Best Bets: DJs converge on Aurora Saturday for the A-Town House Music Fest

Posted June 10, 2025 1:40 pm

DJ and producer Mike “Hitman” Wilson is among the DJs scheduled to perform at Aurora’s A-Town House Music Fest Saturday, June 14, in Wilder Park. Courtesy of Thomas King

Music for all tastes

• The A-Town House Music Fest takes place Saturday at Wilder Park, 350 N. River St., Aurora. DJs Fast Eddie, DJ Julian Jumpin Perez, DJ Mike “Hitman” Wilson, DJ Mickey Mixin Oliver, DJ Maurice “ICE” Culpepper, DJ Tim Spinnin Schommer and DJ Kickin Kenny Cahill are scheduled to spin curated sets. $25. riveredgeaurora.com. Gates open at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 14

• The Grant Park Music Festival opened this week at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago. Christopher Bell conducts the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus in Gustav Holst’s “The Planets,” Lili Boulanger’s “Psalm 24” and the Illinois premiere of Jake Runestad’s “Earth Symphony.” Performances run Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 16. Concerts also take place June 26 and 30 at the South Shore Cultural Center, 2059 S. South Shore Drive, and June 27 and 28 and Aug. 1 and 2 at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago. Performances are free; season memberships that include reserved seats and parking discounts are available starting at $103. (312) 742-7648 or gpmf.org. 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 13, and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14

Chicago-area native Liz Callaway performs her tribute to composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim at Chicago’s Studebaker Theatre Saturday, June 14.

• Musical theater veteran Liz Callaway, who made her Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along,” pays homage to the composer/lyricist who changed her life with her Grammy Award-nominated tribute “To Steve With Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim” at The Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $60-$100. (312) 753-3210, ext. 102, or fineartsbuilding.com/events. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14

• The Elgin Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet and several gospel choirs perform as part of the Gail Borden Public Library’s Juneteenth celebration. The free performance takes place on the main library’s outdoor stage at 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Blankets, lawn chairs and picnic dinners are encouraged. elginsymphony.org. Also, music lovers can win a pair of subscriptions to the ESO’s 76th season by registering at elginsymphony.org/giveaway. The ESO will select two winners each week in June. The season begins Oct. 11. 6 p.m. Thursday, June 19

Trick rider Dusti Crain Dickerson will perform during Sonny Acres Farm’s third annual professional rodeo.

Hold onto your cowboy hat

Sonny Acres Farm, 29W310 North Ave., West Chicago, hosts its third annual professional rodeo this weekend and next. Events include bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, cowgirls barrel racing and more, along with performances by trick rider Dusti Crain Dickerson. The rodeo also includes a petting zoo, music, DJs and amusement rides. General admission: $18 kids 5-11; $28 for 12 and older; silver spur reserved grandstand: $28 kids 11 and younger, $38 for 12 and older; gold buckle VIP stage seating: $38 for kids 4 and younger, $55 for 5 and older. sonnyacres.com. Gates open at 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 13-14 and 20-21, and noon June 22

‘The Terminator’ in concert

The Auditorium Philms Concert Series continues with the Chicago Philharmonic’s all-electric chamber orchestra performing the score to the sci-fi blockbuster “The Terminator” with in-sync dialogue and sound effects accompanying the screening. Experience it at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago. $60.33-$120.55. (312) 341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 13

A day of play

The National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago, hosts its annual Festival del Nino featuring lucha libre wrestling, performances by A Flor del Piel, the Jesse White Tumblers, kite flying and quesadilla making. Free. nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 14

The Grammy Award-winning Count Basie Orchestra headlines the third Cantigny Jazz and Wine Fest Sunday, June 15, in Wheaton. Courtesy of The Count Basie Orchestra

Father’s Day at Cantigny

Raise a glass to dad this weekend at the third Cantigny Jazz and Wine Fest at 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. The Count Basie Orchestra and vocalist Carmen Bradford headline the event, which includes performances by the Marlene Rosenberg Quintet, the Marques Carroll Trumpet Summit and the Four Star Brass Band. Chairs and blankets welcome. Cantigny is cashless. $75 all-access includes wine tastings, $50 jazz only, $30 (under 21). cantigny.org. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 15

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.