Budget-friendly fun: Free concerts and movies in the park and car shows on tap this week

With all of the free concerts and movies in the park and car shows happening around the suburbs this week, fun doesn't have to cost a lot, or even a penny. Here are some options.

Wednesday, Aug. 23

South Elgin Concerts in the Park: 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, at Panton Mill Park, 10 N. Water St., South Elgin. Serendipity will perform. Free. southelgin.com/pantonmillpark.

Wickstrom Lincoln Concert Series: 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the Arboretum of South Barrington, 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. LP Vinyl will perform. Free. shopthearb.com.

Bensenville Music in the Park: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, at Town Center, off Center Street, Bensenville. Classic car cruise nights start at 6 p.m. Kashmir will perform. Free. bensenville.il.us.

Thursday, Aug. 24

South Elgin Senior Concert Series: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at Panton Mill Park, 10 N. Water St., South Elgin. Kaleidoscope Eyes will perform. Free. southelgin.com.

Geneva Classic Car Show: 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at the historic Kane County Courthouse, off Fourth and James streets, Geneva. Music, food, and vote for your favorite make and model. To display your vehicle, show up after 4:30 p.m. and find a spot in the lot behind the courthouse. Free. genevachamber.com/events/classic-car-show.

Pearl Street Market & Music in the Park: 5-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at Veteran's Memorial Park, 3400 Pearl St., McHenry. Vendors from McHenry County will be selling handmade and homegrown goods from 5-7:30 p.m. Pino Farina will perform from 7-8:30 p.m. Free. mchenrychamber.com.

Westmont Cruisin' Nights: 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, on Cass Avenue in Westmont. Three blocks will be closed off for the classic car show, live music, family activities and more. Bossy Dog will perform. Free. westmontevents.com/cruisin-nights.

Addison Rock 'N Wheels: 6-10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at Village Green, east of the Addison Village Hall, 1 Friendship Plaza, Addison. Free concert, kids' activities, food from local restaurants, and car show along Lake Street. Foo La La and Lounge Puppets will perform. Free. ithappensinaddison.com/events.

Plaza Concert Series: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Wheeling Town Center, 351 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling. Peach Jam will perform. Free. thewheelingtowncenter.com/events.

Aurora's Movies at Mundy: 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at The Venue at the Water Street Mall, between Downer Place and Galena Boulevard, Aurora. Screening of “Almost Famous.” Alcoholic beverages for sale; no outside alcohol allowed. Free. auroradowntown.org/movies/.

Rockin' in the Park Summer Concert Series: 7-10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. Music, food and beverage tents, and fireworks after the concerts. Silver Bullet Band will perform. Free. rosemont.com/thepark/events-calendar.

Thirsty Thursdays: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Depot, 319 N. River St., East Dundee. Craft beer and beverages and music from Semple. Free. eastdundee.net.

Friday, Aug. 25

Palatine Street Fest: 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 25; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, Aug. 26; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, at Brockway and Slade streets, Palatine. Live music from American English at 2 p.m. and Mike & Joe at 4 p.m., food, drinks and Backyard Lounge. No coolers, backpacks or pets allowed. Free. palatinestreetfest.com.

North Aurora Cruise Night: 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, at routes 31 and 56, North Aurora. Free. northaurora.org.

Skokie's Back Lot Bash: 5:30-10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, on Lincoln Avenue at Oakton Street, Skokie. Carnival, food and beer vendors, and bands on two stages. Music from Blessid Union of Souls at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Eve 6 at 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Tributosaurus becomes The Doobie Brothers at 6 p.m. Sunday. Free. backlotbash.com.

STC Live!: 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, at Osteria Trulli, 210 Cedar St., St. Charles, and Wednesday, Aug. 30, at Pollyanna Brewing Company, 106 S. Riverside Ave., St. Charles, and La Za'Za' Trattoria, 5 S. 1st St., St. Charles. Performances by Andi Balloun on Friday, Jim Green at Pollyanna Brewing Company on Wednesday and David Chiriboga at La Za'Za' Trattoria on Wednesday. Free. stcalliance.org/stclive.

Movies & Food Trucks on the Center Green: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, on Center Green, 602 Commons Drive, Geneva. Food trucks and free movies starting at 8 p.m. The movie will be viewer's choice with voting on social media. shopgenevacommons.com.

A Night at the Movies: 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, at Rotary Hill, 443 Aurora Ave., Naperville. Screening of “Strange World.” Bring snacks and chairs. Free. napervilleparks.org/anightatthemovies.

Saturday, Aug. 26

LatiNxt Music Festival: 2-11:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, and 2-9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Music from Latinx artists with a focus on new musical trends at the Lake Stage, Beer Garden and Wave Wall. Performances include Honey Lucio at 5 p.m., Pachanga DJs at 6 p.m., Las Cafeteras at 8:30 p.m. and DJ Rosa Pistola at 10:10 p.m. Saturday, and MULA at 6:30 p.m., Combo Chimbita at 7 p.m. and DJ Mo Mami at 7:45 p.m. Sunday. Also includes an array of artisan vendors. Free. navypier.org.

Bluesmobile Cruise Nights: 3-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at the Metra parking lot, near the intersection of Route 83 and Northwest Highway, Mount Prospect. Classic cars, entertainment and more. Free. mplions.org/cruise-nights.

West Chicago Food Festival: 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, in downtown West Chicago. A variety of food and beverage trucks will be set up throughout the downtown area while bands play live music. Free. westchicago.org/food-festival.

Lombard Cruise Nights & Summer Concert Series: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, on South Park Avenue, Lombard. Classic and custom car show. 7th heaven will perform. Free. villageoflombard.org.

Summer Breeze Concert Series: 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center, 101 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Soul Sacrifice performs. Free. prairiecenter.org.

Sunday, Aug. 27

Geneva Concours d'Elegance: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, in downtown Geneva. Classic car enthusiasts from across the country showcase antique, classic and modern automobiles. Free. genevaconcours.net.

Monday, Aug. 28

Cruise Nights at Willow Creek: 4:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, at Willow Creek Church, 67 E. Algonquin Road, South Barrington. Hosted by the CARS Ministry of Willow Creek Church, this event is open to vintage, classic, custom, muscle and antique cars and trucks. Food and music. Signs on campus will direct attendees to the back of parking lot F. Free. (224) 512-2074.

Tuesday, Aug. 29

Acoustic Jams in the Park: 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Mount St. Mary Park, off Route 31, St. Charles. Music from Matt Keen. Free. stcparks.org.