Here are some events happening from Aug. 2 to 8 in the Chicago suburbs and Northwest Indiana
Everyone loves an Italian
Festa Italiana is from 5 to 11 p.m. Aug. 2, 12 to 11 p.m. Aug. 3 and 12 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at Villa Cesare Banquets and Events in Schererville. Tickets are free. At 900 Eagle Ridge Drive. 219-322-3011; villacesare.com/festaitaliana.
This festival includes a spaghetti eating contest, grape stomping contest, mozzarella making demonstration, bocce tournament, live music, kid’s activities and Italian cuisine.
525,600, etc.
The rock musical “Rent” is performed at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2-3 and 3 p.m. Aug. 4 at Elgin Community College in Elgin. Tickets are $20-$22. At 1700 Spartan Drive. 847-622-0300; eccartscenter.org.
The winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, “Rent” is about struggling young artists living, working and love in New York City’s East Village.
For the kids
Joliet Kidz Fest is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Will County parking lot in Joliet. Tickets are free. At 302 N. Chicago St. 815-744-6067; jolietccp.com/kidz-fest.
Presented by the Joliet City Center Partnership, Kidz Fest is an event where kids ages 2-12 can enjoy magic shows, face painting, pony rides, a petting zoo, roller skating, an inflatable slide and more.
Art abounds
The 42nd annual Festival of the Arts is from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Aug. 3 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 4 at Cook Park in Libertyville. Tickets are free. At 413 N. Milwaukee Ave. 847-367-0707; adlercenter.org/festival-of-the-arts.
Presented by the Adler Arts Center and the GMLV Chamber of Commerce, the juried art and music festival features live music, food vendors and artists displaying and selling works of all media.
Blues angel
Chicago blues musician Melody Angel will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 3 at The Venue in Aurora. Tickets are $20-$25. At 21 S. Broadway Ave. 331-212-8490; themusicvenue.org.
Melody Angel has been described as “equals part Prince and Hendrix” in response to her blues-rock guitar playing and singing. Side note: Angel has run three miles a day in protest of the 2020 murder of Breonna Taylor, for a total of more than 1,500 days.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.