Five great ways to spend weekends in Kane County
SECOND CITY TO UNWRAP HOLIDAY LAUGHS
WHERE: Copley Theatre at North Island Center, 8 E. Galena Blvd., across from Paramount Theatre, Aurora
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 29 to Dec. 22
COST AND INFO: $37, suited for ages 18 and older; ParamountAurora.com, 630-896-6666
ABOUT: Promising holiday hilarity with seasonal songs and sketches, The Second City presents its revue "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Sweater." It will give audiences the holly jollies in the intimate Copley Theatre.
ESO ENERGY IN BACH AND DVORAK
WHERE: Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 24
COST AND INFO: Price varies; elginsymphony.org, 847-888-4000
ABOUT: Imagine a jam session with some of the greatest composers of all time, and you would get this performance of Bach, Stravinsky and Dvorak, announced the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. José Luis Gomez returns to guest conduct an epic concert of virtuosic violins and pulsing rhythms with concertmaster Isabella Lippi and associate concertmaster Eleanor Bartsch. The half-hour Musically Speaking pre-concert discussions will take place one hour prior to each performance.
BREAD AND ROSES CHORUS
WHERE: 3 p.m. Nov. 23
WHEN: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 830 N. Annie Glidden Road, DeKalb
COST AND INFO: Free, with donations welcome; breadandroseschorus.org
ABOUT: Singers from Maple Park, the TriCities and beyond comprise the 35-voice Bread and Roses women's chorus, whose concert titled “From Bethlehem to The Beatles” will benefit Family Service Agency of DeKalb County. A broad range of music will extend from Nigerian and Hawaiian carols to Hanukkah songs to “Let it Be” and “Blackbird” by The Beatles for a touch of pop. The ensemble delivers messages of peace and justice, protection of the fragile environment, diversity, women’s empowerment and acceptance for all. FUUsion, a group of 10 Bread and Roses members, lend their voices to worship services at the Unitarian Universalist Society in Geneva.
CHARITY TURKEY FEST
WHERE: The Evergreen Pub and Grill, 1400 W. Main St., St. Charles
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Nov. 24
COST AND INFO: Free admission; shawurl.com/3c13; evergreenpubstcharles.com
ABOUT: The first annual Turkey Smoke Fest will support the Anderson Animal Shelter with a silent auction from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Toys for Tots with a live raffle, kicking off about noon. Also planned is an apple and pumpkin pie baking contest, whose entrance fees go to Anderson. The pub will begin smoking turkey drumsticks, wings and breasts early Sunday morning. People are welcome to donate items to the auction.
'FOX VALLEY NUTCRACKER'
WHERE: Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1399 W. Wilson St.
WHEN: 2 and 7 p.m. Nov. 30 and 2 p.m. Dec. 1
COST AND INFO: $25 to $35 for adults and $20 to $30 for children age 10 and younger; with VIP seating available
INFO: 630-937-8930, bataviafineartscentre.org; foxvalleynutcracker.com
ABOUT: Fox Valley Ballet will present a lavish production of "The Fox Valley Nutcracker" as a collaboration between young pre-professional dancers and professional dancers from around the world.