Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest, Lewis Black, New Philharmonic

Admire thousands of carved pumpkins that glow at the Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival this weekend.
Courtesy of Karie Angell Luc

Great pumpkin festival in Highwood

Expect lots of great pumpkins at the 14th annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest taking place this weekend in downtown Highwood between Green Bay Road to the west, Waukegan Avenue to the east, Highwood Avenue to the south and North Avenue to the north. The festival includes live music, pumpkin carving stations where you can carve as much as you can, a huge jack-o-lantern display, costume parades for children and pets, trick-or-treating, food vendors, a carnival, hayrides and more. Free. highwoodpumpkinfest.com. 4-10:00 p.m. Friday, October 4th; Saturday, October 5, 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; and Sunday, October 6, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m

Chicago Opera Theater begins its 2024-25 season with the North American premiere of “Leonora,” inspired by the same source material as Beethoven’s “Fidelio,” currently playing at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Chicago Opera Theater season opening

The Chicago Opera Theater begins its 2024-25 season with the North American premiere of “Leonora,” an 1804 opera by composer Ferdinando Paër and librettist Giuseppe Maria Foppa, at the Studebaker Theater, Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave. ,Chicago. Based on the story that also inspired Ludwig van Beethoven to write “Fidelio,” it is said to have had some influence on this work. The story centers on the titular Leonora, a devoted wife who disguises herself as a man to break into the prison where her husband is being unjustly held. $59.50 to $159.50. chicagooperatheater.org. Friday, October 4th, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 6th, 3:00 p.m

A picture says more than 1,000 words

Matthew Murphy's photography inspired “35MM,” a multimedia musical that tells stories through photos and songs. Performances will be held at 221 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $15, $25. threebrotherstheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 4th – 5th October, 25th-26th October and 1st-2nd November, and 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 6th and 27th and November 3rd

Latina Comedy Festival

The Den Theater, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, hosts a Latina comedy festival featuring up-and-coming Gen Z and Millennial Latina comedians talking about their lives. The lineup includes Chicago stand-ups Christina Gutierrez, Courtney Zelazny, Hilary Jimenez, Jess Martinez and Monica Andrade. $30. (773) 697-3830 or thedentheatre.com. 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday, October 4th

The candy-inspired, family-friendly Hershey Super Sweet Adventure opens at Water Tower Place in Chicago.
Courtesy of Original X Productions

For sweets lovers

The Hershey Super Sweet Adventure, a family-friendly attraction celebrating the candy brand, debuts at Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Hershey's Kisses, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Twizzlers and Jolly Ranchers are among the candies included in the interactive attraction. Tickets start at $24. hersheysupersweetadventure.com. Previews from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, October 4th to October 17th; opens October 18th

Enchanted river tour

In keeping with the season, Chicago Seadog offers a 75-minute tour of the Chicago River aimed at adults, with guides recalling the city's spooky and scandalous history. Tours depart from Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Tickets start at $50. cityexperiences.com. 5:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Friday to Sunday, April 4th – 6th October, until October 27th and October 31st

More than 30 local breweries and ciders will showcase their beers at the Cider and Ale Festival at the Morton Arboretum on Saturday, October 5th.
Courtesy of Morton Arboretum

Ale in the Aboretum

The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, is hosting its Cider and Ale Festival, showcasing more than 30 local breweries and cideries. The $75 admission includes samples and a commemorative pint glass; $85 VIP includes early entry at 11 a.m. and exclusive tastings; $35 designated driver; $12 for children ages 4 to 17. mortonarb.org. Saturday, October 5th, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m

New Philharmonic Orchestra Music Director and Conductor Kirk Muspratt celebrates 20 seasons with the orchestra this weekend.
Courtesy of McAninch Arts Center

New Philharmonic at the MAC

Pianist Winston Choi joins The New Philharmonic in a program of Maurice Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major and Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 1 at the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. The performances mark artistic director/conductor Kirk Muspratt's 20th season with the orchestra. $57. atthemac.org. Saturday, October 5th, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 6th, 3:00 p.m

The KAIA String Quartet honors Latin American female composers during Chamber Music on the Fox's season-opening concerts.

We celebrate female composers

Chamber Music on the Fox opens its season with “A Celebration of Latin American Women,” featuring the KAIA String Quartet performing music by female composers from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela. $15, $25, $30. Chambermusiconthefox.org. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, at The Ballydoyle, 28 W. New York St., Aurora; 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, at The Haight, 166 Symphony Way, Elgin; 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock

The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts welcomes comedian Lewis Black for his farewell tour.
Courtesy of Comedy Central

Lewis Black says goodbye

Grammy Award-winning Lewis Black (“Inside Out,” “The Daily Show”) brings his farewell tour, “Goodbye Yeller Brick Road,” to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $48-$75. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 9-10. October