Best Bets: Catch Whoopi Goldberg at Ravinia
Oscar winner
Academy Award-winning actress, comedian and talk-show host Whoopi Goldberg will hold court on a lot of current topics at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $80-$90; $20-$25 lawn seating. For mature audiences only. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3
Sew good
Knitting and sewing hobbyists won't want to miss out on all the workshops and sales of the Stitches Midwest convention this weekend at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $12 one-day ticket; $18 two-day ticket; $24 three-day ticket. (847) 303-4100 or schaumburgconventioncenter.com or knittinguniverse.com/stitches. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 3-4, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5
Eastern orientation
See sumo wrestlers, traditional Thai dancing, Korean drummers and more at the Destination Asia Festival this weekend at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. $15; $13 seniors; $10 kids 2-17. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 4-5
New world rescheduled
Grammy Award-winning singer Shakira and her rescheduled "El Dorado World Tour" show comes to the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. $50-$256.95. (800) 745-3000 or unitedcenter.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3
Vlogger live
"Miranda Sings Live" lets audiences laugh along with the online comic creation of Colleen Ballinger via the touring show called "No Offense" at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $39.50; $15-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3
Bark park
Canines and their owners are welcome for the Dog Days at Cantigny event on Saturday at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. There will be a special dog play area, performances by Skydogz featuring their World Champion High Flying Disc Dogs, contests, on-site adoption services, kids' crafts, West Burb Weiner Races ($5 registration fee), vendor booths, food trucks and more. All dogs must have current vaccination tags and be social with others. No retractable leashes. Free, but parking is $10. (630) 668-5161 or cantigny.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4
'Bad to the Bone'
Rock on with George Thorogood & The Destroyers when the band famed for songs like "I Drink Alone" and "Move It on Over" performs at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. $20 general admission; $25-$155 reserved seating. (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4
Magical meetup
The 14th Annual World of Faeries Festival features lots of enchanted family activities for those into various genres of fantasy fiction this weekend at Vasa Park, 35W217 Route 31, South Elgin. $11; $8 seniors; free for kids 12 and younger. theworldoffaeries.com. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5