Weekend Spotlight: Cars, Dolls, Celtic Music & More

Looks like another toasty weekend ahead! Make sure to check out the Outdoor Pools Guide and the Splash Parks Guide, too. It's always a good time to try a new watering hole. But there are plenty of events to choose from, too. Here are a few highlights, and make sure to check out the Go West Calendar as well for events that might better fit your family's interests or budget. 

A Kane County Sheriff's vehicle at last year's Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show. Photo courtesy of the Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show.VEHICLE SHOW & PARADE: The 15th annual Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with more than 200 emergency vehicles rolling into North Aurora for a free, family-friendly event  The show is returning to its original location this year: The grounds of Pentair Water and Oberweis Dairy, near I-88 and Randall Road. There will be a wide range of emergency vehicles from a number of different eras, organizers say, and several helicopters, too, as well as an obstacle course for drivers to race through and a crash simulation. To kick off the event, there will be a "Lights and Siren Parade" on Friday night, leaving at 7 p.m. from Tinseltown Theaters (on Route 31) in North Aurora and headed to Clock Tower Plaza at Oak Street and Randall Road.  

NORTH AURORA DAYS: The  festival "North Aurora Days" will be held Friday and Sunday around the town. In addition to the vehicle show above, the festival includes a community garage sale; book sale at Messenger Public Library;  ice cream eating contest; rides, games and amusements; live music; a car, bike and truck show; and fireworks on Saturday night. Here's a detailed schedule of events.

DICKENS CLASSIC: Limelight Theater Company will be performing "Oliver!" the musical version of the classic Charles Dickens' novel, this weekend. Limelight is a youth-oriented program sponsored by the Oswegoland Park District. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at West Aurora High School. Tickets are $9 for adults, $7 for students/seniors.

TROY + GABRIELLA: This is the last weekend for the production of "High School Musical" by the FVR Youth Ensemble at Pheasant Run in St. Charles. And yep, this is a stage production of the Disney Channel movie that launched Zac Efron's career. Shows at Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15. 

AMERICAN GIRLS: Blackberry Farm in Aurora is hosting an "All-American Girl Birthday Celebration" on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. for Kristen, Addy, Samantha and Josephina. Particpants will enjoy candle-dipping, weaving, crafts, ice cream and live entertainment. The activities are included with daily admission to Blackberry Farm. 

WHEATON: Cantigny has featured so much great outdoor music this year, and the concerts continue Sunday at 3 p.m. with the Irish band Celtic Sounds performing at the bandshell. Concerts are included with the regular parking fee admission of $5 per car.