Best Bets: Buddy Guy, Lauren Alaina, Keith Urban at
Blues legend + NASCAR
Blues legend, Grammy Award-winner and Chicago’s own Buddy Guy will play a set as part of his “Damn Right Farewell” tour during NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race Weekend in Grant Park, 337 E. Randolph St., Chicago. Guy headlines Saturday along with The Black Keys and The Chainsmokers. Lauren Alaina and Keith Urban headline the main stage on Sunday. Full weekend tickets start at $294. Single-day admission starts at $150. nascarchicago.com. Saturday, July 6: Buddy Guy at 1:15 p.m., The Black Keys at 5 p.m. and The Chainsmokers at 8 p.m.; Sunday, July 7: Lauren Alaina at 11:30 a.m. and Keith Urban at 1 p.m.
Summer in the parks
BrightSide Theatre’s summer concert series featuring songs from “Into the Woods,” “Wicked,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King” and other shows takes place in Naperville, Lisle, Bolingbrook and Downers Grove. The free concerts run Wednesday, July 10, through Aug. 18. brightsidetheatre.com. 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at Downers Grove Swim & Racquet Club, 5560 Fairview Ave., Downers Grove, and 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at 95th Street Community Plaza Wagner Family Pavilion, 3109 Cedar Glade Drive, Naperville
Celebrating Mexican culture
Grammy Award-winner Pepe Aguilar and his family bring their tour “Jaripeo Hasta los Huesos” to the Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. The show examines Mexican customs including Dia de los Muertos, traditional bull and rider encounters, mariachi, rodeo skills and other acts. Tickets: $30-$160. rosemont.com/allstate. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 5-6
‘SNL’ vets on tour
“Saturday Night Live” veterans Andrew Dismukes, James Austin Johnson and Devon Walker bring their “Summer Jobs Tour” to The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. $24-$45. (773) 697-3830 or thedentheatre.com. 7:15 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 5-6
Blues in the parks
The Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks presents “Chicago Bound: The Great Migration of the Blues,” consisting of three free performances at Chicago parks. Chicago singer and bandleader Lucy Smith and her quintet along with writer Cheryl Corley celebrate the lives and music of such blues titans as Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Otis Rush, Koko Taylor and others. lucysmithjazz.com. 6 p.m. Saturday, July 6, at Ellis Park, 3520 S. Cottage Grove Ave.; 3:45 p.m. Aug. 3 at Ada Park, 11250 S. Ada St.; and 6 p.m. Sept. 6 at Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Ave.
Former Eagle in concert
Rock guitarist Don Felder, former member of The Eagles and author of 2008’s “Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001)” whose last release was 2019’s “American Rock ‘n’ Roll,” headlines the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $75-$99. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11
Chicago at sunset
Big Bus Tours’ 90-minute Sunset Live Tours showcase Chicago as the sun sets on the city. Tours depart from The Hard Rock Café, 63 W. Ontario St., Chicago. They cover communities including the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Magnificent Mile and the lakefront and include architecture, landmarks and neighborhoods that make up this world-class city. Spanish-language tours take place every Friday. Tickets start at $49.50. bigbustours.com. 7:30 p.m. daily through Aug. 11; 7 p.m. Aug. 12-27; 6:30 p.m. Aug. 28-Sept. 17; 6 p.m. Sept. 18-Oct. 1; 5:30 p.m. Oct. 2-19
Rolling on the Chicago River
Among the variety of waterway cruises offered by Mercury, Chicago’s Skyline Cruiseline, is the Creepy Cruise, a new weekend evening river cruise accompanied by stories about mysterious sightings, eerie haunts, mobsters and more. Cruises — including fireworks cruises, canine cruises, science-themed cruises and others — depart from 112 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago. $24-$47. (312) 332-1353 or mercurycruises.com. Creepy cruises depart at 9 p.m. Fridays and 9:30 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 13