Weekend picks: Meghan Trainor, X Ambassadors play Chicago Theatre

Meghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor, the pop singer formerly all about that bass, brings her show to the Chicago Theatre this weekend, along with the X Ambassadors, George Ezra and Brynn Elliott. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $49-$85. (312) 902-1500 or msg.com.

Bounce around

Tickets are scarce to compete in Saturday's Great Inflatable Race. Bring the family to run, climb and dodge an inflatable obstacle course set up at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. $39.99-$75; $59.99-$90 VIP tickets. (847) 680-7200 or thegreatinflatablerace.com/chicago. First wave at 9 a.m., then every 30 minutes until noon Saturday, Sept. 15

Celebrities, fashion & fun

Evelyn Braxton, Nancy Grace and Kim Fields are just a few of the celebrity keynote speakers appearing for the Chicago Ultimate Women's Expo. This weekend's event includes spa treatments, makeup stations and opportunities for "retail therapy" at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $10 general admission. (866) 618-3434 or chicagowomensexpo.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16

Abode ideals

Get design ideas, meet with contractors or do price comparisons for your renovation projects at the Home Building and Remodeling Show this weekend at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Free. (630) 468-2237 or lcfair.com or homeshowevent.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15-16

Thrill creepers

Fright Fest is back at Six Flags Great America. There's a terrifying walk-through maze, specialty scare zones, spooky shows and more at 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee. $77.99 general admission; $57.99 for those under 48 inches in height. (847) 249-1776 or sixflags.com/greatamerica. Various dates and hours from Saturday, Sept. 15, through Wednesday, Oct. 31

Out & proud

Comedian Wanda Sykes and Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon share the same bill for the Chicago House Speaker Series fundraising event at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $200-$500. (773) 248-5200 or chicagohouse.org/home. 11 a.m. VIP reception; noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15

Riot Fest

The three-day music festival takes over Chicago's Douglas Park Friday through Sunday with a slate of national acts as well as Chicago-area bands, including Beck, Incubus, Andrew W.K., Bad Religion, Interpol, the Jesus Lizard, Run the Jewels, Alkaline Trio, Elvis Costello, Blondie, GWAR, Beach Bunny and Twin Peaks, to name a few. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15-16, at Douglas Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Drive, Chicago. Single-day general admission passes are $49.98 (plus fees); three-day general admission passes are $129.98 (plus fees); VIP and multiday packages are also available at riotfest.org.

Concert by Copeland

Shemekia Copeland performs her blues and Americana album "America's Child" as part of Oaktoberfest, a weekend celebration in downtown Oak Park at the intersection of Marion Street and North Boulevard. Free admission. (708) 383-4145 or oaktoberfest.net. Festival from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15; Copeland performs at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15

Winged celebration

The McHenry County Audubon Society celebrates World Bird Day with avian games, tours, displays and more at McHenry Dam in Moraine Hills State Park, 1510 S. River Road, McHenry. Free. (815) 385-1624 or dnr.illinois.gov/Parks/Pages/MoraineHills.aspx. Noon to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15

Celtic course

Horse racing is augmented with Hibernian music and food for the special "Luck of the Irish" event at Arlington International Racecourse, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. $8; $4 kids; $45 all-inclusive VIP ticket with food plate, souvenir mug and specialty cocktails. (847) 385-7500 or arlingtonpark.com. Gates open at noon; first post at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15

'Dragon' den

Catch an outdoor screening of DreamWorks' 2010 animated film "How to Train Your Dragon" as part of the 2018 Block Party at the Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. Free. (847) 234-6060 or gortoncenter.org. 5:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15

Hit makers

Rock out when Johnny Rivers ("Mountain of Love," "The Seventh Son"), Jimmy Webb ("Up, Up and Away," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix") and special guest Steve Kessler share a concert bill at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $45-$55 pavilion seating; $20-$25 lawn seating. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15

Roaming Rhodes

Comedian Tom Rhodes ("Comedy Central Comedy Underground," the podcast "Tom Rhodes Radio") returns for a series of standup sets at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 524-0001. $25 plus a two-item purchase. zanies.com. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday in St. Charles.

Mozart masterpiece

Gurnee native and soprano Amanda Majeski is one of the opera soloists in the performance of Mozart's Requiem with the Music of the Baroque this weekend at two locations: first at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago; then at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $39-$78. (312) 551-1414 or baroque.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, in Chicago and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, in Skokie

Comedy central

The Genesee Theatre becomes a major comedy spot this weekend as it hosts stars Paul Rodriguez and Wayne Brady on successive nights at 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Tickets cost $32.50-$42.50 for Paul Rodriguez; and $48-$68 for Wayne Brady. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. Paul Rodriguez is at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15; and Wayne Brady is at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16

Randy Rogers Band

The Texas-bred Randy Rogers Band exudes authenticity in its Billboard-charting hits. Hear them for yourself when the band visits Rosemont along with Austin singer-songwriter Parker McCollum. 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $19-$24. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.

PolkaToberfest

Roll out the barrel with polka-rockers Brave Combo at BrauerHouse's PolkaToberfest. The two-night celebration features food, stein-holding contests and of course beer, along with performances by the Bolzen Beer Band and Sgt. Sauerkraut's Polka Band. 9 p.m. (doors at 8) Saturday, Sept. 15, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $15-$20 each night. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Concert highlights

• Johnny Rivers, Jimmy Webb, Steve Kessler: 6:30 p.m. (gates at 5) Saturday, Sept. 15, at Ravinia Festival, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park. $20-$55. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org.

• Meghan Trainor, X Ambassadors, George Ezra, Brynn Elliott: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $49-$85. (312) 902-1500 or msg.com.

• PolkaToberfest featuring Brave Combo, Sgt. Sauerkraut's Polka Band and November Criminals: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $15-$20. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• Pablo Cruise with Off Broadway: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$89. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

• Smarty Pants: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

• The Vibrators, Walk Among Us, The Old Comiskeys: 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10-$13. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• Bernhoft & the Fashion Bruises, Jazzo: 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $25. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.

• Wedding Banned: 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $7. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

• Sam Adams Octoberfest Kick Off with Too White Crew and Trash Martini: 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $10. (331) 777-4712 or ticketweb.com.

• Tony Danza "Standards & Stories": 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$99. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

• Fiesta Ravinia with Los Tigres del Norte, Mariachi Flor de Toloache: 5 p.m. (gates at 1) Sunday, Sept. 16, at Ravinia Festival, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park. $15-$55. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org.

• André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra: 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $49-$109. (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.

• The Rising (Bruce Springsteen tribute): 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $10. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

• Dar Williams, Lucy Wainwright Roche: 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $35-$58. (312) 733-9463 or citywinery.com.

• Vacation Manor, Ember Oceans: 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, at Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.

• War of Ages, Capsize, Ghost Key: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $13-$15. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.

• John Popper: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $55-$68. (312) 733-9463 or citywinery.com.

• John Pizzarelli Trio: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $28-$42. (312) 733-9463 or citywinery.com.

• Ash, Namorado: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $20. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.

• Sam Morrow: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Bourbon on Division, 2050 W. Division St., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 796-5879 or eventbrite.com.

• The Goddamn Gallows, Gutter Demons: 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $12-$15. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• Tilian, Royal Coda, Andres, Sunsleep, Mark Rose, When We Was Kids: 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $15-$17. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.

• All-Star Grateful Dead Night: 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10-$15. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• Christopher Shayne, Dan Whitaker & The Shinebenders: 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $12-$10-$12. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with the venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings or to add an event, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.