Entertainment

Weekend picks: Country star Josh Turner to rock Festival Park

Posted July 12, 2014 5:00 am

By Laura Milbrath Stewart and Scott C. Morgan

Country star Josh Turner performs at Festival Park adjacent to the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin on Saturday, July 12.

Country guy: Fans of country star Josh Turner and his songs like “Time is Love” and “Your Man” won't want to miss the Roughstock and Rambler Tour on Saturday outdoors at Festival Park adjacent to Grand Victoria Casino, 132 S. Grove Ave., Elgin. $19-$99. (888) 508-1900 or grandvictoriacasino.showare.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, July 12

SATURDAY

Art on parade in Buffalo Grove: View a wide variety of art from more than 160 juried artists from across the globe at the Buffalo Grove Fine Arts Festival, at the Buffalo Grove Town Center, Lake-Cook Road at Route 83 (McHenry Road), Buffalo Grove. Other highlights include live entertainment, food and kids' activities. Free admission. Visit amdurproductions.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13

Civil War Days: Head back in time at Civil War Days at the Lakewood Forest Preserve, 27277 N. Forest Preserve Road, Wauconda. Visitors can view large-scale re-enactments of famous Civil War battles, visit military and civilian camps, watch re-enactors portray famous Civil War figures such as Abraham Lincoln and more. $5-$10. Visit lcfpd.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 12, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 13

Bullish on adventure: Ever had Spanish travel dreams of being chased by bulls in Pamplona or getting down and dirty in a massive tomato fight in Valencia? Then try out those events locally (or just safely watch) as part of The Great Bull Run and Tomato Royale this Saturday at Hawthorne Race Course, 3501 S. Laramie Ave., Cicero. $75 includes one run with the bulls, one tomato food fight admission and festival access; $55 Tomato Royale only; $15 spectators; parking $10 cash. (708) 780-7050 or thegreatbullrun.com. 11 a.m. Saturday, July 12

Mobile munchies: Get samples of Chicago-area mobile delicacies at the Second Annual Food Truck Festival this Saturday at Arlington International, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. $8; $2 kids; $35 VIP ticket. (847) 385-7500 or arlingtonpark.com. 11:15 a.m. Saturday, July 12

Vintage baseball: Watch baseball teams, including the Cantigny Red Oaks and Milwaukee's Cream City Junos, take part in games played according to 1858 baseball rules at the Vintage Baseball Game event at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Other teams playing include the DuPage Plowboys and the Oregon (Illinois) Ganymedes. Admission is free with paid $5 parking fee. (630) 668-5161 or visit cantigny.org. Event begins at noon Saturday, July 12

"Pinocchio": See the adventures of “Pinocchio” at the Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora. The play is based on the classic 1883 book by Italian author Carlo Collodi. Watch as the wooden marionette boy named Pinocchio wrecks a puppet show and rescues his woodcarver father Geppetto from a great fish. $5-$7. Visit foxvalleyparkdistrict.org. 2 p.m. Saturday, July 12

America's sister: If you love Loni Love from shows like “The Real” or “Chelsea Lately,” then check out the celebrated comedian starting Friday at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $22 plus a two-menu item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, July 12; and 7 p.m. Sunday, July 13

Blue-collar gal: Comedian Kristen Toomey likes to bill herself as your favorite blue-collar aunt, so get some grounded and working-class humor this weekend when she performs at the The Comedy Shrine, 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. $20. (630) 585-0300 or comedyshrine.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, July 12

Punk pioneers: Death, a trio of brothers from Detroit, recorded an album in the mid-1970s that many say made them the first black punk band. But the band didn't connect with a wide audience until recently, when Chicago label Drag City reissued those 1970s tracks. They're playing at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, Chicago, this weekend. Sharing the bill is Tutu & the Pirates, often referred to as the first Chicago punk band. Led by Glenview native David Springer, the band was notorious in the late '70s/early '80s for its raucous (and hilarious) songs and outrageous live act. $20; emptybottle.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, July 12

TV tantrums: After playing in Chicago, Eclectic Company Theatre's production of “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” is headed for a suburban run. Neil Simon's 1993 comedy is loosely based upon his time working in the wacky writer's room for a 1950s sketch comedy TV show headed by an oversize personality like Sid Caesar. At the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $30 previews; $38 regular run. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. In previews Saturday and Sunday, July 12 and 13; regular run between Thursday, July 17, through Sunday, Aug. 17

SUNDAY

Fan site central: Sci-fi and fantasy fans who blog about their love for things ranging from “Doctor Who” to “The Hobbit” won't want to miss the final day of Dash Con today at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $20 Sunday only. (847) 303-4100 or dashcon.org. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, July 13

Clues by car: Get family or friends together to drive and compete in The Big Sunday Summerrallye today at the Woodfield Mall Shopping Center, Golf Road at Route 53, Schaumburg. $10 per car. (847) 975-2075 or wheelsrallyeteam.com. 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 13

Small Potatoes: Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso, known as the musical duo Small Potatoes, present a concert of country, blues and folk tunes at the Sunset Foods Pavillion at Long Grove Fountain Square, at Robert Parker Coffin and Old McHenry roads, downtown Long Grove. Free. Visit lgamc.org. 4 p.m. Sunday, July 13

Opera to Broadway: Wheeling native and opera star Deborah Voigt crosses over to the Great White Way for the concert “Something Wonderful: An Evening of Broadway” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on Sunday at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $25-$70 pavilion; $15 lawn seating. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 5 p.m. Sunday, July 13

Top talent: The president and CEO of the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles is Ron Onesti, and he's the guest judge for Suburban Chicago's Got Talent featuring the Top 15 finalists. Hear his thoughts on who will be great enough to win an opening act spot for the Arcada tonight at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $10. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, July 13

Kristen Toomey, a Villa Park resident, performs standup comedy at The Comedy Shrine in Aurora on Friday and Saturday, July 11 and 12. Courtesy of Chicago Womens Funny Festival

Wheeling native and soprano Deborah Voigt teams up with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for the concert "Something Wonderful: An Evening of Broadway" at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 13.

Watch re-enactments of famous Civil War battles at the annual Civil War Days event at the Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda. Daily Herald file photo

Comedian Loni Love returns to perform at the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg. Courtesy of Dan Dion

Thrill-seekers have long participated in Spain's running with the bulls. A modified version will be available July 12 at Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero.

Eclectic Company Theatre's Chicago production of Neil Simon's 1993 comedy “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” comes to the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights from Thursday, July 10, through Sunday, Aug. 17. Courtesy of Eclectic Company Theatre

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