Pop icon Belinda Carlisle plays the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie on Sunday, July 9.
Courtesy of Nikos Spanos
Anime convention
Anime Midwest 2023, a family-friendly convention focused on video games, Japanese anime and Japanese manga, takes over the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, with cosplay, concerts, video games and board games , dances, competitions, escape rooms and panel discussions. In addition, there is an exhibition area with vendors. $40 Friday and Sunday. $50 Saturday; $70 three-day pass; $150 VIP. animemidwest.com. 10 am Friday through Sunday, July 7-9
Dierks Bentley
Multi-platinum country star Dirks Bentley comes to the suburbs on his “Gravel & Gold” tour at Credit Union 1 Amphitheater, 19100 Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park, with special guests Jordan Davis and Tyler Braden. Tickets cost $37-$195 concerts.livenation.com. 19:00 Saturday July 8
Bike bonanza
In honor of “The Bicycle: Two Wheels to Adventure” exhibit, the Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., is hosting a family-friendly Bike Bonanza featuring games, activities and a show at 2:30 p.m. . by BMX bike champion Matt Wilhelm. , three-time X Games medalist and two-time US National Champion. Free. elmhurstistory.org. 1-5 p.m. Sunday, July 9
Belinda
Pop icon Belinda Carlisle brings hits from her just-released EP “Kismet” along with career highlights “Mad About You,” “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” and more when she headlines the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd. , Skokie. Tickets are $75-$110 northshorecenter.org. 19:30 Sunday July 9
Wheel Gymnastics USA is hosting WheelFest 2023, which includes the Wheel Gymnastics World Team Championships next week in Chicago.
Courtesy of Wheel Gymnastics USA
WheelFest 2023
Are you curious about the sport of wheel gymnastics? Wheel Gymnastics USA is hosting a training camp and workshops at CirquesExperience, 5944 N Magnolia Ave., Chicago, as part of WheelFest 2023. The week-long WheelFest concludes with the Wheel Gymnastics World Team Championships at Broadway Armory, 591 7th St., Chicago, WheelFest. Boot camp is $60. all workshops $75; individual workshops $20; $10 for the team championship. usawheelgymnastics.com. Bootcamps and workshops start at 3:30pm Monday through Friday, July 10-14. The league kicks off at 1pm on Saturday 15th July
STYX head to RiverEdge Park in Aurora with Chicago rock band SIIN on Tuesday, July 11th.
Courtesy of Jason Powell
Classic STYX
STYX, the legendary Chicago hard-rock band behind 'Mr. Roboto,” “Come Sail Away,” “Show Me the Way” and more, takes the stage under the stars with rockers SIIN at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. General admission tickets are $50 paramountaurora.com. 20:00 Tuesday 11 July
Country singer-songwriter Zach Bryan headlines the opening night of the Windy City Smokeout on Thursday, July 13 outside Chicago's United Center.
Associated Press, 2022
Windy City Smokeout
On his “Burn Burn Burn” tour celebrating the anniversary of his chart-topping album “American Heartbreak,” Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Zach Bryan is in town to headline the opening night of his Windy City Smokeout Chicago in the parking lot around the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. Four-day tickets for the country music, barbecue and beer fest are sold out (except for resale options), but Friday single-day tickets are still available to see Darius Rucker. See the program at windycitysmokeout.com. 2-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 13-14 and 1-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 15-16
