1. FREAKY SHOW
Halloween is a three-day celebration with a non-stop soundtrack for the revelers at Freaky Deaky, a massive music festival running Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at Toyota Park, 7000 Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview. Among the headliners: Bassnectar, 2 Chainz, Armin Van Buuren, Big Gigantic, Pretty Lights and Carnage. For tickets and more details, go to freakydeakyhalloween.com.
2. LAKESIDE HALLOWEEN
Celebrate Halloween at Navy Pier this weekend, with fun events for the whole family. Trick-Or-Treat hours vary Oct. 30-31. A costume contest takes place at 6 p.m. Oct. 31. Spooky movies will screen at the Skyline stage (kid-friendly at 5:30 p.m; grown-up classics such as “Carrie” and “Psycho” at 8 p.m.). Blood-thirsty clowns and all sorts of ghouls await in the Haunted Maze (Oct 30-31 only). And Sea Dog is featuring special night-time architecture tours exploring the “spirits, scandals, and sins of the Windy City. Our journey will take you through Chicago’s darker history with spine tingling tales of supernatural occurrences, moonlit mysteries, and infamous figures along the beautiful Chicago River.” Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 31. And a whole lot more! For all details, times, prices and more visit navypier.com
3. JAY LAUGHS
Former late-night gab fester Jay Leno bring his stand-up to the stage of the Genesee Theater in Waukegan on Oct. 29 (7:30 p.m.; tickets: $48-$128) and the Paramount Theatre in Aurora on Oct. 30 (8 p.m.; tickets: $89-$109).
4. PATTI LAUGHS
Chicago stand-up comedienne extraordinaire Patti Vasquez headlines Zanies Comedy Nightclub Chicago, 1548 N. Wells, through Nov. 1. “For some reason being a mother of two with a “stay at home Dad” (which sounds so much better than “unemployed husband”) while living with her parents is a great motivator for Patti to just get out of the house.” Show times vary. Tickets, $25-$30. Visit chicago.zanies.com Bill Zwecker reports ABC is also developing a sitcom with Vasquez!
5. TWO BLUES
Chicago’s premiere punk-blues piano-drums duo are back in high gear. Following a riotous release show for their “No Hotel” album at The Hideout in September, the Claudettes are set to return to a venerable blues institution. That would be Buddy Guy’s Legends, 700 S. Wabash. Tickets: $20 (21+over). Visit buddyguy.com. Read the rest of Jeff Elbel’s preview of the show here.
6. IT’S A JUNGLE (SORT OF)
According to the show’s official site: Ian Anderson “celebrates the life and times of the the English agricultural inventor, Jethro Tull, in “Jethro Tull — The Rock Opera,” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Chicago Theatre, 175. N. State. The show tell the story of the original Jethro Tull’s life, reimagined as if in the near future and illustrated with the best-known songs from the iconic British band. Anderson will be joined by David Goodier (bass), John O’Hara (keyboards), Florian Opahle (guitar), Scott Hammond (drums) and surprise virtual guests. Tickets, $48.50-$103.50. Visit chicagotheatre.com
7. BONE-CHILLING BLACK AND WHITE
The Gene Siskel Film Center’s monthlong series of restored classics comes to a chilling end. A double feature at 2 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday pairs the original undead movie, 1932’s “White Zombie” (starring Bela Lugosi), with the 1935 revenge tale “The Crime of Dr. Crespi” (starring Erich Von Stroheim). Both are part of the UCLA Festival of Preservation. Details: www.siskelfilmcenter.org.
