Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers
8 p.m. Thursday at Cadillac Palace Theatre; $37-$75
The longtime funnyman drops the standup routine for a five-string banjo at this leg of a nationwide tour for charity. He’s joined by the Steep Canyon Rangers, who are regulars on Grand Ole Opry. And did you know Martin now has three Grammys to his name — two for comedy albums and another for his collaboration with Earl Scruggs on Foggy Mountain Breakdown in 2001.
Chicago International Children’s Film Festival
Starts Thursday (through November 1) at various theaters; $6 for kids, $9 for adults
Just as the Chicago International Film Festival winds down, the kids take over. More than 200 films from 40 countries will be shown to children of all ages, and judging is done solely by kids. See the complete schedule here.
NorthHalsted Horny Devil Bar Crawl
1-8 p.m. Saturday, starting at Spin; $10-$15
Get the Halloween party started a week early at this Boystown-wide bash, which includes drink specials at 11 different neighborhood bars. If you hit all of them, you can enter a raffle at the end of the night for more than two grand in prizes. Participating bars: Spin, Circuit, Cocktail, Firefly, Halsted’s Bar & Grill, Hydrate, Lucky Horseshoe Lounge, Minibar, North End, Roscoe’s Tavern and Scarlet.
Through Friday at Rockit Bar & Grill; $10 per dozen
God bless Billy Dec. When the local bar bar owner/party machine isn’t bringing down the house, he’s bringing events such as Wingfest, where he lets chef James Gottwald go wing wild with the sauces all week long. When you’re mixing your wings with ingredients like foie gras and a feta fondue, everybody wins. Check it out at both Rockit locations (River North and Wrigleyville).
Pippin’s Second Annual Haunted House Bus Tour
6 p.m. Sunday, $35
Visit some of the spookiest spots in town on this unique tour. The bus leaves Pippin’s Tavern at 6 p.m. and heads to St. Pascal’s Haunted House (6143 W. Irving Park), Chronicles of the Cursed (560 W. Grand), Mahoney’s Pub & Grill for a beer ‘n’ bathroom break, Fear at the Pier at Navy Pier and back to Pippin’s around midnight. The price includes admission to all three haunted houses, the bus ride, plus beverages and snacks on the bus. Email duaneb@rushanddivision.com to reserve a spot. For more Halloween events, visit centerstagechicago.com/halloween.
Just missed the cut: Royster with the Oyster, The Drastics, Langhorne Slim