Best bets: Bull riders hold in Rosemont, Billy Gardell plays the Genesee
Bucking trends
The World Champions Rodeo Alliance Windy City Roundup and Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Chicago Invitational bring daring competitors riding bulls and holding on for dear life to the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. WCRA: $15-$60; PBR: $20-$350; $15-$25 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. WCRA: 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11; PBR: 6:45 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, and 1:45 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13
Summer planning
Get ideas for furnishing your rustic vacation getaways at the 15th annual Lake Home & Cabin Show this weekend at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $12; $5 for kids 5-15. (847) 303-4100 or lakehomeandcabinshow.com. 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13
Symphonic 'Surprise'
Stephen Squires conducts the Elgin Symphony Orchestra this weekend in performances of Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony, Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 (featuring ESO concertmaster Isabella Lippi) and more at two locations: first at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg; then at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $30-$75; $10 youth. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, in Schaumburg and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, in Elgin
Music fusion
Jazz and classical music mingle together in concert with Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues featuring Tracy Nelson at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $25-$35. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11
Going places
The Travel & Adventure Show returns this weekend with appearances from travel writers and hosts like Samantha Brown, Rick Steves, Pauline Frommer and more at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $15; $22 two-day admission; free for kids 16 and younger. (847) 692-2220 or travelshows.com/shows/chicago. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13
Passion and Poison
A celebrated French actress confronts a jealous princess for the love of an unfaithful count in Cilea's romantic tragedy "Adriana Lecouvreur." Anna Netrebko, Piotr BeczaĆa and Anita Rachvelishvili star in a production directed by Sir David McVicar that is screened as part of the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series at participating suburban movie theaters on Saturday and Wednesday. Prices vary by venue, but largely $21-$27. fathomevents.com. 11:55 a.m. live relay Saturday, Jan. 12, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. encores Wednesday, Jan. 16
Big guy comedy
Actor and comedian Billy Gardell ("Mike & Molly," "Young Sheldon") returns to perform standup at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $32.50-$52.50. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12
Stable tour
See how horses weather the winter with a Tempel Lipizzans Behind-the-Scenes Tour at the Stables and Arena, 17000 Wadsworth Road, Old Mill Creek. $25; $15 kids. (847) 244-5330 or tempelfarms.com. 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12