Weekly picks: Mundelein Community Days among weekend fests
Civic celebration
The 2018 Mundelein Community Days promises carnival rides, food, music, games and a July 1 parade and fireworks display. The fun starts Thursday at Kracklauer Park, Route 45, Mundelein. Free admission. mundelein.org. 4 to 11 p.m. Thursday, June 28; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 29-30; and 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, July 1
Local laughs
Cheer on rising Chicago comedian Calvin Evans when he performs standup sets this week at two Zanies locations: first at 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago, (312) 337-4027, then at Parkway Bank Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 813-0484. $25 plus a two-item purchase. zanies.com. In Chicago: 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 27; 7, 9 and 11:15 p.m. Saturday, June 30; and 8 p.m. Saturday, July 1. In Rosemont: 8 p.m. Thursday, June 28, and 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, June 29
Veterans on Broadway
The Tony Award-winning 2017 Broadway musical "Bandstand" (Best Choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler) was captured on video before it closed. So now is your chance to see this 1940s post-war-set musical on the big screen Thursday at select suburban movie theaters. Tickets vary by venue, but largely $19. For exact prices and venues, visit fathomevents.com. 7 p.m. Thursday, June 28
Reggae time
Groove to the music of Bob Marley and more when The Wailers perform at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$89. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 28
Taste for scandal
Oak Park native Kathy Griffin is notorious for stirring up some celebrity and political scandal. See her back on the standup comedy circuit with her "Laugh Your Head Off World Tour" at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $45-$55. (800) 745-3000 or the chicagotheatre.com. 8 p.m. Thursday, June 28
Up and away
Behold a bounty of beautiful hot-air balloons at the annual Lisle Eyes to the Sky Festival this weekend. This charity event also features carnival rides, family activities, music and more at Community Park, 1825 Short St., Lisle (parking at Benet Academy, 2200 Maple Ave., Lisle). $10 daily admission; $65 carnival megapass. eyestotheskies.org. 3 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 29; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 30 and July 1
37th American Music Festival
Whether your musical tastes lean toward jazz, funk, rock, soul, indie or good old Americana, one of the weekend's best bets is the American Music Festival at FitzGerald's. The annual fest - a collection of national acts and hot talent from Chicago's music scene including the Ike Reilly Assassination, James McMurtry, Eric Lindell, Devil in a Woodpile, Kevin A. Prchal, The Belvederes, Blackfoot Gypsies, Fox Crossing Stringband and many others - has become a destination for music-lovers over the last 37 years, offering more than 60 bands on three stages over four days. See the full lineup and schedule at fitzgeraldsnightclub.com. Single-day tickets and four-day passes are available. FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $40 Friday, $40 Saturday, $50 Sunday and $50 Tuesday; four-day pass costs $140; $10 discount for tickets bought at the door with cash during the first hour of each day. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com. 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 29; 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 30 and July 1; and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 3
Homegrown battles
The Homegrown Arts & Music Festival is heading into its sixth year, and founder Aaron Williams is filling two final slots on the lineup with a two-night Battle of the Bands competition. One winning band from each night will earn a slot at the fest, set for Saturday, July 21, at BaseCamp Pub. Friday's lineup features The Red Moons, The Instinct, Eugeine Grey and The Bad Habits, The Roaches and Loose Cannons. Saturday's lineup presents Tonic Freight Train, Observing With Annie, The Wild and Social Que. Bands will be selected by a panel of guest judges and crowd draw, so be sure to attend to support your favorite local musicians. BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $6 each night. (331) 777-4712 or aaronwilliamsmusic.com. Doors at 6 p.m. Friday, June 29, and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 30
'Ultimate' love
Canadian rocker Bryan Adams makes his Ravinia Festival debut with "The Ultimate Tour." Hear hit songs such as "Summer of '69," "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" and more tonight at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Road. $80-$95 pavilion seating; $38-$43 lawn seating. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 8 p.m. Friday, June 29
Jersey guy
Actor and comedian Bret Ernst ("Cobra Kai," "This is Not Happening") capitalizes on his New Jersey and Italian-American upbringing for loads of laughs this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $19 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, June 29; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, June 30; 7 p.m. Sunday, July 1
K-pop shift
Die-hard fans of South Korean pop music won't want to miss the massive boy band Wanna One and their "One: The World Tour" tonight at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $90-$260.43. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, June 29
Hopes afloat
Cheer on the buoyant homemade ships (or giggle at the not-so-ship-shape ones) as part of the Lake Ellyn Cardboard Regatta on Saturday at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn. Boat preregistration is required and the deadline is at noon Friday, June 29. $50 per boat; free admission to view. (630) 858-2462 or gepark.org/regatta. 10 a.m. Saturday, June 30
Botanic beauty
More than 100 artists will feature their nature-inspired work as part of an Art Festival this weekend at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Free admission, but parking is $25-$30 per vehicle. (847) 835-6801 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 30 and July 1
North vs. South
See re-enactors bring back the 1860s during Civil War Days this weekend at the Lakewood Forest Preserve, IL Route 176 at Fairfield Road, Wauconda. Daily: $10; $5 seniors (ages 62 and up) and youth (ages 4-17); weekend pass: $15; $7 youth and seniors (847) 367-6640 or lcfpd.org/education/events/civilwar. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 30; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 1
PIQNIQ party
Be on the lookout when 101-WKQX unleashes PIQNIQ Bear and Plainfield's Marina City to kick off the festivities at its PIQNIQ music festival Saturday. The single-day fest features some of the radio station's favorite artists - AWOLNATION, Dashboard Confessional, Bush, The Neighbourhood, Greta Van Fleet, The Front Bottoms, Bishop Briggs and Welshly Arms - on two stages at Tinley Park's Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, 19100 Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park. Tickets start at $20. 101wkqx.com. Gates open at noon, show at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 30
Chicago Styles
Harry Styles, the erstwhile frontman of Britpop band One Direction who last year made his acting debut in Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk," brings his sold-out world tour to Chicago's United Center. Country singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves will join Styles during his Chicago stop. United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. Tickets start at $29.50. (800) 745-3000 or unitedcenter.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, June 30
Acoustic ace
Tickets are scarce to see "Neil Young Solo" ("Campaigner," "Human Highway") in concert this weekend at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $350. (312) 341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 30 (sold out) and July 1