Suburban calendar
Suburban ITEMS:
Literary minds
The fifth annual Midwest Literary Festival brings more than 50 authors to downtown Aurora. Headliners include: Martin Cruz Smith ("Gorky Park"), Nicola Kraus ("The Nanny Diaries") and Rocco DiSpirito ("Rocco's Real Life Recipes Fast Flavor for Everyday"). Most events are free and open to the public. Call (630) 896-6666 or visit www.midwestliteraryfestival.com.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
Squeal ride
Six Flags Great America in Gurnee (near I-94 and Route 132) lets the zombies, ghouls and other apparitions loose this weekend for its October run of "Fright Fest." If you're tired of dodging heavily made-up groaning teenagers, why not make a change of pace from the mall and go instead where you can ride a roller coaster ride or two as well? Tickets cost $54.99 general admission and $34.99 for children under 5 feet 4 inches tall. Parking is $15. (847) 249-4636 or www.sixflags.com.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays and 5 to 11 p.m. Fridays; through Oct. 28
Rap & jazz royalty
Queen Latifah is an established rap star, but she showed she had great jazz chops following her Academy Award-nominated role in the film "Chicago" and her jazz-standards album "The Dana Owens Album." Queen Latifah's latest album, "Trav'lin' Light," explores even more standards up to the 1970s, and it's the basis of Latifah's nationwide tour, which comes to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Tickets cost $75-$125. (847) 673-6300.
8 p.m. Saturday
No toothpaste jokes, please
Marie Osmond and The Osmond Brothers skyrocketed to fame in the 1970s, and they still have a harmonizing hold on the hearts of millions of fans. See Marie with brothers Wayne, Jay and Jimmy live (and don't forget to cheer for Marie on her appearance on ABC-TV's "Dancing With the Stars") at The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park. Tickets cost $64-$75. A post-show dessert reception with the Osmonds costs $50 extra. (708) 235-2222.
8 p.m. Saturday
Paranormal paranoia
Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) and the Sci-Fi Channel's TV show "Ghost Hunters" share behind-the-scenes footage, paranormal video footage and do a live demonstration with audience interaction at special event at Harper College's Wellness and Sports Center, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. $7 general admission. (847) 925-6100.
7:30 p.m. Thursday