Weekend picks: Chicago Gospel Music Festival raises a joyful noise at Millennium Park

Voices raised

Take pride in a homegrown musical form at the 34th annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival this weekend at venues in and near Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago. Free admission. millenniumpark.org. Spirit Stage: noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1; Pritzker Pavilion: 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 1

Shear fun

The Northern Illinois Sheep and Fiber Festival promises sheep and goat shows, dog-herding demonstrations, crafting workshops and more this weekend at the McHenry County Fairgrounds, 11900 Country Club Road, Woodstock. $3 (free for ages 7 and younger with paying guardian). mchenrycountyfair.com. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 1; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 2

Arts school opens

Aurora's newest performing arts complex opens this week. The Paramount School of the Arts, established in cooperation with the Paramount Theatre and located in the John C. Dunham Aurora Arts Center (formerly Waubonsee Community College), marks the completion of a $35 million renovation. The grand opening celebration includes tours of the school's classrooms, rehearsal and performance spaces; meet-and-greets with the teaching artists; and free sample classes in hip-hop, jazz and ballet along with games and refreshments. Ribbon cutting is at 9:30 a.m., followed by an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at 20 S. Stolp Ave., Aurora. Free. (630) 896-6810 or paramountschoolofthearts.com.

Comics confab

Comic book fans can meet up with actors and comics personalities such as Peter Shinkoda, Tommy Walker, Ming Chen and more at the Comic Con Revolution Chicago this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $40 weekend ticket; $30 weekend teen ticket; $20-$25 single-day tickets; $15-$19 single-day teen tickets. (847) 692-2220 or comicconrevolution.com/chicago. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 1; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 2

Storytelling arts

Sci-fi storytelling and local arts return to the spotlight with the 20th annual Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine Fine Arts Festival. It features music, dance, a wine and craft beer stroll and family activities on Saturday at Bowen Park, 1800 N. Sheridan Road, Waukegan. Free admission. (847) 360-4740 or waukeganparks.org/dandelion. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 1

Grayslake's 7th Annual Craft Beer Festival

Features more than 60 craft beers and local restaurants. Proceeds benefit the scholarship funds of the Grayslake Chamber of Commerce and the Exchange Club of Grayslake. VIP tickets are $65 (limited quantities available); regular admission is $35 (prior to the event) and $45 on the day of the event. grayslakechamber.com. Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 1, on Whitney Street, Grayslake.

Hyde Park Brew Fest

Noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2, at Harper Court, 5235 S. Harper Court, Chicago. Free admission. For beer-sampling tickets, visit eventbrite.com.

Rack & Roll

If you have a craving for barbecue, then you won't want to miss Rack House's second annual Rack & Roll Spring Smoke Show serving up the goods from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 1. Chef Bryant Anderson will be plating house-smoked meats featuring pulled pork and brisket, plus Church Street Brewery will be pouring beer while Ole Smoky Distillery will be mixing up moonshine cocktails. Expect lots of live music, kids' activities and more. The best part? Admission is free. Rack House Kitchen & Tavern is at 222 E. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, (847) 640-7225, or rackhousetavern.com/.

Chicago Ale Fest

2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at Butler Field in Grant Park, Chicago. The 2019 Chicago Ale Fest - Summer Edition will feature more than 200 craft beers, music, games and food trucks. $69 for entry at 2 p.m.; $59 for entry at 3 p.m. chicagoalefest.com.

Aussie rocker

Marvel at the many musical instrument abilities of Australian singer and songwriter Tash Sultana when she performs in concert with the Pierce Brothers as a special guest on Saturday at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $45 pavilion seating; $20-$25 lawn seating. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, June 1

K.C. native

Catch up with comedian and Kansas City native Chris Porter ("Last Comic Standing," "Ugly & Angry") when he returns to do a series of standup sets this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $22 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, June 1; 7 p.m. Sunday, June 2

Side Street's Battle begins

Side Street Studio Arts raises the curtain in this year's summerlong Battle of the Bands, with the first set of round 1 performances this weekend. Audiences help choose the winner of Saturday's show - Billow, FERN, Camera Kids and Harry and The Houdinis - so show up, support local music and help select who moves one step closer to the big prize package. 7:30 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.) Saturday, June 1, at Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin. $5 suggested donation. (847) 429-2276 or sidestreetstudioarts.org.

Model trains

Families are welcome to attend the Great Midwest Train Show, which returns with model train displays, a Lego layout, merchants and more on Sunday at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. $7; kids ages 12 and under admitted free with guardian. (630) 668-6636 or greatmidwesttrainshow.com or dupagecountyfair.org. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 2

Concert highlights

Jester's Metal Freak Show featuring Central Disorder, On My Six, Consume the Divide, A Silent Truth, Marks of Gray, Sound of Fire: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at Penny Road Pub, 545 Penny Road, Barrington. $8. (847) 428-0562 or pennyroadpub.com.

Side Street Studio Arts Battle of the Bands round 1.2 featuring Billow, FERN, Camera Kids and Harry and The Houdinis: 7:30 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.) Saturday, June 1, at Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin. $5 suggested donation. (847) 429-2276 or sidestreetstudio arts.org.

Hairbanger's Ball: 8 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $8-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauer house.com.

American Idiot Chicago (Green Day Tribute), The Buzz Worthys: 9 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10-$12. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Teed with special guest Sean Shiel: 9 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at Mackey's Hideout, 2601 S. River Road, McHenry. Free. (815) 363-7040 or mackeyshideout.com.

7th heaven: 10 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $10. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.

Chaos in Creation, Arclight, The Darling Suns: 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, at Crown Liquors, 2821 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Free. (773) 252-9741 or crownliquorschicago.com.

Bedlem, Carnivora, Mindloss: 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

Thrift Store Halo CD release party: 9 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Ballydoyle Irish Pub, 5157 Main St., Downers Grove. No cover. (630) 969-0600 or ballydoylepub.com.

DoubleSpeak, The Almas: 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 549-5549 or shows.elboroomlive.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.