault, “Abbot Elementary” co-star and Emmy Award nominee Lisa Ann Walter (“The Parent Trap,” “Bruce Almighty”) headlines next weekend. $42.99 Friday, $47.99 Saturday plus a two-item minimum. VIP admission including a meet-and-greet: $82.99 Friday, $87.99 Saturday. (630) 454-4174 or comedyvaultbatavia.com. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 3-4

World premiere at Studio5

Composer/pianist Ryan Cohan and his group Two Quartets (made up of a jazz quartet and a string quartet) premiere his new work “Prism,” which incorporates world, classical music and jazz, at Studio5, 1934 Dempster St., Evanston. The concert will be recorded live for WDCB’s “Chicago Jazz Live.” $40, $50. studio5.dance. 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26

Fall celebrations

• Experience Latin American culture through music, dance and food at The Morton Arboretum’s “Celebración de los Árboles (Celebration of Trees)” presented in cooperation with the DuPage Hispanic Alliance as part of the Arboretum’s Hispanic Heritage Month. Visitors can attend talks by arboretum tree scientists and partners from the region and take a Spanish-language tram tour and hike at 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. Included in admission: $16.95 adults, $10.95 seniors and kids 4-17, free for kids 3 and younger. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and Sunday, Sept. 27-28

• Cantigny’s family-friendly Fall Fest includes guided garden tours, McCormick House open house, plant sales, hayrides and a DJ along with a petting zoo, bounce house and kids’ craft activities at 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. $21 per car. cantigny.org. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27-28

A cappella group celebrates Mexican composers

The vocal ensemble Chicago a cappella opens its 2025-2026 season with “Cantaré,” a celebration of Mexican music featuring works commissioned from Mexican composers including “De Sur a Norte” by Julio Morales and “Yes que no sabes” by Novelli Jurado. $40, $50 for preferred seating. chicagoacappella.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago; 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at Wentz Concert Hall, North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St., Oak Park

Comedy inspired by life

Physics teacher turned comedian/storyteller Steve Solomon recalls loved ones whose sole purpose was to drive him into therapy in his autobiographical show “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m In Therapy” at the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $35-$40. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28

‘Chicago Stars Sing Broadway’

A few seats remain for Metropolis Performing Arts Centre’s “My Kind of Town: Chicago Stars Sing Broadway” featuring Chicago-area theater artists Devin DeSantis and Jacquelyne Jones performing some of Broadway’s favorite tunes from “Les Miserables,” “Grease,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid” at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28

Fall film preview

Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas & Entertainment, 401 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling, invites film lovers to get a sneak peek at some of fall’s most anticipated films during Trailer Fest. The $3 online admission includes the trailers, trivia contests, raffle ticket and free small popcorn. cinergy.com/wheeling. 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30