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Weekend picks: Anime Central in Rosemont is the place to be this weekend

'Japanimation' nation

Anime Central: The Midwest Anime and Manga Convention returns this weekend to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. It features costumed fans, concerts, sales and more. $30-$45 daily admission. (847) 692-2220 or rosemont.com or acen.org. Through 4 p.m. Sunday, May 19

Critic picks

The local premiere of Danny Boyle's "Yesterday," plus guest appearances by Jay Duplass, Tatiana Maslany, Jim Gaffigan and more, are all part of the 2019 Chicago Critics Film Festival. Screenings and panels continue through Thursday at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $12-$18 individual admission; $150 festival pass. (773) 871-6604 or chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com. Various times through Thursday, May 23

New sheriff in town

The renamed Onesti's Wild West Town opens this weekend for the 2019 season, marking the new leadership of Ron Onesti, president and CEO of Onesti Entertainment and the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. Families can ride rides, pan for gold and do other Wild West-inspired activities at 8512 S. Union Road, Union. $19 ages 3 and up (includes all rides and attractions). (815) 923-9000 or wildwesttown.com. Open weekends 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday through June 9; daily summer season begins June 10

Past thrills

Learn about local thrill rides past and present at the new exhibit "Worlds of Wonder: Remembering Chicagoland's Amusement Parks" starting this weekend at the Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst. Free. (630) 833-1457 or elmhursthistory.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday

Sweet treats

Sample all kinds of chocolate-infused creations at the Long Grove Chocolate Festival. There's lots of chocolate treats, a chocolate scavenger hunt, a pie-eating contest, a carnival, a chocolate carver from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Luke's Hot Dog Eating Contest at 3:30 p.m. Sunday and more this weekend around 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove. Headliners include 7th heaven at 9 p.m. Saturday and Midnight Rider (Allman Brothers tribute) at 4 p.m. Sunday. $5 daily admission for those older than 12; free for kids 12 and younger. (847) 634-0888 or longgrove.org. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 18; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 19

Pavement pigments

Marvel at what creative minds can make with chalk at a Sidewalk Art Contest at Gregg House Museum, 115 S. Linden Ave., Westmont. Free (day-of registration possible if space is available). (630) 960-3392 or westmontparks.org. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 18 (rain date is Sunday, May 19)

Day for kids

The 23rd Annual Día del Niño features games, art projects, health screenings and more family activities on Saturday at the Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago. Free admission. (312) 738-1503 or nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18

Chicago Open Air

After a year away, Chicago Open Air, the city's hard rock and metal fest, returns with a full slate of much-anticipated acts. System of a Down takes the headlining slot Saturday, and Tool caps off the evening Sunday. And the rest of the lineup - featuring the likes of Ghost, The Cult, Meshuggah, Gojira, Beartooth, Knocked Loose, In This Moment and more - kicks off summer fest season in a solid way. 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19, at SeatGeek Stadium, 7000 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview. Single-day passes $69.50-$249.50; two-day passes $129.50-$459.50. chicagoopenair.com.

Melodic missives

Hear letters from around the world turned into songs in the show "Dear Finch: Starring Jess Godwin" on Saturday, May 18, at Elgin Community College's SecondSpace Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $28. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/arts. 7 p.m. Saturday, May 18

Concerto concert

The Lake Forest Symphony features pianist Wael Farouk performing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 this weekend at College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $15-$49. (847) 543-2300 or lakeforestsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18; 2 p.m. Sunday, May 19

Karen Mason returns

Chanteuse and Arlington Heights native Karen Mason returns to the Chicago area to headline Drury Lane Theatre's cabaret series. The Broadway veteran, whose credits include "Hairspray," "Mamma Mia!!" and "Sunset Boulevard," performs her new show, "Karen Mason: For the First Time," at the Oakbrook Terrace venue. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. $60, $70, plus a $25 food and/or beverage minimum per person. (630) 530-0111 or drurylanetheatre.com.

