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Weekend picks: Dr. John opens Blues on the Fox at RiverEdge

Foxy blues

Buddy Guy and Dr. John headline the Blues on the Fox Outdoor Music Festival this weekend at the new venue known as RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway St., Aurora. $10-$30 single day admission; $15-$50 two-day pass. (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com. 7 p.m. Friday, June 14, and 3 p.m. Saturday, June 15

Celebrate liberty

The 2013 Libertyville Days Festival continues this weekend with rides, games, a parade and more at the intersection of Church, Brainerd and Cook streets in downtown Libertyville. Free admission; $22 ride special per day. (847) 918-8880 or libciviccenter.org. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 14-15, and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 16

Pride of Puerto Rico

Get a taste of Puerto Rican culture with food, music, arts and crafts, carnival rides and more at the Puerto Rican Festival, at Division and California streets (Humboldt Park), Chicago. Free admission. There is a charge for carnival rides. (773) 868-3010 or chicagoevents.com. 3 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 14, and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16

Get your dance on

The Spring Awakening music festival takes over Soldier Field, 1410 Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, this weekend, bringing dozens of electronic dance music acts to play on three stages over three days. Headliners this year include dance-music powerhouses Bassnectar, Moby and Calvin Harris. Organizers expect the crowd to exceed 75,000, making this one of the city's key celebrations of EDM. Tickets are available for individual days and for the entire weekend ($200). For information, go to springawakeningfestival.com. Starts at 3:30 p.m. Friday, June 14, and 12:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16

Kilted wonders

Marvel at the competitions in heavy sports, Highland dancing and even frozen haggis tossing at the 27th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games this weekend at Hamilton Lakes, Thorndale Avenue and Route 53, Itasca. The festival features concerts, athletic competitions, carnival attractions, kids' activities, whiskey tastings and seminars, a bagpipe and drummer show and more.$12-$20 single-day pass; $30 two-day pass; $5 parking. (708) 447-5092 or chicagoscots.org. 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 14, and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 15

Retro Bistro at 23

To mark its 23rd anniversary, Retro Bistro, 1746 W. Golf Road, Mount Prospect is celebrating Friday through Sunday with a special prix fixe menu, live entertainment and gift bags. Menu items include braised rabbit, Copper River wild salmon with garlic whistles, prime beef tenderloin with a cognac black peppercorn sauce; and desserts such as profiteroles au chocolate, crème brule, strawberry shortcake and mango cheesecake. $40 per person, plus tax and tip. (847) 439-2424 or retrobistro.com. Friday through Sunday, June 14-16

Funny, ha ha

Seth Meyers, Bob Newhart, Bill Maher, Al Madrigal and many more jokesters will perform as part of the fifth annual TBS Just for Laughs comedy festival. Taking place at various venues across the city including The Vic, Chicago Theater and UP Comedy Club, the comedy festival also brings back “Saturday Night Live” newcomers Tim Robinson, Cecily Strong and Aidy Bryant to Chicago for a night of sketch, improv and more. Locations and ticket prices vary. Get schedules and ticket information at justforlaughschicago.com. Friday through Sunday, June 14-16

'Hollywood on Lake Michigan' signing

Authors Arnie Bernstein and Michael Corcoran discuss and signs copies of the revised second edition of their book “Hollywood on Lake Michigan: 100 Years of Chicago and the Movies” at Centuries and Sleuths Bookstore, 7419 W. Madison St., Forest Park. (708) 771-7243 or centuriesandsleuths.com. 7 p.m. Friday, June 14

Mac tonight

Grammy-winning and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Fleetwood Mac stop at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont, on the band's Live 2013 arena tour. The new tour marks the 35th anniversary of the release of their classic Rumours album (1977). Tickets start at $49.50. See fleetwoodmac.com/events. 8 p.m. Friday, June 14

BrightSide's 'Rent'

BrightSide Theatre concludes its second season with Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical “Rent,” about a group of aspiring musicians and artists struggling to sustain relationships, make a living and cope with the specter of HIV/AIDS in late 1980s New York City. Artistic director Jeffrey Cass, former producing director of Circle Theatre, directs. Performances are at Meiley-Swallow Hall, North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville. $20, $24. (630) 637-7469 or brightsidetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 14-15, and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 16

Send him up the river

The Friends of the Chicago River and the Chicago Botanic Garden will offer a chance to canoe the lakes of the garden. The garden's aquatic biologist will paddle along for the hourlong trip and explain the program to restore the lakeshore while participants view herons, ducks, small fish and turtles in their watery habitat. No experience with canoeing is necessary. Instruction, canoes, life jackets and paddles are provided. Trips start at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Cost is $57 per person. Children must be 5 years old. Maximum of three participants per boat. Register at www.chicagobotanic.org/calendar/event/fathers_day_canoe_adventure. 9, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16

Custer's Last Stand

See the creations of more than 300 artists at the annual Custer's Last Stand Festival of the Arts, at Chicago Avenue and Main Street, Evanston. Guests can also listen to folk and Native American music on two stages. Other highlights include kids' activities, food and more. $1 admission (donation). (847) 328-2204 or custerfair.com. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16

