Best Bets: Movies by moonlight at Cantigny, Destination Asia at Morton Arboretum

Posted July 28, 2025 4:41 pm

Cantigny screens Disney’s 2024 animated film “Moana 2” on Friday, Aug. 1, as part of its Moonlit Movies series. Courtesy of Disney

Movies by moonlight

Family-friendly movies continue Fridays at Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. See “Moana 2” on Aug. 1, “Despicable Me 4” on Aug. 8, “Wicked” on Aug. 15, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” on Aug. 22 and “Mufasa: The Lion King” on Aug. 29. Admission is $6 per vehicle. cantigny.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1-29

Drag performer and artist Sasha Velour brings her “Big Reveal Live Show” to Steppenwolf Theatre. Courtesy of Greg Endries

Sasha’s ‘big reveal’

Drag performer and graphic designer Sasha Velour (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”) brings her “Big Reveal Live Show” to the Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $47-$107. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 1-2, and 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3

Night riding

Raue Center for the Arts hosts its family-friendly Night Owl Bike Ride. Both the 10- and 20-mile routes begin at the Crystal Lake City Hall, 100 W. Woodstock St., Crystal Lake, and conclude at the Brink Street parking lot behind the Raue Center, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. An after-party follows the ride. $45.86 for adults (by Aug. 1); $56.55 (day of the event); $24.46 for kids 12 and younger. rauecenter.org. Registration begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2; the ride begins at 9 p.m.; the after-party begins at 10 p.m.

The Morton Arboretum hosts its Destination Asia Festival Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 2-3. Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum

Arboretum celebrates Asian culture

The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, hosts its Destination Asia Festival featuring musical and cultural performances, art demonstrations, food vendors and a bonsai show by the Prairie State Bonsai Society. Free with arboretum admission. $17.95 adults; $11.95 seniors and kids. mortonarb.org. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 2-3

The New Philharmonic performs “La Mer” and other selections Sunday, Aug. 3, at The McAninch Arts Center's Lakeside Pavilion. Courtesy of the McAninch Arts Center

Classical music al fresco

• The New Philharmonic performs a free concert at the Lakeside Pavilion at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, in conjunction with the Cleve Carney Museum of Art’s “Hokusai & Ukiyo-e: The Floating World, Artworks From the Chiossone Collection” exhibition. In its honor, the orchestra performs Claude Debussy’s “La Mer” along with Gioachino Rossini’s “William Tell Overture,” Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variation” and other works. atthemac.org. 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3

• Seating is first-come, first-serve for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s brass quintet concert at the Village Green Ampitheater, 5510 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. Coolers, food, drinks, chairs and small tables are allowed. Free admission. elginsymphony.org. 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7

Comedy fest

The Windy City Comedy Festival, showcasing emerging artists and seasoned veterans from the city and beyond, takes place next week at Chicago clubs including: The Den Theater, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.; iO Theater, 1501 N. Kingsbury St.; Lincoln Lodge, 2040 N. Milwaukee Ave.; Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave.; Second City, 230 W. North Ave.; and the Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway Ave. $20-$25; some venues require a two-item minimum purchase. windycitycomedyfest.com. Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 7-10

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