Kings Rising release

After teasing fans with the recent release of the single "Afternoon in Bloom," The Kings Rising is ushering in its new album, "Tuxedo Slim," with a release show this weekend. The Woodridge-based blues-tinged rockers Jarred Mason, James Lippert, Ryan Mason and Josh Fritschle will be joined by Radar and Drew Scott of Led Pig. 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at White Tavern, 423 E. Ogden Ave., Naperville. $5. (630) 357-1890 or whitetavern.com.

Supreme songs

The life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is celebrated in song in the revue "Notorious RBG in Song" on Sunday at the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning, 610 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $18; $8 students. (312) 322-1700 or spertus.edu. 2 p.m. Sunday, May 19

'New World'

Cellist Ben Fried is a guest soloist with the Highland Park Strings in a concert featuring Shostakovich's Concerto for Cello No. 1 and Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 at Highland Park High School, 433 Vine Ave., Highland Park. Free. (847) 367-0707 or hpstrings.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19

War drama

Griffin Theatre revives the rarely staged anti-war drama "For Services Rendered," W. Somerset Maugham's 1933 examination of the aftermath of World War I on returning soldiers and their difficulty reassimilating as well as the impact the war had on their families. Ensemble member Robin Witt directs. Previews at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. $28-$37. (773) 697-3830 or griffintheatre.com.

Concert highlights

Bluegrass Brunch with Jess McIntosh & Aaron Smith: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 18, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. See site for reservations. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com.

Chicago Open Air featuring System of a Down, Tool, Ghost, The Cult, Meshuggah, Gojira, Beartooth, Knocked Loose, In This Moment and more: 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19, at SeatGeek Stadium, 7000 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview. Single-day passes $69.50-$249.50; two-day passes $129.50-$459.50. chicagoopenair.com.

Paul Wertico & Friends: 6 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $15. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com.

Treadles, Options, Crown Larks, Furbie: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $8. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

Caleb Caudle, Max Benson, Mackenzie O'Brien: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at RocHaus, 96 W. Main St., West Dundee. $10-$13. (815) 482-2870 or rochaus.com.

Snarky Puppy, Alina Engibaryan: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., Chicago. $35-$40. (773) 275-6800 or rivieratheatre.com.

Luke Winslow-King, The Dales: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at FitzGerald's, 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $15. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

Jefferson Starship, Common Allies: 8 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at North Central College's Auditorium, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $40-$60. (630) 637-5100 or northcentralcollege.edu.

Observing With Annie, The Uneven Toes: 8 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at JJ Kelley's, 2455 Bernice Road, Lansing. $5. (708) 474-9977 or facebook.com.

VP Punk Night XXV featuring October Bird of Death, She Rides Tigers, No Comprendo, Baby Cuts, SKYD: 8 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at O'Neill's Pub, 236 E. St. Charles Road, Lombard. $6. (630) 627-1600 or facebook.com.

The Stingers: 8 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at Frankie's Blue Room, 16 Chicago Ave., Naperville. $6. (630) 416-4898 or frankiesblueroom.net.

The Ron Burgundy's & Modern Day Romeos: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $8. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.

Brendan Kelly (of The Lawrence Arms), Courtney and Dave (Take the Reins acoustic set): 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at Siren Records, 3902 Main St., McHenry. $15-$20. (815) 347-8363 or facebook.com.

Rockin' the 80's with Fast Times & Dirty Talk: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10-$12. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

The Roalde Dahls, 8-bit crEEps, St. Marlboro: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $8. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

The Kings Rising release with Radar, Drew Scott of Led Pig: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at White Tavern, 423 E. Ogden Ave., Naperville. $5. (630) 357-1890 or whitetavern.com.

Whisky Kitten Band: 9 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at Potato Creek Johnny's, 1850 Waukegan Road, Glenview. potatocreekjohnny.com.

80S Metal Tribute Double Bill with Tarot Woman and Dr. Feelgood: 9 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10-$12. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Fifth House Ensemble - Unchained Melodies: 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $18-$30. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.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.

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