Weekend picks: Woodstock Mozart Fest returns
Mozart amassed
Pianist Vassily Primakov and conductor Donato Cabrera perform the opening weekend of the 2013 Woodstock Mozart Festival, which continues through Aug. 11 at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. $30-$52; $25 students, per program. (815) 338-5300, woodstockoperahouse.com or mozartfest.org. 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday between July 27 through Aug. 11
'Dragons' hit the water
Watch traditional Chinese dragon boat racing at the Walgreens Chicago International Dragon Boat Festival at Lake Arlington, 2301 N. Windsor Drive, Arlington Heights. Dragon boats are 40-foot, human-powered canoes, decorated with ornate Chinese dragon heads. Synchronized paddling teams of 20 power the boats. Along with the boat races, the festival features an interactive expo, a kids' zone, a food marketplace and more. Free for spectators. Visit gwndragonboat.com. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 27
Fantastic Fungi
Nature enthusiasts are invited to learn about mushrooms and other fungi at the Fantastic Fungi guided nature walk at the Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook. Participants find out why mushrooms and other fungi are important in nature and learn to identify and locate the fungi. The walk is sponsored by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. This program is for adults only. Free. (630) 933-7200 or dupageforest.org. 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 27
Class reunion
Artists and Elgin High School Class of 1973 alums Sara Risley, Daniel Teafoe and Steve Westphal combine their talents for the art show “3 from '73” starting this weekend at Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin. Free admission. (847) 429-2276 or sidestreetstudioarts.org. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. artists reception Saturday, July 27
Corn-ucopia
Come hungry to the annual Sugar Grove Corn Boil, in Volunteer Park, west of Route 47, off Main Street in downtown Sugar Grove. Along with plenty of fresh corn to eat, there will be music, a carnival, a parade, a craft/vendor fair and fireworks. Free admission; charge for carnival rides; donations welcome for fireworks. (630) 466-5166 or sugargrovecornboil.org. Fireworks at dusk Saturday. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 27, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 28
Puerto Rican Heritage Fest
Celebrate Puerto Rican culture with a parade, food, music, games and more at the Aurora Puerto Rican Heritage Fest in RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway St., Aurora. Parade at noon Sunday, July 28, at Benton and Broadway streets, Aurora. Admission is $1-$2. Free for seniors and children younger than 5. (630) 631-9270 or auroraprcc.org. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 27, and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, July 28
Sol train
The streets of Pilsen will sizzle when Fiesta del Sol puts up its tents filled with bouncy live music, interesting wares and authentic Mexican food at 1400 W. Cermak Road, Chicago. Celebrating its 41st year, Fiesta del Sol started as a one-block festival and today is the largest Latino festival in the Midwest. Bring the kids for their own activities in the children's area, browse the art pavilion and take in entertainment and sports tournaments. (312) 666-2663 or fiestadelsol.org. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 27, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, July 28
Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival
The Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival continues through this weekend at the Cutting Hall Performance Arts Center, 150 E. Wood St., Palatine. If you haven't seen any of the offerings so far this week, you can make up for lost time by checking out the schedule at bwiff.com. What's still to come? Bobcat Goldthwaite's horror tale “Willow Creek” (no connection to the South Barrington church) and Jonathan Moeller's short doc “Funny Side of a Stroke.” Join Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire and Blue Whiskey founder, Palatine native Michael Noens, at noon Sunday for the annual awards luncheon at Emmett's Brewing Company in Palatine, followed by two “Blue Whiskey” chasers: two added feature films back at Cutting Hall. Call (847) 202-5229 for tickets and information. Noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 27-28
Cutting-edge fest
If you've yet to explore the hip neighborhood of Wicker Park, consider doing so during Wicker Park Fest, featuring some of the best in current and emerging music. The annual street festival is an economical alternative to Chicago's other big ticket music fests with its three stages of continuous live music, a dedicated children's fun area, performance art and dozens of local vendors. Wicker Park Fest, along Milwaukee Avenue between North Avenue and Paulina Street in Chicago, expects to see more than 70,000 people on hand to hear the likes of Walkie Talkies, The Dirty Pigeons, Meat Puppets, Roky Erickson and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. Bring the little hipsters for face painting, train rides, mini golf, a bounce house, reptile house and performances by Mary Macaroni and The Boogers. Suggested gate donation is $5. (773) 384-2672 or wickerparkfest.com. Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 27-28
