Weekend picks: Comedian Mo'Nique returns to the Improv Comedy Showcase

Oscar winner

Academy Award-winning actress and comedian Mo'Nique returns for a series of standup shows this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $44 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

Choral arts

The Streamwood Choral Society Holiday Arts Extravaganza is a craft, art and vendor fair that benefits student scholarships, mini grants and a children's choir. It's on Saturday at Streamwood High School, 701 W. Schaumburg Road, Streamwood. $3. (847) 207-8043 or streamwoodchoralsociety.com. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

Classic mechanics

Specialty collectors won't want to miss the Chicagoland Antique Advertising, Slot Machine & Jukebox Show this weekend at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. $7 Saturday and Sunday single-day admission; $11 2-day pass; $50 3-day pass (includes early bird preview on Friday). (847) 680-7200 or lcfair.com or chicagolandshow.com. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17; 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18

Windy City winter

Chicago hosts a number of holiday happenings starting this weekend. The BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival is centered around Pioneer Court, 401 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Free. (312) 409-5560 or themagnificentmile.com. Also going on is the Millennium Park Art Market featuring works by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago and After School Matters along the Chase Promenade North, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago. Free admission. (312) 742-1168 or millenniumpark.org. Also opening this weekend is the Chicago Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago. Free admission. (312) 494-2175 or christkindlmarket.com. Lights Festival: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17; Art Market: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 17-18; Christkindlmarket: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Monday, Dec. 24

Choo, choo!

See electric miniature trains whiz by various landscapes at the Lake County Model Railroad Club Open House this weekend at 107 S. Main St., Wauconda. Free admission. (815) 388-4301 or lcmrr.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17-18

Foodie fun

Bring your appetites and be ready to see culinary celebrities at the Wine & Food Experience Chicago featuring Martha Stewart and Graham Elliot this weekend at the Soldier Field United Club (Floors 1 and 3), 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive, Chicago. $85; $120 VIP packages; $180 Chef's Package with Graham Elliot; "Meet Martha" master class tickets $250. wineandfood.usatoday.com/chicago. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

Goodman's 'Carol'

Goodman Theatre ushers in its 41st production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" with a tree lighting featuring cast members. Larry Yando returns for his 11th year as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who discovers the real meaning of the season with help from three spirits. Yorkville resident Paris Strickland reprises her role as Tiny Tim in director Henry Wishcamper's production. Previews at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 17 (tree lighting at 7 p.m.) and 24; 2 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21; and 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The show opens Sunday, Nov. 25. $25-$119. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

Nature lights

Nature and colorful displays combine once again for another season of Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum. It all starts this weekend at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. Illumibrew: $55, $25 designated driver tickets; general admission: $18-$23; $12-$15 kids. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. (lights off at 9:30 p.m.) from Saturday, Nov. 17, to Tuesday, Jan. 1 (closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Mondays except New Year's Eve)

America at Arcada

The British-American band that introduced "A Horse With No Name," "Sister Golden Hair" and other folk-rock hits to the states returns to St. Charles. Two of the three founding members of America - Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell - bring the hits from their more than 40-year history to start your weekend. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $69-$99. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

Dead Freddie vinyl release

If you like your garage rock with a side of punk, a touch of ska and a little accordion thrown in, check out Dead Freddie. The band, which originally played in the late '70s and early '80s, found new life in 2013 with founding member Donatas Ramanauskas and a new lineup, with a blend of the original sound and some new influences. Check out the band's vinyl release show, where they'll play the full album along with a few special treats. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Cigars and Stripes BBQ Lounge, 6715 Ogden Ave., Berwyn. $5. (708) 484-1043 or stripesbbq.com.

Capra classic

Find out all about director Frank Capra's classic 1946 Christmas film "It's a Wonderful Life" in a new exhibit. "Hometown Holiday: It's a Wonderful Life in Elmhurst" continues through Sunday, Jan. 6, at the Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst. Free. (630) 833-1457 or elmhursthistory.org. 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day and New Year's Day)

Lifetime legacy

Sideshow Theatre Company premieres its commission "HeLa," J. Nicole Brooks' new drama combining the story of a young girl's love of science and the story of Henrietta Lacks. Lacks was a poor, African-American woman whose cells were taken without her consent during her stay at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1951. The cells were subsequently used in gene mapping and in the development of the polio vaccine among other scientific efforts. Artistic director Jonathan L. Green directs. Previews at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Nov. 23. $20-$35. (773) 404-7336 or greenhousetheate.org.

Concert highlights

The FutureKingz: 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $15. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Boy Band Review: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill, 431 W. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook. $9-$10. (630) 679-1994 or tailgatersgrill.com.

Streetlight Manifesto "Everything Goes Numb 15th Anniversary Tour" with Mephiskapheles, Sycamore Smith: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., Chicago. $26-$31. (773) 275-6800 or rivieratheatre.com.

America: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E Main St., St. Charles. $69-$99. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

John Waite: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $39-$48. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

Kashmir - The Led Zeppelin Tribute Show: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $5-$8. (331) 777-4712 or ticketweb.com.

Bullet Proof, Alternative Methods: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10-$12. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

King Rabbit, The Angel Colon Band, Paul Coady and The Edsel Bros, Conway: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Silvie's Lounge, 1902 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. $10. (773) 871-6239 or silvieslounge.com.

Ray Scott: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at The Law Office Pub & Music Hall, 226 S. Bridge St., Yorkville. $15. (630) 882-9559 or lawofficepub.com.

American BBC: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

Evil Engine, Take the Reins, The Mons: 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Epic Deli, 2616 Schaid Court, McHenry. $5. (815) 271-5649 or epicdeli.com.

Anthem, 8-Track: 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10-$12. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

The Last Revel, Fox Crossing String Band: 9 p.m. Saturday, nov. 17, at Martyrs', 3855 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 404-9494 or martyrslive.com.

Mayor's Kids, Invisible Cartoons EP release, Chaos in Creation: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Moe's Tavern, 2937 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 227-2937 or moestavernchicago.com.

Danny Worsnop (of Asking Alexandria), Face the Fire, Brandon Von Vacik: 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $15. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.

Mac Sabbath, Franks & Deans: 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $15-$160. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Erik Rothlind, Ollie West, Baertrum: 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $5-$10. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

Jack White: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, at Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. $69-$412. (844) 425-5923 or aragonballroom.org.

The Jades, Jeff Brown, Katelyn Tomney: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

Rufus Wainwright "All These Poses Anniversary Tour 2018" with Rachel Eckroth: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, at Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago. $40-$399. (773) 472-0449 or victheatre.com.

Local H, The Run Around: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill, 431 W. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook. $10-$22. (630) 679-1994 or tailgatersgrill.com.

Red Carpet Riot: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $5. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

The Belvederes: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $15 general admission. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com.

Echoes of Pompeii - A Tribute to Pink Floyd: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E Main St., St. Charles. $29-$49. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

Karma Committee: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21 at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. Free online ticket or $5 at the door. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.

Hairbanger's Ball, Fembot, Sandblasted Skin, Damaged Justice: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, at BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $8-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Twenty Over: 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Mac's on Slade, 117 W. Slade St., Palatine. (847) 907-9621 or macsonslade.com.

The Student Body: 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Fire Bar & Grill, 435 Angela Lane, Crystal Lake. (815) 459-3473 or firebarparty.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.