Weekend picks: Vienna Boys Choir raises a joyful noise

Heavenly voices

The world-famous Vienna Boys Choir returns to sing a special "Christmas in Vienna" concert Saturday at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $25-$85. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24

Holidays handicrafts

Find homemade decor to seasonally spruce up your home at the Holiday Arts and Crafts Show this weekend at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. $5. (847) 680-7200 or lcfair.com or stepbysteppromotions.com. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25

Kid Yuki, Face Time Police play pop culture con

Chicago Pop Culture Con, a celebration of fandoms at St. Charles' Pheasant Run this weekend, brings together actors, cosplay, comic artists, athletes, musicians and gamers for performances, discussions, exhibits, memorabilia sales and more. This year, catch two anime- and game-inspired performances from Chicago-area acts: Kid Yuki and the Otakus plays at the music panel from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Ballroom, and Schaumburg's Face Time Police, featuring brothers Brian and James Serra, caps off the weekend playing from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at Pheasant Run Mega Center and Ballroom, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $12 passes are good for both days; kids 12 and younger admitted free with a paying adult. chicagopopculturecon.com.

Seasonal St. Charles

The city of St. Charles hosts its annual Holiday Homecoming this weekend along Main Street between 6th Street and 4th Avenue. Many of the family-friendly activities are free. (630) 443-3959 or downtownstcharles.org. Events on Saturday, Nov. 24: "Home Alone" screening at the Arcada Theatre at 10 a.m.; sleigh rides and Santa's house from 1 to 4 p.m.; Electric Christmas Parade at 5:30 p.m.

Holiday trains

Marvel at festive displays of miniature trains and Chicago-area landmarks when the Wonderland Express returns to the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. $13; $10 seniors and kids 3-12. $20-$25 parking per vehicle. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 21; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, through Saturday, Jan. 6

German traditions

Those who can't make it to downtown Chicago will be pleased to know that the Western Suburbs play host to a Christkindlmarket Naperville outpost. Enjoy outdoor shopping and sampling spiced wine at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Free admission. (312) 494-2175 or christkindlmarket.com/naperville. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday (11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 17-20 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve); through Dec. 24

Winter amusements

Six Flags Great America experiments with a winter season run with its new Holiday in the Park promotion. It starts this weekend at Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee. $77.99; $57.99 for those under 48 inches tall. (847) 249-1776 or sixflags.com/greatamerica. Select times and dates between Friday, Nov. 23, and Monday, Dec. 31

Sweet dreams

Students and families from local dance studios share the stage alongside professional dancers in "The Fox Valley Nutcracker." Fox Valley Ballet presents Tchaikovsky's Christmas classic this weekend at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St., Batavia. $29-$42; $24-$36 kids; $45-$47 VIP tickets. (630) 937-8930 or foxvalleynutcracker.com or bataviafineartscentre.org. 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25

Popular porcine

Parents and kids who are die-hard fans of the British animated series "Peppa Pig" won't want to miss the touring "Peppa Pig Live! Peppa Pig's Big Splash!" playing on Saturday at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $25.50-$135.50; $15-$25 parking. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24

Joseph returns

BrightSide Theatre opens its eighth season with a revival of the family-friendly "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's tale of Jacob's favorite son. Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph parlays his ability to interpret dreams into a position of importance second only to the Pharoah. Artistic director Jeffrey Cass directs the production, which features children from the theater's youth ensemble, Jackson Middle School in Villa Park and Jefferson Junior High in Naperville. 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, through Dec. 9 at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville. $25, $30. (630) 447-8497 or brightsidetheatre.com.

All aglow

Load up your family in the car to drive by the luminary displays of Mooseheart's 9th Annual Holiday Lights Show starting this weekend at Mooseheart Child City & School Inc., 255 W. James J. Davis Drive, Mooseheart. $10 per vehicle; proceeds benefit charity. (630) 906-3646 or mooseheart.org. 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, through Monday, Dec. 31

Classic rockers

Jam along with The Buckinghams, The Ides of March, The New Colony Six, The Cryan' Shames and The Shadows Of Knight when the touring "Cornerstones of Rock" show returns to the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $69-$89. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24

'Miracle' on the air

After a miscommunication results in most of the cast failing to show up for a 1948 live radio broadcast, the remaining actors scramble to produce "Miracle on 34th Street." Steel Beam Theatre's radio-style production pairs the original script with improv. JoAnn Smith directs. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, through Dec. 23 at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $23-$28. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.

