Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine are the duo Dala. The two are set to perform in concert at Elgin Community College on Saturday, March 18. (Courtesy of Olivia Brown)

Maestro Riccardo Muti conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Center and Wheaton College this weekend.

Japanese star pianist Mitsuko Uchida performs with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Wheaton College and at Symphony Center in Chicago. (Courtesy of Eamonn Mccabe)

Dot, a MI-KI breed therapy dog, was featured at a previous Chicagoland Family Pet Expo at Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights. (Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com, 2016)

The Lake County Model Railroad Club hosts its Spring Open House in Wauconda from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Sunday. (Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com)

The Chicago Tattoo Arts Convention returns to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont Friday through Sunday, March 17-19. (Associated Press, 2016)

Cold War Kids come to Chicago’s Riviera Theatre Saturday, March 18. (Courtesy of Dan Monick)

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10,000 pancakes! Love pancakes? The Naperville Evening Kiwanis Club hosts its 62nd Annual Pancake Festival fundraiser at Naperville Central High School, 440 Aurora Ave. Organizers estimate that 10,000 pancakes were served at last year’s festival. This year’s event features an all-you-can-eat pancake-and-sausage meal, live music from local groups, kids’ activities, a raffle and more. All proceeds are donated to local nonprofits. Tickets are $8; free for preschool-aged children. naperville-evening.kiwanisone.org. 7 a.m. to noon today.

Painful beauty: Be wowed by all of the body art on display at the 8th Annual Chicago Tattoo Arts Convention this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $20 per day; $40 three-day pass; kids 12 and younger admitted free. (847) 692-2220 or villainarts.com or rosemont.com. 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Hibernian happening: See Irish dancers, hear bagpipers, and toast to St. Patrick’s Day at the 7th Barrington Celtic Fest at McGonigal’s Pub, 105 S. Cook St., and downtown Barrington. Free. (847) 277-7400 or barringtonpub.com. 11 a.m. today to 2 a.m. Sunday.

Tiny trains: The Lake County Model Railroad Club showcases the hobby of model railroading and operates an HO scale permanent operating model railroad during its annual Spring Open House at 107 S. Main St. (rear entrance), Wauconda. The group’s train layout reflects a theme of railroading back in the 1950s through the ’70s while using modern digital technology. Free. lcmrr.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Sunday.

Paintings of wonder: See a solo exhibition of paintings by artist Mystele Kirkeeng at Swell Gallery, 123½ W. Main St., West Dundee. Kirkeeng’s works often focus on female subjects, with themes of wonder, encouragement and hope. Free. swellgallery.com. 1 to 5 p.m. today and March 25.

Gospel choir: The College of Lake County’s Gospel Choir presents a concert in the Mainstage Theatre of the James Lumber Center at the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $3-$4. The choir, directed by Charles Thomas Hayes, will perform selections of gospel tunes and spirituals. Note: The program is not appropriate for children younger than 3. For tickets, visit jlcenter.clcillinois.edu. 4 p.m. today.

Folk duo: Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine harmonize their soprano and alto voices as the folk duo Dala, which returns to the Elgin Community College’s SecondSpace Theatre, Elgin. $32. (847) 697-1000 or elgin.edu/arts. 7 p.m. today.

Ike Reilly’s two-night stand: Libertyville’s own Ike Reilly doesn’t sugarcoat Midwestern life. He revels in the struggles of the everyman and projects that through the stories in his songs. He and his band, the Ike Reilly Assassination, bring all the grit, the rock and the blues to the intimate Schubas for the second of a two-night stand at 9 p.m. today with guest opener Brendan O’Shea. Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $20. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.

Green up time: A Butterfly Garden is new for 2017 at the annual Chicago Flower & Garden Show, which returns this weekend to Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $17-$19; $5 kids. (312) 241-1250 or chicagoflower.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday until March 26.

Skunk cabbage: Join naturalists from the Forest Preserve District of Kane County on a hunt for skunk cabbage, a spring wildflower, during the “Skunk Cabbage” nature program at Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls, 40W095 Freeman Road, Gilberts. Help search for skunk cabbage and learn about its traits on a guided walk. Note: The hike could go into muddy areas, so dress accordingly. This family program is for all ages. Free. Advance registration required. (630) 444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com. For details, see kaneforest.com. 10 a.m. Sunday.

Celtic harp: In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, musician Lillian Reasor performs traditional Celtic songs on the harp at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave. Reasor, a graduate of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, holds a degree in harp performance and has won medals in numerous Irish music competitions. Free. Register at ahml.info or call (847) 392-0100. 2 p.m. Sunday.

Classical concert: Elgin Symphony Orchestra concertmaster/violinist Isabella Lippi presents a free concert featuring works by Brahms and Mozart at the Gail Borden Public Library District’s main library at 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Refreshments will be served after the concert. Free. Tickets available at the main library, the library’s Rakow branch or the South Elgin branch. (847) 429-4597 or gailborden.info. 2 p.m. Sunday.

Classical chamber: Hear works by Gustav Mahler, Rebecca Clarke and Chicago-based composer Robert Kritz when the Orion Ensemble performs the concert “Connections” at the Music Institute of Chicago Nichols Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $26; $23 seniors; $10 students. orionensemble.org. 7:30 p.m. Sunday.