Here are some events happening from July 19 to 25 in the Chicago suburbs and Northwest Indiana.
Naperville summer nights
Naper Nights Community Concert Series continues from 5 to 10 p.m. July 19 to 20 at Naper Settlement in Naperville. Tickets are $15-$20. At 523 S. Webster St. 630-420-6010; NaperNights.org.
This summertime tradition features The Ultimate Garth Brooks Tribute at 8 p.m. and Hillbilly Rockstarz at 6 p.m. July 19. The Croce Plays Croce 50th Anniversary Tour is at 8 p.m. and The Heavy Sounds featuring Gina Bloom and Renaldo Domino is at 6 p.m. July 20. There will also be food and beverages for sale.
Symphony of Simon
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra presents “CSO and Icons of Song — Kodachrome: The Music of Paul Simon” at 7:30 p.m. July 19 at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park. Tickets are $28-$65. At 418 Sheridan Road. 847-266-5000; Ravinia.org.
Curated and conducted by Ted Sperling with guest vocalists Morgan James and Ryan Shaw, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra celebrates the music of the iconic pop singer/songwriter Paul Simon.
He’s yours
Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz performs at 6:30 p.m. July 19 at the Hard Rock Live venue at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary. Tickets are $50.50-$80.50. At 5400 W. 29th Ave. 219-228-2383; hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com.
Jason Mraz performs songs from his eighth studio album, “Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride.”
Hot hot hot
The fifth annual Illinois Hot Sauce Expo is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 20 to 21 in downtown Joliet. Tickets are $10-$35. At 9 E. Jefferson St. 815-280-5246; facebook.com/ilhotsauceexpo.
Presented by The Forge, the expo includes free samples of hot sauce, the Stage of Doom, wrestling, food vendors, craft beer and specialty cocktails.
Play guitar
Gary Hoey performs at 8 p.m. July 24 at The Venue in Aurora. Tickets are $25-$35. At 21 S. Broadway Ave. 331-212-8490; themusicvenue.org.
It’s Christmas in July when Gary Hoey, known for his rocking Christmas show, returns to Aurora along with metal drummer Matt Starr. A world-renowned blues-rock guitarist, he’s also music director for Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp and has recorded more than 20 albums since starting out more than 30 years ago.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.