Blues Brothers Con — The Sequel: Head to the Old Joliet Prison where Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi will host a lineup of Chicago blues performers for another year of Blues Brothers Con. Curtis Salgado, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials, and Al Spears and the Hurricane Project will perform, followed by an encore featuring Akroyd, Belushi and hits from the original “Blues Brothers” film. The daylong event also includes a Bluesmobile Car Show, the opportunity to see the Old Joliet Prison, photo ops and plenty to eat and drink. Proceeds benefit the Joliet Area Historical Museum. 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 17 at Old Joliet Prison, 1125 Collins St., Joliet; tickets $25-$500 at jolietprison.org
Fan Expo Chicago: Pop culture aficionados of a certain era, take note, an army of celebrities will be in Chicago this weekend. “Star Wars” fans get Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker), Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka), Joonas Suotamo (the new Chewbacca) and several others. Also in the lineup, Linda Hamilton from “The Terminator” movies; Marisa Tomei, known to this crowd as Aunt May from “Spider-Man”; Laurie Metcalf, the Tony Award-winning actress who’s billed here as part of the cast of “Scream 2”; Rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs of “Charmed”; Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley from “Saved by the Bell”; Kate Mulgrew and, of course, William Shatner from “Star Trek.” Plus walk the floor of exhibits, participate in cosplay, play games and just generally geek out. Aug. 16-18 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont; tickets $12-$399 at fanexpohq.com
PorchFest: Stroll through Lakeview and Roscoe Village as local music acts perform on front porches throughout the neighborhoods. It’s an intimate event, one that requires registration to view the event guide. Secret porch locations and showtimes will be sent Aug. 16. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 18 in locations throughout Lakeview and Roscoe Village; tickets $10-$50 at lakeviewroscoevillage.org
KOCO Fest: Mark the start of school with KOCO Fest, a celebration of education that provides school supplies for young people in the Kenwood Oakland community. Backpacks will be distributed and the day will be packed with music, food and games, including bingo. Noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 17 in Mandrake Park, 3858 S. Cottage Grove Ave.; donate or register to attend at kocoonline.org
Grayslake SummerFest: Tickets to the Taylor Swift concerts out of reach? Consider making the trek to Grayslake SummerFest to see Burning Red, a Swift tribute band. Plus a Girl Power Music Video Dance Party with DJ Kayleigh Chaos and bands covering ABBA and Dave Matthews Band. The festival also features bingo, food trucks and a 4:30 p.m. parade on Aug. 17. Aug. 16-17 on Whitney Street in downtown Grayslake; free, more information at grayslakevillagecenter.com
“Death, Let Me Do My Show”: Rachel Bloom, best known for “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” brings her new solo show and trademark witty songs to the Steppenwolf Theatre mainstage. The Tribune called Bloom “a close observer of life’s weirdness” and noted she had “both a vaudevillian streak and an absurdist trait wrapped in emotional need.” Through Aug. 24 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.; $59-$129 at steppenwolf.org
Antojitos Fest: What’s billed as Chicago’s top Latin American comedy festival returns for a second year. As founded by Spanglish improv team Antojitos, the two-day event features Latine comedians from across the United States and Latin America, including the Menudo improv team from Los Angeles. 8 p.m. Aug. 16 at iO Theater, 1501 N. Kingsbury St., then 8 p.m. Aug. 17 at Logan Square Improv, 2825 W. Diversey Ave.; tickets $20 at www.antojitosfest.com
Los Texmaniacs: The Tex Mex conjunto band Los Texmaniacs will appear at FitzGerald’s as part of a music series organized by the International Latino Cultural Center. Los Gallos, a Chicago-based Mexi-Americana roots band, will open. 8:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at FitzGerald’s Nightclub, 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn; tickets (21+) $22 at lostexmaniacs.com
“Designing for Change — Chicago Protest Art of the 1960s-70s”: The 2024 Democratic National Convention rolls into town Monday, and if that’s stirred memories of the riotous 1968 installment, consider a visit to the Chicago History Museum. “Designing for Change” includes more than 100 posters, fliers, signs, banners, newspapers, magazines and books illustrating Chicago’s activist art, or “artivism.” It also features a section dedicated to contemporary artists who are carrying on the tradition. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays (closed Aug. 20) at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St.; tickets $17-$19 (children 12 and under free) at chicagohistory.org
The Political Graveyard cemetery tours: Mysterious Chicago’s Adam Selzer — who literally wrote the (2022) book on Graceland Cemetery — has three politically centric walking tours of the dead this month. Graceland, Oak Woods and Rosehill cemeteries have their share of Illinois mayors and governors as well as the surprising: Graceland has anarchists and FOA (Friends of Abe). Rosehill boasts Mayor Richard Ogilvie, two Congressmen Aldrich (senior and junior), suffragists, a Union general and a vice president (Charles Dawes, who served President Calvin Coolidge). Oak Woods has Mayor Harold Washington, Ida B. Wells and the first Secret Service agent killed on duty (William Craig, crushed while shielding Theodore Roosevelt from a speeding trolley car). Expect Selzer — who may be the best ghost tour guide in the city — to avoid any lame ducks. 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 17 at Graceland Cemetery, 4001 N. Clark St.; 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Oak Woods Cemetery, 1035 E. 67th St.; and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 18 at Rosehill Cemetery, 5800 N. Ravenswood Ave.; tickets $22 for Graceland and Rosehill or $21 for Oak Woods at mysteriouschicago.com
What to do in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention: Our 35 critic’s picks
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