Weekend picks: Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt go acoustic at the Genesee
Lovett & Hiatt together again
Grammy Award winner Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, bring their incredible combined talent to the stage for “An Acoustic Evening With Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt.” When these two old friends get together, they bring solo performances, duets, harmonies and stories, along with a few laughs, to the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $45-$97.50. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3
Sea creatures
The Aquatic Experience Chicago features aquarium fish sales, seminars and even a Sea Lion Splash show this weekend at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $99 three-day pass; $35 all-day pass (includes seminars); $10-$12 one-day general admission; $6 kids one-day general admission. (847) 303-4100 or aquaticexperience.org. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3-4, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5
Lucky Boys at 20
West suburban-based Lucky Boys Confusion still puts on quite a live show even after 20 years. See for yourself when LBC plays selections from their entire catalog for their 20th anniversary show at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. The show also features Swizzle Tree, The Punch, a one-night-only reunion of Treaty of Paris and many other area acts. $25. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3
They're super!
See comic book superheroes and villains onstage when “Marvel Universe Live! Age of Heroes” comes on tour starting Thursday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $20-$110; $15-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, and 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 4 and 5
Mexican traditions
Celebrate Mexico's many folk dance and music traditions when the local Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl performs at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $25-$28; $18-$20 kids 12 and younger. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3
Family Festival: Diwali
Experience interactive dance performances, art and more when the Art Institute of Chicago hosts the Family Festival: Diwali in its Ryan Learning Center. Guests can create art inspired by Indian traditions and the exhibition “India Modern: The Paintings of M.F. Husain.” Enter at the Art Institute's Modern Wing entrance at 159 E. Monroe St., Chicago. Free. (312) 857-7161 or artic.edu. 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4
On a roll
Lake in the Hills hosts its annual Great Pumpkin Roll Saturday at Butch Hagele Beach, 71 Hilltop Drive, Lake in the Hills. Guests can bring their own pumpkins from home and roll them for free, or register for the event, get a pumpkin, enter the contest and win a prize for landing on the lucky pumpkin spot. Preregistration is recommended. Day-of-event registration will be available on a limited, cash-only basis. $8-$10 fee includes one pumpkin and one raffle entry. Operation Gratitude will collect unopened Halloween candy donations for deployed troops. Cards and letters of thanks for the troops also will be accepted. (847) 960-7460 or lith.org. 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4
Hops around the clock
Sample beers and ciders from more than 50 breweries at the new Fall Back Brew Fest at the Palatine Family Aquatic Center, 340 E. Palatine Road, Palatine. $40-$50 VIP tickets; $30-$40 general admission; $10 designated driver. Must be 21 or older. (847) 604-0288 or palatinejaycees.org/fall-back-brew-fest. Noon early VIP entry; 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4
Let there be light
Singer Jordan Smith from NBC's “The Voice” will be the guest performer for the 110th annual Great Tree Lighting in the Walnut Room, on the seventh floor at Macy's, 111 N. State St., Chicago. The 45-foot-tall holiday tree has more than 2,000 ornaments and an estimated 6,600 lights. Free. macy.com/events. Noon Saturday, Nov. 4
Violin 'Tributes'
Violinist Jennifer Frautschi is the featured soloist in an Elgin Symphony Orchestra concert featuring the music of Beethoven, Copland and James Stephenson's recently composed “Tributes Concerto for Violin and Orchestra” this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $30-$65; $10 students. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5
Asylum-seeker
American soprano Patricia Racette stars in a new Chicago Opera Theater co-production of Menotti's “The Consul.” The timely Pulitzer Prize-winning 1950 opera about a desperate political asylum-seeker takes the stage at the Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $45-$145. (312) 704-8414 or chicagooperatheater.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4
'Muertos' music
The Chicago Sinfonietta explores music for mourning and more with the concerts “Regresar/Revisit: A Dia de los Muertos Celebration” at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $10-$62. (312) 284-1554 or chicagosinfonietta.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4
Wheeling 'Idol'
Wheeling native and “American Idol” veteran Haley Reinhart headlines an intimate concert bill with Waxworks and Todd Kessler at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $28-$33. (773) 525-2501 or lh-st.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5
Gone gourds
See select pumpkins get catapulted through the air at the annual Pumpkin Drop. The event includes a composting drive for leftover organic Halloween decorations at the Mundelein Community Center at Community Park, 1401 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Free. (847) 388-5460 or mundeleinparks.org. 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5
Tennessee tribute
William Bell, Charlie Musselwhite and Bobby Rush are three of the headliners for the Memphis Soul and Rhythm & Blues Revue “Take Me to the River” at the College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $47-$65. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5
Nashville names
Country music fans won't want to miss the chance to see Trace Adkins (“Rough & Ready,” “Just Fishin'”) on the same concert bill with Adam Warner (“She's Got Love,” “Empty”) at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $35-$64.50. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5