Sunday picks: Blues Traveler plays Under the Sun
Outdoor rock: The Under the Sun Tour with Sugar Ray, Uncle Kracker and Blues Traveler promises loads of games, activities, products and displays for toddlers up to teenagers on Sunday, at the RiverEdge Park, 360 Broadway St., Aurora. $30. (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, July 6
Frontier Days: See entertainment on three stages and take a spin on some carnival rides at Arlington Heights Frontier Days in Recreation Park, 500 E. Miner St., Arlington Heights. Other highlights include a parade, food, soccer, arts and crafts, a petting zoo and many other family activities. Free admission. Visit frontierdays.org. 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, July 6
Northwest holiday weekend: Catch music and carnival games at the Northwest Fourth-Fest this weekend at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. No admission charge. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 6
Lions host annual fest: The Mount Prospect Lions Club hosts its annual Village Festival in Melas Park, 1500 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect. Event features fireworks, a carnival, live entertainment, games, food court, beer garden, raffles, pancake breakfast and more. Free admission. (847) 870-6622 or mtprospectlions.com. 1 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday, July 6
Travel America Festival: Celebrate American history at the Travel America Festival at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. The fest looks at American history with various cultural events, including Native American dancing, yodeling, cowboy rope trick performances, music and more. Free with paid $9-$12 general admission to the Arboretum. Visit mortonarb.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 6
Botanic arts: More than 100 artists display and sell their work for the Chicago Botanic Garden Art Festival this weekend at 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Free admission; $25-$30 parking per car or van. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 6
Japanimation station: Fans of Japanese animation and manga comic books won't want to miss the Fourth Annual Anime Midwest Convention this weekend, at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, 9300 Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont. $40 one-day pass; $55-$100 three-day pass. (847) 696-1234 or animemidwest.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 6
BBQ bonanza: Fill up on ribs while hearing music acts at the Naperville Exchange Club's Ribfest starting Thursday at Knoch Park, West Street and Martin Avenue, Naperville. $15 admission; kids ages 11 and younger admitted free. (630) 259-1129 or ribfest.net. Noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, July 6
Up, up and away: The Eyes to the Skies Festival closes today with a carnival at Lisle Community Park, 1825 Short St. (Route 53), Lisle. $7 admission; free for kids ages 7 and younger. eyestotheskies.org. Carnival only from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, July 6
Settlement Sundays: The Naper Settlement, at 523 S. Webster St., Naperville, hosts its latest Settlement Sundays event with free ice cream sundaes and do-it-yourself toppings, hands-on family activities and tours of historic buildings. Admission is $12 adults; $10 seniors; $8 for youth ages 4-12. Kids under age 4, Naperville residents and members are free. (630) 420-6010 or visit napersettlement.org. 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 6. Ice cream is served from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Noise-rock maestros: Every Chicago-area rock fan is duty-bound to see Shellac in concert at least once. The local noise-rock trio is anchored by Steve Albini, the musician-producer known for his acerbic wit, fierce punk-rock work ethic and wizardry on the electric guitar. Albini is joined in Shellac by bassist Bob Weston (a stellar producer in his own right) and drummer Todd Trainer — together, they form one of the most blistering rock acts around, a band that is never better than when it is playing live for a home crowd at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $15. Go to lincolnhallchicago.com. 8 p.m. Sunday, July 6