Brett Eldredge is scheduled to headline Thursday at Windy City Smokeout. (Courtesy of Windy City Smokeout)

Country crooners, art festivals, yards of yarn and sudsy 5K races usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

UniverSoul Circus (Photo by Boon Vang)

Circus acts, a prison tour, barrel-aged brews and a powwow usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

(Courtesy of Macy's)

Lush plants, show tunes, hot coffee and cold beer usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

(Argonne National Laboratory)

Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have invented a new sponge that can absorb oil from water and then be wrung out and reused, a potentially game-changing tool for dealing with oil spills.

Saturday’s annual dyeing of the Chicago River celebrates St. Patrick’s Day a little early. (Mike Boehmer / Wikimedia)

A trio of St. Patrick’s Day parades, cultural events and more usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

Since its creation in 1946, Argonne National Laboratory has been at the forefront of scientific research. Lab director Peter Littlewood joins us to discuss 70 years of scientific discovery.