Friday, Aug. 25 Great American Dog Show: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Aug. 25-27, at the McCormick Place Convention Center, 2301 S. King Drive, Chicago. Premiere show dogs and competitors from almost 200 American Kennel Club recogniz...

Starts before Friday Taste of Glen Ellyn: 5-10 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16 (carnival only); 5-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 17-18; noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, (carnival only) at the College of DuPage, ...

Grab a blanket or a lawn chair and some snacks and drinks and head to a free outdoor concert in the suburbs this week. Saturday, Aug. 12 Gurnee Days: Noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, at Viking Park, 4374...

Starts before Friday Fan Expo Chicago: 4-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 11-12; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. Comic and po...

By Luke Zurawski lzurawski@dailyherald.com Starts before Friday Intelligentsia Cup Chicago: Through July 30. Annual criterium race series featuring 10 races in 10 days. Remaining events include: Cycle Brookfield Criterium July 26; Northbrook Grand P...

Tuesday, July 25 Sounds of Summer Concert Series - Family Picnic Series: Noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, at Fred P. Hall Amphitheater, 256 E. Palatine Road, Palatine. Pack a picnic and bring a lawn chair or blankets. Juggling Jason Kollum will perf...

By Luke Zurawski lzurawski@dailyherald.com Starts before Friday Rotary Fest: 6-10:30 p.m. (carnival only) Wednesday, July 19; 6-10:30 p.m. Thursday, July 20; 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, July 21; 2 p.m. to midnight Saturday, July 22; and 2-9 p.m. (car...

Starts before Friday Kane County Fair: 3-11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, July 12-13; noon to midnight Friday and Saturday, July 14-15; and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, July 16, at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Grands...

What better way to spend a summer night than at a free concert in the park? The options across the suburbs are plentiful Sunday through Thursday, July 9-13. Don't forget to pack chairs, blankets, snacks, drinks and bug spray. Tuesday, July 11 B...

Editor's note: The story has been edited to include the correct spelling of Wheeling Park District Executive Director Jan Buchs' name. With the sun blazing and temperatures rising, you may be tempted to draw the shades, strip down and not leave...