Best Bets: Lizzo makes Ravinia debut and comedians Tony Rock and Joe Avery bring the laughs
Ravinia returns
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra opens its 90th Ravinia Festival season at 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park. Flutist Lizzo makes her CSO and Ravinia debut performing Giulio Bricciald’s “Carnival of Venice” and Léo Delibes’ “Sous le dôme épais” (Flower Duet) from the opera “Lakmé” with Kaylee Johnson. And she will perform her own song, “If You Love Me.” Also on the program, pianist Yunchan Lim joins the orchestra for Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major; Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide” overture; Richard Strauss’ suite from “Der Rosenkavalier”; and Francis Scott Key’s “The Star-Spangled Banner.” $35-$144. ravinia.org. 6 p.m. Saturday, July 11
Stand-up in the suburbs
• Comedian and “Apollo Live” host Tony Rock riffs on relationships, family and everyday chaos during his performance at The Lighthouse at American Place Casino, 4011 Fountain Square Place, Waukegan. Tickets start at $36.31. (773) 477-9515 or americanplace.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, July 11
• San Francisco-born comedian Joe Avery, featured on Comedy Central’s digital showcase, headlines Zanies, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $37.95, plus a two-item minimum. (847) 813-0484 or rosemont.zanies.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Friday, July 10, and 6:30 and 8:45 p.m. Saturday, July 11
Greek fest
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 1400 N. O’Plaine Road, Libertyville, hosts the Lake County Greek Fest featuring Greek cuisine, music, a kids’ play area with crafts and face painting and tours of the church. Free. (224) 513-5530 or saintdemetrioslibertyville.com. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 10-12
Music for every taste
• The Jazz Institute of Chicago, in cooperation with the Chicago Park District, hosts the Chicago Latin Jazz Festival at the Humboldt Park Fieldhouse, 1440 N. Humboldt Blvd., Chicago. Performers include Puerto Rican guitarist, composer and educator Richard Peña; Grammy Award-winning composer/pianist Zaccai Curtis, who combines Afro-Cuban jazz and bebop; the student ensemble Oliver Y Su Orchestra; the Raíces Latin Jazz Quintet, led by vibraphonist Joe Sonnefeldt; and Humboldt Park’s Trabuco Salsa Band, a group founded in 1969 and revitalized by Jose E. Reyes Jr. Free. jazzinchicago.org. Opens at 6 p.m. Friday, July 10, and 4 p.m. Saturday, July 11
• CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band, heir to the legacy of zydeco king Clifton Chenier, perform a combination of Americana, blues and zydeco at the Lakeside Pavilion at the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. WDCB Public Radio is the sponsor. AtTheMac.org. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 15
• British soul singer James Hunter and his band headline SPACE, 1243 Chicago Ave., Evanston, in support of their new album, “Off the Fence.” The record marks Hunter’s 40 years in music and features guest vocalist Van Morrison, a longtime Hunter supporter and collaborator, on one of the tracks. Guitarist/songwriter McKinley James also performs. $33.90. (847) 492-8860 or evanstonspace.com. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16
Stories with a twist
Short Story Theatre showcases five storytellers whose true tales all come with a twist at The Art Center Highland Park, 1957 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. shortstorytheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16