Flip and fly
See Olympic athletes like 2012 team gold medalists McKayla Maroney and Kyla Ross compete in the 2013 Secret U.S. Classic, which features top women athletes vying for berths to the U.S. Gymnastics Championships. (No, Secret doesn't mean you have to have a password to get it; it's a reference to the sponsor, Secret deodorant.) See these athletes Saturday at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $20-$69; $15 parking. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday, July 27
He's a Gass
Craig Gass co-starred on the CBS sitcom “King of Queens” and he's a regular guest on “The Howard Stern Show.” See Gass live this weekend at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago, (312) 337-4027, $25 plus a two-item menu purchase. zanies.com. 7, 9 and 11:15 p.m. Saturday, July 27, and 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 28
Callen comedy
Comedian Bryan Callen (“MADtv,” “How I Met Your Mother”) returns to perform standup at The Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $19-$22 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, July 27, and 7 p.m. Sunday, July 28
Hundreds heard
Pianist Lang Lang teams up with conductor James Conlon and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to commemorate the bicentennials of the births of composers Guiseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner and the centennial of Benjamin Britten for a gala concert Saturday at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $25 reserved seating; $10 lawn seating. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, July 27
Rock prescription
Washington, D.C., band Ted Leo & the Pharmacists delivers punk-edged guitar rock with fierce wit and occasionally incendiary political advocacy. The band, a galvanizing live act, stops at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago, as it prepares its follow-up to 2010's “The Brutalist Bricks.” Mannequin Men will open. $15. Go to subt.net. 10 p.m. Saturday, July 27
Last Exit South
Enjoy an evening of classic country music, including four-part harmony vocals, with the Lake County band Last Exit South at the Cubby Bear North, 21661 N. Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire. $6. (847) 541-4700 or cubbynorth.com. 10 p.m. Saturday, July 27
Garden tours
Take a look at three private North Shore landscapes during The Garden Conservancy's Open Days Program this weekend starting at The Gardens at 900, 900 N. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest (directions to additional properties will be provided). $5 per garden; kids ages 12 and younger admitted free. (888) 842-2442 or opendaysprogram.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 28
Saluting veterans
The Village Tavern of Long Grove pays tribute to the U.S. military at its fourth annual Veterans' Recognition Day featuring concerts, family activities, a bratwurst cookout and a pig roast. Visitors can meet with veterans and their families and donate items for current military personnel including books, toiletries and more through Operation Airlift — VFW 5151. The pig roast is $10 for the general public and free for all military veterans and current military personnel. The tavern is at 135 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. (847) 634-3117 or visitlonggrove.com. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 28
Puerto Rican pride
Take in some music, food and fun at the 42nd Puerto Rican Heritage Festival today at the RiverEdge Park, 360 Broadway St., Aurora. $2; $1 students; Free for seniors and kids under age 5. (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com. 11 a.m. Sunday, July 28; parade at noon from Benton and Broadway Street
Tween dreams
The Tween Stars Live Tour features Disney Channel and Nickelodeon singing actors like Peyton List (Emma on “Jessie”), Calum Worthy (Dez on “Austin & Ally”), Jennifer Stone (Harper on “Wizards of Waverly Place”) and more at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $25-$55. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. Noon Sunday, July 28
A Boggy day
There's an art show, crafts, tours, storytelling by Brian Fox Ellis, and a “Bog Dog Picnic” with Norwegian elkhound dogs (if the weather is not too hot) all to commemorate International Bog Daytoday at Volo Bog State Natural Area, off U.S. Highway 12, between routes 120 and 134 in Ingleside. Free admission, but donations welcome. (815) 344-1294 or friendsofvolobog.org. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 28
Horse play
Watch the famed Tempel Lipizzans perform to classical music and then tour the stables for these amazing horses Sunday at Tempel Farms, 17000 Wadsworth Road, Old Mill Creek. $25; $20 veterans; $15 kids. (847) 623-7272 or tempelfarms.com. 1 p.m. Sunday, July 28