Best bets: 'Cirque Sephira' amazes at Whole Life Expo
Live & prosper
The Whole Life Expo returns after a 12-year hiatus with 175 vendors, 80 lectures and workshops and events like an eco-fashion show and “Cirque Sephira” (billed as the “World's First Spiritual Cirque”), all to promote healthy living and longevity this weekend at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $20 daily admission; $50 weekend admission. $19-$39 Cirque ticket; individual workshops extra. (847) 303-4100 or wholelifeexpo.com. 1 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 31; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 1; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 2
Up and up
WNBA basketball is back with the Chicago Sky returning this weekend to take on the Connecticut Sun and then the Tulsa Shockat the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $15-$225 on Friday. $18-$400 on Sunday. (800) 745-3000 or chicagosky.net. 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 31, and 5 p.m. Sunday, June 2
Arts in Bowen Park
The 14th annual Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine Fine Arts Festival features arts, crafts, dance, music and more Saturday at Bowen Park, 39 Jack Benny Drive, Waukegan. (847) 360-4740 or waukeganparks.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 1
Crafty hops
More than 100 brews from more than 30 different breweries will be on offer at the Grayslake Craft Beer Festival Saturday at the Grayslake Festival Grounds, 61 S. Whitney St., Grayslake. (847) 223-6888 orgrayslakebeerfest.com. Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 1
Underhanded fun
The Chicago Bandits women's softball returns this weekend to take on the Indiana Slammers on Saturday, and then the Akron Racers starting Wednesday at The Ballpark at Rosemont, 27 Jennie Finch Way (Balmoral and Pearl Street), Rosemont. $5.25-$13.25. (877) 722-6348 or chicagobandits.com. 7:35 p.m. Saturday, June 1, and 7:05 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, June 5 and 6
Deceitful doll
What happens when a lovesick guy passes over his flesh-and-blood fiancee for a mechanical doll? Find out when von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet presents Leo Delibes' classic 19th-century ballet “Coppelia” Sunday at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $37. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, June 2
Sweet home Chicago
The world's largest free blues bash is the Chicago Blues Festival, which returns starting Thursday with acts like Shemekia Copeland, Quinn Sullivan, Blues Kids of America and more at two locations: Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion, near Columbus Drive and Randolph Street, and Grant Park, Michigan Avenue and Congress Drive. Free. (312) 744-3316 or chicagobluesfestival.us. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Millennium Park; 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, June 7-9, at Grant Park
Ravinia launch
Folk music legends Judy Collins and Don McLean share the same bill to help open the season at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $45-$55; $22-$27 lawn. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6