Weekend picks: Mark Normand brings comedy to Zanies
Comedy guy: If you love comedian Mark Normand from his TV stints on NBC's “Last Comic Standing” or Comedy Central's “@Midnight,” then check out his standup locally at Zanies at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $22 plus a two-item menu purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27-28, and 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29-30
Sibling act: If you grew up in the 1970s, then brother-and-sister stars Donny & Marie Osmond probably factored into your pop culture consumption. Catch these performers, who are still a little bit country and a little bit rock 'n' roll, for a series of shows starting Wednesday at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $69-$99. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28; 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30; and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31
Jazz birds: The Chicago Jazz Festival begins Thursday with performers like the Paulinho Garcia Quintet and the Judy Roberts/Greg Fishman Duo at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., with bigger headliners like Rufus Reid and Myra Melford at Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago. Free. (312) 744-6630 or cityofchicago.org. Various times through Sunday, Aug. 31
Speedy boats: Catch the last gasps of summer weather at the final evening of Drag Boat Races for the season on Thursday at Blarney Island, 27843 W. Grass Lake Road, Antioch. Free to watch. (847) 395-4122 or blarneyisland.com. 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28
Long-running: For 26 years, the Neo-Futurists have been performing a rotation of 30 ultrashort plays in 60 minutes in “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind.” Now you can see the show closer to home when it plays a brief run at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $20. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 8 p.m. through Saturday, Aug. 30
FRIDAY
Go North: Wild Belle, the offbeat pop band led by brother-sister duo Natalie and Elliot Bergman of Barrington, will be among the acts performing at this year's North Coast Music Festival, which takes place all weekend at Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., Chicago. North Coast, now in its fifth year, delivers an eclectic array of pop, electronic and hip-hop acts. In addition to Wild Belle, notable acts include Snoop Dogg, electronic duo Zeds Dead and acclaimed rapper Kid Cudi. Tickets start at $69 per day. For a full lineup, schedule and ticket information, go to northcoastmusicfestival.com. North Coast Music Festival runs Friday through Sunday, Aug. 29-31.
Fluttering away: The special seasonal exhibit Butterflies & Blooms finishes up on Monday, so take it in this weekend at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. $6; $5 seniors; $4 kids ages 3-12; ($25-$30 parking). (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Aug. 29 to 31
Civil War fashions: See a variety of original women's and children's fashions and accessories from the Civil War, including hoops, bonnets and gowns, at the Ladies Attire of the Civil War Revisited exhibit at The Meeting House, 97 Main St., Antioch. The exhibit is hosted by the Lakes Region Historical Society. Admission is $5 for adults. Children under age 12 are free. (847) 395-4912 or lakesregionhistory.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, through Sunday, Aug. 31
Having a Last Fling: Head to the Naperville Jaycees Last Fling for concerts, a carnival, Family Fun Land, a parade and many more family events on Jackson Avenue, in downtown Naperville. Free admission; main stage entertainment is additional. Visit lastfling.org. 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31
Eat, drink and be Polish: You'll be reciting Polish like a pro after an hour or two at the Taste of Polonia, the largest Polish festival in the United States. Experience nonstop entertainment, courtesy of 30 bands playing rock, blues and polka music. Plus, enjoy a children's stage, carnival rides, dance, folk art and games galore at the Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. Admission is $7. (773) 777-8898 or copernicuscenter.org/events. 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 30-31; and noon to 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1
Sweet sounds: Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland brings her That Girl Tour complete with opening acts Indigo Girls and Brandy Clark on Friday to RiverEdge Park, 360 Broadway St., Aurora. $40. (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29
'Love's Labour's Lost': See a performance of William Shakespeare's comical “Love's Labour's Lost” at the Shakespeare in the Park program in Memorial Park, 208 W. Union St., Wheaton. The play explores desire, love and mistaken identities. Bring blanket or chair for seating. The event is presented by the Wheaton College Arena Theater and Wheaton Park District. Proceeds benefit the DuPage County Historical Museum Foundation. Free; donations are welcome. Visit wheatonparkdistrict.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, and Saturday, Aug. 30. Rain date is Sunday, Aug. 31
