Best bets: Chicago Auto Show parks at McCormick Place, Travel & Adventure Show in Rosemont
Vehicles of tomorrow
See the latest vehicles and equipment from the world's manufacturers at the Chicago Auto Show, which returns in its 112th iteration starting Saturday at McCormick Place, 2301 S. King Drive, Chicago. $13; $8 seniors ages 62 and older and kids ages 7 to 12. (630) 495-2282 or chicagoautoshow.com. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, to Sunday, Feb. 16; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17
Abode ideas
Get ideas to fix up your home with The Old House New House Home Show. Guest speakers include Mina Starsiak Hawk, Lou Manfredini, Gregg Wittstock and more this weekend at the Pheasant Run Resort Mega Center, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $7; $4 seniors ages 62 and older; kids ages 18 and under admitted free. (630) 515-1160 or kennedyproductions.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday, Feb. 7 to 9
Diva remembrance
Belinda Davids embodies one of pop and R&B's beloved singers with the tour of “The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston” tonight at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $35-$55. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. The show also plays on Sunday, Feb. 16, at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $25-$45. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, in Waukegan; 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, in Naperville
Going places
Attend seminars by famed traveling guides such as Rick Steves, Pauline Frommer, Josh Gates and more at the Travel & Adventure Show this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $15 one-day ticket; $22 two-day ticket; $15 parking. (847) 692-2220 or travelshows.com/shows/chicago. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9
Hothouse blooms
Escape the cold and take in more than 10,000 blooms at The Orchid Show starting Saturday at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. $12-$14; $9-$11 seniors ages 62 and older and kids ages 3 to 12. $25-$30 parking per vehicle. (847) 835-6801 or chicagobotanic.org/orchid. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, through Sunday, March 22
Singing Civil Rights
American Civil Rights protesters of 1961 sing in the Chicago Opera Theater world-premiere commission of Dan Shore's “Freedom Ride.” Music director Lidiya Yankovskaya conducts the Chicago Sinfonietta for three performances starting Saturday at the Studebaker Theatre, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $45-$150. (312) 704-8414 or chicagooperatheater.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Friday, Feb. 8 and 14, 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16
Symphonic destiny
Oboist Frank Rosenwein joins with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra to perform “The Power of Fate: Verdi, Strauss & Wagner” this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $35-$65; $10 youth. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9
Tots and tykes
The 16th annual Kids Expo features games, activities, products and displays for toddlers to tweens this weekend at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center and Hotel, 1551 Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $10; $7 kids ages 12 and under. (815) 806-8844 or chicagolandkidsexpo.com. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9