Firkin's takeover

Four breweries — Half Acre Brewing Company, Tighthead Brewing Company, Revolution Brewing Company and Mickey Finn's — invade Firkin, 515 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville Saturday. Offerings on tap include: Revolution/Three Floyds/Half Acre/Blue Jacket's — Fiscal Cliff; Revolution Galaxy I.P.A.; Half Acre Galactic Double Daisy Cutter; Half Acre Akari Shogun; Tighthead Irie I.P.A.; Tighthead Old Kaya Dog 2012; Mickey Finn's Der Kommisar Imperial Pils and Mickey Finn's U.S. Kölsch. Brew prices vary. (847) 367-6168 or firkinrestaurantlibertyville.com. Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 15

Come hungry to Sausage Fest

Dig in to a variety of sausage from local butcher shops and eateries at Sausage Fest Chicago, at 3600-3700 Sheffield Road, in the Lake View neighborhood of Chicago. Concerts and arts are featured. $5 admission. (773) 868-3010 or chicagoevents.com. Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16

Traveling a Dirt Road

Head down to the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park for a night of country during the Luke Bryan: Dirt Road Diaries 2013 tour. Thompson Square and Florida Georgia Line are on the bill, too. Tickets start at $29.50. See livenation.com/artists/43437/luke-bryan. 7 p.m. Saturday, June 15

Smooth jazz

Marion Meadows, a saxophonist who brings elements of funk and a strong sense of melody to his smooth-jazz arrangements, will make a stop at the Montrose Room, located inside the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare hotel, 5300 River Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $49.95. Go to montroseroom.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, June 15

Massed sound

One of the world's most famous choral groups, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, brings its heavenly sound to the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $95; $17 lawn. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, June 15

'Wreck-It-Ralph'

Film buffs and families can check out an outdoor screening of the 2012 Walt Disney Studios animated film “Wreck-It-Ralph” at Mundelein Park District's Diamond Lake Beach, 1016 Diamond Lake Road, Mundelein. Guests are invited to bring a blanket or a lawn chair for seating. Snacks will be available for purchase. Free admission. No registration required. Visit mundeleinparks.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, June 15

Worth a ride

AM Taxi, an alt-rock band with members who hail from the suburbs, will play this weekend at Chicago's Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave. The band delivers guitar-driven rock with a punk edge. $12. Go to beatkitchen.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, June 15

Porsches aplenty

Take a gander at the wonders of German auto engineering at the Porsche Club Concours near Old McHenry Road in Long Grove. Free admission. (847) 634-0888 or longgroveonline.com. 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 16

Treat dad to the trolley

Fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers can board a trolley for free in honor of Father's Day at the Fox River Trolley Museum, 361 S La Fox St. (Route 31), South Elgin. After riding the rails, families are welcome to bring out a picnic lunch and dine near the museum's life-size exhibits of Chicago el cars and other historic trains. Rides are free for fathers (with one paid child's fare). Trolley fares for other riders are $2-$4. (847) 697-4676 or foxtrolley.org. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 16

Celebrating dad

Wipe away all the years of stress you caused dad with a rockin' Father's Day at RA Sushi, which has locations in Lombard, Glenview and Chicago. Drink specials throughout the day include $6 Chang Lager and Sake or cocktails such as the Rising Sun or Jade Lotus. The happy hour food menu selection includes 30 sushi, appetizer and tapas items from $2.25 to $7.25. Rasushi.com. 11 a.m. to close Sunday, June 16

Beer and steak

Dads and beer just kind of go together. Add in steak and it's the perfect day. On Father's Day at Wickets, pair a Denver steak with a brew such as Victoria, Blue Moon, Half Acre Daisy Cutter or Guinness for $20, not including tax and gratuity. Each steak is served with chimichurri sauce, vegetables and mashed potatoes. Wickets is in the Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale, Schaumburg. (847) 619-1400 or wicketsbarandgrill.com. 11 a.m. to close Sunday, June 16

Those were the days

Step back in time to see what life was like more than 160 years ago during Garfield Farm Museum's 1840s Days. The event features guided tours and period demonstrations by costumed interpreters. Visit the restored 1846 brick inn and the museum's historical barns. The Garfield Farm Museum is on Garfield Road in Campton Hills. $3-$6. (630) 584-8485 or garfieldfarm.org. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 16

Revenge time?

Celebrity wrestlers like CM Punk and John Cena are on the bill for the special Sunday bout called WWE Payback at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $25-$500; $20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 16

Indie veterans

Indie-rock band Eleventh Dream Day was one of the keystones of Chicago's music scene throughout the 1990s, and it remains a vital and creative unity. Led by Northbrook native Rick Rizzo, the band combines Neil Young-style guitar flourishes, punk energy and an experimental streak that has seen the band explore electronic and ambient sounds. See them at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, Chicago. $5-$10. Go to hideoutchicago.com. 8 p.m. Sunday, June 16

Nathan Wisniewski, left, of Arlington Heights and Jesse Kulla of Chicago perform during a previous year’s Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Itasca. Daily Herald File Photo by Daniel White/dwhite@dai
Seth Meyers is one of the big names headed to town for TBS Just for Laughs Chicago. See him at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 14, at the Chicago Theatre.
Spend Father’s Day paddling around the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Buddy Guy headlines the Blues on the Fox festival Saturday in Aurora. Daily Herald File Photo
Chicago-native and WWE Champion CM Punk is set to compete at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Courtesy of WWE Inc.
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