Boy band central: Expect plenty of teenage screaming at the two concerts this weekend of the British boy band One Direction with opening act 5 Seconds of Summer at Soldier Field, 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive, Chicago. $59.50-$99.50. (800) 745-3000 or soldierfield.net. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29 and 30
Shake, shake, shake: Relive disco hits of the 1970s when KC & the Sunshine Band performs at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $49-$125. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29
SATURDAY
Septemberfest in Schaumburg: The 44th annual Schaumburg Septemberfest takes place on the grounds of the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center, 101 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. The outdoor festival features an arts and crafts show, a carnival, entertainment on three stages, the Taste of Schaumburg, Not-for-Profit Day, fireworks, Labor Day parade and Miss Septemberfest competition. Free admission. Visit ci.schaumburg.il.us. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31
Last Huzzah: This weekend is your last chance to experience the pageantry of the Bristol Renaissance Faire for the season. It closes on Labor Day at 12550 120th Ave., Kenosha, Wis. $23.95; $11.50 kids ages 5 to 12. (847) 395-7773 or renfair.com. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Aug. 30 to Sept. 1
Remix and mingle: Remix Chicago offers all things reused and recycled in a festival setting in one of the city's liveliest neighborhoods: Logan Square, on Milwaukee Avenue between Fullerton and California avenues. Expect to see a variety of re-purposed arts and crafts. And don't miss the informative workshops, kids' activities, food vendors and live indie music. Suggested admission donation is $5. (773) 433-8048 or remixchicago.com. Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 30-31
Oom pah-pah: The German Fest and The People's Fireworks promises loads of beer, bratwurst, family activities and a dazzling pyrotechnic display on Saturday at Steitz's Restaurant and Marina, 25400 W. Bluff Lane, Antioch. (847) 395-4050 or antiochchamber.org. Noon to midnight Saturday, Aug. 30
Straight through the art: Artopia Fest, Chicago's largest indoor and outdoor music and art festival, completely fills the Chicago Urban Art Society, 600 W. Cermak Road, Chicago, with art, music and culture. Expect to see the works of more than 100 artists plus visual performances by Redmoon Theater. Plus, take in live art stations, yoga classes, body painting, interactive games for all ages, live music and stage performances and a top Chicago DJ spinning tunes. Admission is $6-$10. (773) 491-2927 or artopiachicago.com. 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30
Rocky returns: Comedian Rocky LaPorte (“Last Comic Standing”) returns to town this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $22 plus a two-item menu purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30; 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31
Golden oldie: Johnny Rivers produced a string of hits during the 1960s, including “Secret Agent Man” and “Baby I Need Your Lovin.” Rivers brings his energetic mix of rock, blues and folk to the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Tickets start at $59. Go to oshows.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30
Shape Shifter: The rock cover band Shape Shifter headlines at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. Admission is $5. Show is for ages 21 and older. Visit durtynellies.com. 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30
SUNDAY
Irish ayes: Long Grove's Irish Days continues with loads of Celtic music, dancing, competitions, family activities and more at Long Grove Historic Village in downtown Long Grove. No admission charge. (847) 634-0888 or visitlonggrove.com. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday
Cultural confab: Roots Aurora is a multicultural festival of dancing, music, art and food staged today at RiverEdge Park, 360 Broadway St., Aurora. $3; $1 if in cultural costume. (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com. 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31
Bread and Butter Day: Watch costumed docents prepare homemade bread and butter and learn how pioneer families relied on those ingredients for many meals at Bread and Butter Day at the Durant House Museum, in the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve at 37W370 Dean St., St. Charles. Admission is a donation of $2 for adults and $1 for kids. (630) 377-6464 or ppfv.org. 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31