Belinda Carlisle, Anime Midwest, Dierks Bentley, STYX and more

anime convention

Anime Midwest 2023, a family-friendly convention focused on video gaming, Japanese anime and Japanese manga, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road takes over Rosemont, featuring cosplay, concerts, video gaming and tabletop games, dancing. , contests, escape rooms and panel discussions. Plus, there’s an exhibit hall with vendors. $40 Friday and Sunday; $50 Saturday; $70 three-day pass; $150 VIP. animemidwest.com, at 10 am Friday to Sunday, July 7-9

dierks bentley

Multiplatinum country star Dierks Bentley hits the suburbs with his “Gravel & Gold Tour” at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheater, 19100 Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park with special guests Jordan Davis and Tyler Braden. Tickets are $37-$195 concert.livenation.com, Saturday, July 8 at 7PM

bike bonus

In honor of its exhibit “The Bicycle: Two Wheels to Adventure,” the Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., hosts a family-friendly bike bonanza featuring games, activities, and a talk by BMX bike champion Matt Wilhelm at 2:30 p.m. o’clock display is included. , three-time X Games medalist and two-time US National Champion. Free. www.elmhursthistory.org, Sunday, July 9, 1-5 p.m.

belinda

Pop icon Belinda Carlisle brings hits from her recently released “Kismet” EP as well as career highlights “Mad About You,” “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” and more when she headlines the North Shore Center for the Headlines at the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd. Skokie. Tickets are $75-$110 northshorecenter.org, Sunday, July 9 at 7:30 PM

Wheel Gymnastics USA hosts Wheelfest 2023, which includes the Wheel Gymnastics World Team Championships in Chicago next week.
Courtesy of Wheel Gymnastics USA

wheelfest 2023

Curious about the sport of wheel gymnastics? Wheel Gymnastics USA, as part of Wheelfest 2023, hosts a training camp and workshops at the CircusExperience, 5944 N. Magnolia Ave., Chicago. The week-long Wheelfest culminates with the Wheel Gymnastics World Team Championships at the Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway, Chicago. Training Camp is $60; All Workshops $75; Individual Workshops $20; $10 for the team championship. www.usawheelgymnastics.com, Training camps and workshops begin at 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, July 10-14. The Championships begin at 1pm on Saturday, July 15

STYX will head to RiverEdge Park in Aurora on Tuesday, July 11 with Chicago area rock band SIIN.
Courtesy of Jason Powell

classic styx

STYX, the legendary Chicago hard-rock band behind “Mr. Roboto,” “Come Sail Away,” “Show Me the Way” and more, RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway is on stage under the stars with rockers SIIN at Aurora. , General Admission Tickets Are $50 www.paramountaurora.com, Tuesday, July 11 at 8 PM

Country singer-songwriter Zach Bryan headlines the opening night of the Windy City Smokeout outside Chicago’s United Center on Thursday, July 13.
– Associated Press, 2022

Windy City Smokeout

While on his “Burn Burn Burn” tour celebrating the anniversary of his chart-topping “American Heartbreak” album, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Zac Bryan is in town to perform in the parking lot on the opening night of Chicago’s Windy City Smokeout Returns. United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. Four-day passes for the country music, barbecue, and beer festival are sold out (excluding resale options), but Friday’s one-day tickets to see Darius Rucker are still available. see schedule here windcitysmokeout.com, Thursday and Friday, July 13-14, 2-10pm, and Saturday and Sunday, July 15-16, 1-10pm