Weekend picks: Raue Center hosts pop star Amy Grant

Baby, baby, Amy, Amy

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and Christian pop star Amy Grant takes the stage Saturday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $65-$75. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6

Scarecrows, scarecrows everywhere!

Yes, the scarecrow contest featuring more than 150 handcrafted scarecrows competing for visitors' votes is the centerpiece of the annual St. Charles Scarecrow Festival, but there's much more. Enjoy the “Canine Corner,” Autumn on the Fox arts and crafts show, concerts by Wedding Banned, 16 Candles and Arra, plus the requisite carnival, petting zoo, food and more in Lincoln Park, at Main and Fourth streets. Free admission. Visit scarecrowfest.com. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7

Pumpkinfest

Head to the pumpkin patch at Pumpkinfest to choose the perfect pumpkin. Bring the whole family for children's games, a moonwalk, a petting zoo, live music and food at the Prince of Peace United Methodist Church, 1400 S. Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village. Free admission. (847) 439-0668 or princeofpeaceumc.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6

Fox Lake's Oktoberfest

Fox Lake celebrates Oktoberfest with music from the Alpiners, a beer tent, hay rides, German food, arts and crafts and more in Lakefront Park, 71 Nippersink Blvd., Fox Lake. Free admission. Visit foxlake.org. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6

Women in mind

More than 80 women artists from Illinois and across the country are featured in the new exhibit “The Personal is Political: The Transformative Power of Women's Art” now at the Koehnline Museum of Art at Oakton Community College, 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines. (847) 635-2633 or www.oakton.edu/museum. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; through Friday, Oct. 26

Fall Fest

Jump on a tractor-pulled hay wagon ride or an electric train ride at Gurnee's Fall Fest in Viking Park, on Old Grand Avenue in Gurnee. Plus, there are children's games, crafts and more. Free. (847) 623-7788 or gurneeparkdistrict.com. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6

Improv patrol

Improv comedy is feted at the Four Star Comedy Fest, which features workshops and performances by troupes like Baby Wants Candy, Cook County Social Club and headliner Uncles Brother featuring former “Saturday Night Live” star Tim Meadows at the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $39-$99. navypier.com. 1 to 4 p.m. comedy and improv workshops and 6 to 11 p.m. performances Saturday, Oct. 6

Meet 'Darth Vader and Son' author

Meet author Jeffrey Brown as he discusses his new “Star Wars” book, “Darth Vader and Son,” at Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. Guests can also meet costumed “Star Wars” characters and take part in “Star Wars”-themed craft activities. (630) 355-2665 or andersonsbookshop.com. 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6

Operetta favs

Johann Strauss, Franz Lehar and Sigmund Romberg are among the composers whose music Light Opera Works features as part of its latest show, “Operetta's Greatest Hits.” Artistic director Rudy Hogenmiller directs and choreographs the show, which features Natalie Ford, James Rank, George Andrew Wolff, Alicia Berneche, Matthew Geibel and Colette Ford, at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Maple Ave., Evanston. $30-$60. (847) 920-5360 or lightoperaworks.com. 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7; runs through Oct. 14

Avenging opera

Soprano Christine Goerke makes her local debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in Richard Strauss' gripping Greek drama opera adaptation of “Elektra,” presented in a new production by Sir David McVicar and conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. The seven-performance run begins Saturday at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. $79-$425 opening night; $34-$239 regular run. (312) 332-2244, ext. 5600, or lyricopera.org. 6:30 p.m. gala opening Saturday, Oct. 6

Bollywood ball

If you love Indian Bollywood films, then don't miss out on the Dandiya Dhamal 2012 dance celebration with stars Saumya Tandon and Tina Dutta and more this Saturday at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $15-$20. (847) 303-4100 or (224) 392-2466 or dandiyadhamal.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6

Classically Latin

Conductor Andres Franco and violinist Elena Urioste guest star with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra for the Latin concert “Night of Enchantment” featuring works by Piazzolla, Revueltas, Copland and more this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $18-$68. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7

Fall in love again

Dionne Warwick knew how to work the 1960s songs of composer Burt Bacharach and others in her long-lasting pop career. Catch this celebrated Grammy Award-winning star this weekend at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $50-$65. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, and 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7

Brooks Family Blues Dynasty

Blues legend Lonnie Brooks performs with his sons Ronnie Brooks and Wayne Baker Brooks at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Tickets cost $38-$40. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6

'Working: A Musical'

The Elgin Art Showcase presents “Working: A Musical” in the Professional Building at 164 Division St., eighth floor, Elgin. The hopes, dreams, joys and concerns of the average working American are the focus of this musical, based on Studs Terkel's book. $15; $12 for seniors, age 65 and older; or $10 for ages 13 to 21. Show is rated PG-13. (847) 697-7374 or elginartscentral.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6

Hi-Infidelity

Hi-Infidelity, which specializes in hits from the 1980s from bands like Journey, REO Speedwagon, Bon Jovi and others, headlines Cubby Bear North, 21661 N. Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire. $7. (847) 541-4700 or cubbynorth.com. 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6

Cider Fest

Head to the 35th annual Cider Fest for entertainment by “Charlie B. and Friends,” demonstrations of old tools, a barn raising, harvest demonstrations, antique clothing, a white-elephant sale and food at the McHenry County Historical Society Museum, 6422 Main St. in Union. The museum, the Gannon 1843 log cabin and the 1895 West Harmony one-room school will be open all day. Free admission. (815) 923-2267 or mchsonline.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7

Harvest Days

Join Garfield Farm Museum volunteers in a celebration of the season at Harvest Days at the Garfield Farm Museum, on Garfield Road, off Route 38, Campton Hills. Highlights include demonstrations of farm and household skills, 19th-century music and food. $3-$6. (630) 584-8485 or garfieldfarm.org. 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7

Bonner Country Fair

Take part in crafts and games, visit the animals at the petting zoo and more at the Bonner Country Fair at Bonner Heritage Farm, on the north side of Sand Lake Road, west of Route 45, Lindenhurst. Admission is $3; kids age 3 and younger admitted free. (847) 367-6640 or lcfpd.org. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7

Bill's tailgate for toys

A tailgate party and toy drive at Bill's Pizza and Pub, 624 S. Lake St., Mundelein, will benefit the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation. Come early for the tailgate and stick around to watch the Bears take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at 3:05 p.m. Bring a toy and get $2 in Bill's bucks to use on a Bill's pizza or other treats. Ten percent of all proceeds from the day goes to the foundation. (847) 566-5380 or billspizzapub.com. 1 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7

Dance commemoration

Giordano Dance Chicago bills itself as the original jazz dance company, and it celebrates its 50th anniversary this season, including a stop Sunday at College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $28-$39; $27-$38 seniors; $13 kids. (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu/tickets or www.giordanodance.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7

Comic temptation

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre presents “Do Not Push,” a show inspired by the antics of Britain's Mr. Bean (played by Rowan Atkinson) that combines clowning and comedy about a man charged with guarding a special button that he is forbidden to push. The show, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, is part of the Metropolis comedy series. $15. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7

Spend Sunday with The GoGos

“Girls' Nite Out With The GoGos, featuring Belinda Carlisle” takes over the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles, Sunday. This pop/rock concert benefits the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Tickets start at $59. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7

Joss in concert

Joss Stone performs her brand of soul and R&B at the Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago. Tickets cost $37.50. (800) 745-3000. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7