Jersey guy

New Jersey native and comedian Dov Davidoff ("Crashing," "Chelsea Lately") returns to the Chicago area for a weekend run of standup shows at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $22 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25

Cardi B and the Big Jam

Rapper Cardi B headlines the Big Jam 2018 presented by 107.5 WGCI at the United Center this weekend. Kodak Black, Tory Lanez, Young Dolph, Lil Baby, Flipp Dinero and DreamDoll join the always-amusing Cardi on stage for a fast-paced night of tunes. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. $51-$140. (800) 745-3000 or unitedcenter.com.

State & Madison benefit show

Chicago-based alternative rock band State & Madison is helping out a friend when they headline "FRIENDS, GIVING: A Rock 'n' Roll Formal Fundraiser for Our Friend Kat Lewis" at Wicker Park's Subterranean Saturday, Nov. 24. The benefit show, which also features Molehill, Jess Godwin and Tall Doug, will raise funds to help defray expenses related to Lewis' medical therapy. Lewis suffers from a rare degenerative disease called x-linked hypophosphatemic rickets, which prevents her body from processing vitamin D, causing her bones to become brittle and leaving her in excruciating pain, according to the GoFundMe page. Hope comes in the form of a gene-editing drug, which could help strengthen her bones and relieve her pain. But the therapy is expensive. "She's got hope," said Nick Blazina, guitar and vocals for State & Madison. "This gene therapy trial gives her eyes a new twinkle. ... We thought we'd do our part to bring people together for her." 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $15-$20. (773) 278-6600, subt.net or ticketweb.com.

Concert highlights

Rematch, The Weekend Run Club, Qualia, Farhampton, Like Wilde: 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Evolution Music, 923 Curtiss St., Downers Grove. $10. (630) 541-5022 or evolutionmusicstore.com.

Sunday Cruise's EP release with Saad, Binx, Bummed Out: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin. $5 suggested donation. (847) 429-2276 or sidestreetstudioarts.org.

The Struts "The Body Talk Tour 2018" with The Glorious Sons: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $22.50-$32.50. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com.

Twenty Over: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Alibi, 12 N. 3rd St., St. Charles. Free. (630) 443-0011 or ouralibi4u.com.

Manhattan Transfer: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $48-$68. (847) 679-9501 or northshorecenter.org.

Heartache Tonight: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $25-$37. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

The Throwbacks: 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Galati's Hideaway, 800 Feinberg Court, Cary. (847) 516-3663 or galatishideaway.com.

7th heaven: 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $8-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Reflexicon, Black4, Ditchwater: 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $8-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Sixteen Candles: 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Joe's Live & Bub City, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $8-$10. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.

Mike & Joe: 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $7. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Tapestry Unraveled - A Tribute to Carole King: 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $25-$34. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

Real Friends, Boston Manor, Grayscale, Eat Your Heart Out: 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $25-$29. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com.

Tougher Than You Thought, 45Fix, Fluorescents: 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

Bayside (acoustic), Golds: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at Cobra Lounge, 235 N. Ashland Avenue, Chicago. $27. (312) 226-6300 or cobralounge.com.

Morgxn, Ember Oceans, Marina City: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, at Reggies Rock Club, 2109 S. State St., Chicago. $10. (312) 949-0120 or reggieslive.com.

P.O.D., Nonpoint, Islander, Dear Deadly: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, at The Forge, 22 W Cass St., Joliet. $25.50-$47.50. (815) 280-5246 or theforgelive.com.

Daniel Cronson Band, Radda Radda, Supervisor: 7 p.m. Thursday, Noc. 29, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

101WKQX The Nights We Stole Christmas with Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Houndmouth, Alice Mertsn: 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. $63. (844) 425-5923 or aragonballroom.org.

Ministry, Carpenter Brut, Alien Weaponry: 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at The Forge, 22 W Cass St., Joliet. $39-$85. (815) 280-5246 or theforgelive.com.

Jane Lynch - A Swingin' Little Christmas featuring Kate Flannery, Tim Davis and the Tony Guerrero Quintet: 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $50-$70. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

• Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with the venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings or to add an event, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.