Best bets: Watch the dragon boats at Fox RiverFest
Fox River pride
Dragon boat races, sand sculptures and dexterous dogs doing tricks are just some of the attractions in the Pride of the Fox RiverFest this weekend in and near Pottawatomie Park, 8 North Ave., in downtown St. Charles. Free admission. (630) 584-8415 or prideofthefox.com. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, June 10, through Sunday, June 12
Big-time blues
Blues greats honor two major anniversaries at the 28th Annual Chicago Blues Fest this weekend. The 100th birthday of Robert Johnson (dubbed “King of the Delta Blues Singers”) is celebrated, while the 40th anniversary of Alligator Records brings out the talents of blues men like Lonnie Brooks and Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater for a special concert. The Blues Fest is at Grant Park, Michigan Avenue and Congress Drive, Chicago. Free admission. (312) 744-3315 or chicagobluesfestival.us. 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 10, through Sunday, June 12
Closing concerto
Pianist Joyce Yang tackles Rachmaninoff's notoriously tricky Piano Concerto No. 3 in performance with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra for its closing concert of the season. Also on the bill is Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $16-$66. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 10; 8 p.m. Saturday, June 11; 3:30 p.m. Sunday, June 12
Sky-high opener
The WNBA season kicks off locally when the Chicago Sky takes on the Connecticut Sun tonight at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $15-$45 with extra group discounts available. (866) 759-9622 or chicagosky.net. 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 10
Japanese aid
The Mid America Japanese Club teams up with District 214 Community Education to present “Gambaro, Nippon” (Let's Do Our Best!), a performance featuring Japanese music and dance to benefit the Japanese Red Cross Society for Eastern Japan Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund. The event is Saturday at the Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights. $10 admission. (847) 718-7702 or japaneseclub.org. 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 11
Big band bash
Get read to jive, jitterbug and swing to music of the Big Band era when the Bobby Sanders 16-piece Orchestra performs Sunday at the Metropolis Ballroom, 6 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $15. (847) 392-0918 or metropolisballroom.com. 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 12
Recreational laughs
Comedian and star of NBC-TV's “Parks and Recreation” Aziz Ansari performs a stand-up engagement Tuesday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $37.50. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 14
French classics
The Grant Park Music Festival opens its 2011 summer season with Ravel's Piano Concerto in G and Berlioz's beloved Symphonie Fantastique on Wednesday at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, near Columbus Drive and Randolph St., Chicago. Free admission. (312) 742-1168 or grantparkmusicfestival.com. 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 15