Entertainment

Weekend picks: Northwest Celtic Fest caters to Irish spirit

Posted March 22, 2014 5:00 am

By Laura Milbrath Stewart and Scott C. Morgan

The Rebecca McCarthy Irish Dancers, based in Algonquin, performing at a previous edition of the Village of Hoffman Estates' Celtic Fest at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com

Hibernian hoedown: Extend last weekend's St. Patrick's Day celebrations with the Northwest Celtic Fest, which promises loads of Irish music, dancing, children's games, food and more this Saturday at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. No admission charge and free parking. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 22

SATURDAY

Figaro! Figaro!: Introduce kids to the glories of opera with “The Family Barber,” a condensed 60-minute version of Rossini's comedy “The Barber of Seville” sung in English this Saturday at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. $10-$20 for ages 5-17; $20-$40 adults. (312) 332-2244 or lyricopera.org/familybarber. 2 p.m. Saturday, March 22

Chicago comedian: From appearances on Comedy Central to ESPN, Chicago-based comedian John Caponera promises lots of laughs. See him starting Wednesday at Zanies at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $22 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22

Broadway pops: The Elgin Symphony Orchestra celebrates the world of musical theater with vocalists Teri Dale Hansen and Nat Chandler in the concert “Bring On Broadway: Behind the Mask” this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $25-$60. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 23

Bhangra mix: Symphonic and electronic music mingle when the Chicago Sinfonietta teams up with Bhangra-inspired DJ Rekha and Dave Sharma for the concert “Global Dance Party” at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $10-$54. (312) 284-1554 or chicagosinfonietta.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 22

Arabian nights: Houston Ballet's acclaimed “Aladdin” makes its Chicago premiere in a special two-performance run this weekend co-sponsored by the Ravinia Festival and the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University at 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $32-$92. (800) 982-2787 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 22; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 23

Smooth jazz: Saxophonist Gerald Albright promises an intimate concert of smooth jazz this Saturday at the Montrose Room at the InterContinental O'Hare Hotel, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont. $49-$69. (312) 725-0740 or montroseroom.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 22

Buck starts here: Popular alternative/hard rock band Buckcherry will bring its intense guitar-based crunch to Austin's Fuel Room, 481 Peterson Road, Libertyville. $25; austinsaloon.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, March 22

SUNDAY

Coin Show: The Lake County Coin Club hosts its annual Coin Show at Warren Township High School, 500 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee. Visitors can purchase coins, view special exhibits and bring in their own coins for appraisal. Admission is free. Visit lakecountycoinclub-il.com. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 23

Art in the afternoon: Children ages 3 and older are invited to draw, color, paste and paint the afternoon away at the Awesome Art Afternoon event at the Water Street Studios, 117 W. Main St., St. Charles. Admission is free. For information, call (630) 761-9977, or visit waterstreetstudios.com. 1 p.m. Sunday, March 23

'History Bloopers': The Glen Ellyn Historical Society presents “History Bloopers,” a madcap look at some of history's greatest moments, at the Glen Ellyn History Center, 800 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. The program is directed by Maria Bakalis, historical society member and owner of the Curtain Up Entertainment Center. Tickets are $5 for historical society members; $7 nonmembers. Students ages 18 and younger are free. Visit glenellynhistory.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, March 23

Strike up the band!: The Illinois Brass Band opens its 24th season with its “Classic Brass” concert at the First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights, 1903 E. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. Featured works include classical pieces, music from film and more. $5-$10. Family admission is $25 (up to two adults and five children, under age 18). Visit illinoisbrassband.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, March 23

Punk with rhythm: Reel Big Fish, a California ska-punk band, leapt from the underground to mainstream success in the late 1990s, after bands like No Doubt had introduced ska elements into pop. The band makes a stop at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine, this weekend as part of its “Don't Stop Skankin'” tour. $20; durtynellies.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, March 23

Record release show: Jon Langford, a driving force behind beloved bands the Mekons and the Waco Brothers, will perform with yet another of his bands, Skull Orchard, during a record-release show next week in the city. The Chicago-based Langford and Skull Orchard are about to release the album “Here Be Monsters,” which continues Langford's career-spanning exploration of the territory where country and punk meet. At the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, Chicago. $10; hideoutchicago.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, March 23

Gerald Albright plays the Montrose Room at the InterContinental O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 22.

Broadway veteran Nat Chandler performs with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra for the concert “Bring On Broadway: Behind the Mask” at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 23. Courtesy of Walnut Street Theatre

Teri Dale Hansen performs with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra for the concert "Bring On Broadway: Behind the Mask" at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 23.

The Ravinia Festival and the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University co-present the Chicago premiere of Houston Ballet's “Aladdin” on Saturday and Sunday, March 22 and 23. Courtesy of Houston Ballet

John Caponera returns to Zanies in Rosemont.

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