Gracie Gold will compete at 2016 Skate America at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. (Associated Press, 2014)

Ashley Wagner will compete at 2016 Skate America at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. (Associated Press, 2014)

Parsons Dance performs at North Central College’s Pfeiffer Hall in Naperville at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. (Courtesy of Lois Greenfield)

Comedian Maz Jobrani plays the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg.

Pianist Marta Aznavoorian returns to be a soloist with the New Philharmonic at College of DuPage’s McAninch Arts Center. (Courtesy of Lisa Marie Mazzucco)

Il Divo performs at the Rosemont Theatre at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22.

Chicago metro area YMCAs host Halloween activities this weekend and next. (Daily Herald File Photo)

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The Windy City Ski and Snowboard Show promises top manufacturers and retailers, appearances by pro skiers and snowboarders plus thousands in prizes and lift ticket giveaways this weekend at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $12 one-day admission. (847) 972-6521 or windycityskiandsnowboardshow.com. 3 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23

Persian, he says

Laugh along with Iranian-American comedian Maz Jobrani (“Wait Wait ... Don’t Tell Me!”) as he performs four standup sets this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $33-$55 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22

Spooks in the park

Get chill and thrill when Chicago’s diverse creative communities come together for the second annual Halloween Gathering Festival & Parade. It promises plenty of crafts, costumes, games, roving music and more on Saturday at Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago. No admission charge. (312) 332-9000 or chicagoculturalmile.org. 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22

They’ve got rhythm

The New Philharmonic’s “An Evening of Gershwin” concert features Kirk Muspratt conducting “An American in Paris,” pianist Marta Aznavoorian as the soloist for “Rhapsody in Blue” and soprano Kimberly Jones and baritone Bill McMurray singing selections from “Porgy and Bess.” All this great American music happens this weekend at Belushi Performance Hall at College of DuPage’s McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $49. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22; 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23

Pop opera

Fans of the classical crossover quartet Il Divo won’t want to miss seeing their “Amor & Pasion Tour,” which plays Saturday at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $49.50-$123. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22

New York modern

The famed 31-year-old New York modern dance troupe Parsons Dance makes a touring stop on Saturday at North Central College’s Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $25-$40. (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu/show. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22

Halloween at the Y

Halloween’s just around the corner. To celebrate, all YMCA of Metro Chicago membership centers are hosting special Halloween events this weekend or the next. They’re open to both members and nonmembers, and the events feature tons of spooky (but not too spooky) family-friendly activities. Locations include Crystal Lake, Des Plaines, Elmhurst, La Grange Park, Lake Zurich, Oswego, Palatine and more. For details about locations and event times, visit ymcachicago.org.

Skating stars

Cheer on 60 of the world’s top skaters at the three-day 2016 Progressive Skate America this weekend at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $15-$80 single sessions; $125-$400 all-session tickets. (847) 649-2270 or searscentre.com or 2016skateamerica.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21; 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22; 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 23