Here & Now

Deerfield

Deer Dash: The Deer Dash will be held May 4 at Mitchell Park, 951 Wilmot Road, designed for the occasional jogger and the competitive runner of any age, offering a 10K, 5K and 1 Mile family Fun-Run. Early registration fees are $20 for residents and $25 for non-residents by May 1. Late registration fees after May 1 are an additional $5. Fees include a T-shirt, race packet and refreshments. Check-in is 7 to 7:30 a.m., race starts at 8 a.m. Walk-in registration is welcome. For details, call (847) 945-0650.

Grayslake

Choral Concert: Choir of Lake County, CLC Singers and the Gospel Choir from College of Lake County will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday at 4 p.m. in James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St. The program will include madrigals, folk ballads, anthems, pop, spirituals and Broadway show tunes. Tickets are $4-5. For details, call (847) 543-2300.

Author visit: Brandon Mull, author of "The Candy Shop Wars" and the "Fablehaven" series, will hold a book signing at 6:30 p.m. April 29 Under the Sycamore Tree Bookstore, 970 Harris Road. For details, call (847) 548-0311.

Art sale: College of Lake County Spring Art Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and May 1 in the ARTcetera Sales and Rental Gallery, next to the Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art. For details, call (847) 543-2405.

Gurnee

Musical: Warren Township High School will present the "Beauty and the Beast" at 7 p.m. today through Saturday in the auditorium, 500 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee. Tickets are $5, available at the door. For details, call (847) 599-4405.

Auditions: Gurnee Idol auditions will be held from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. Monday at Warren Township High School, 34090 Almond Road; from 4 to 6 p.m. May 5 at the O'Plaine campus, 500 N. O'Plaine Road; and from 7 to 9 p.m. May 8 at Warren Township Teen Center, 17801 W. Washington St. Warren Township High School students registered for 2008-2009 are eligible to try out. No registration is required for auditions. For details, call (847) 244-1101, ext. 451.

Highland Park

Concert: Violinist Jessica Lee will perform at 8 p.m. Friday at Ravinia Festival, Lake-Cook and Green Bay roads. Tickets are $20. For details, call (847) 266-5100.

Gala: Apple Tree Theatre's anniversary Spring Gala, honoring retiring founder Eileen Boevers will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at Highland Park Country Club, 1201 Park Avenue West. The event will include an auction, dinner, and entertainment featuring Hollis Resnik. For details, call (847) 432-8223.

Lake Forest

Gala: Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Lions Club will hold a Cinco de Mayo gala at 5:30 p.m. Satufday at Lake Forest Club, 554 North Westmoreland Road. Tickets are $60 per person, which include Mexican cuisine, a live Mariachi band and silent and live auctions. For details, call (847) 535-9715.

Libertyville

Girls' Night Out: Celebrate sisterhood in downtown Libertyville during "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" weekend Friday through Sunday. With $20 registration, participants will receive 20 percent off every purchase from participating stores all weekend long. There will be cocktails, tastings, raffles, prize drawing and in-store events. For details, call (847) 680-0336.

Fund-raiser: Area runners and walkers will make a difference by participating in the Cancer Wellness Center's (Northbrook) "Stepping Up to Wellness" events Sunday at Independence Grove, Buckley Road. Registration begins at 7 a.m., the 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m., 10K run at 9 a.m., and Marcia Slotky one mile family walk at 10 a.m. Proceeds will benefit the center programs and planned expansion to Lake County. Cost is $35 for 10K/5K; $15 for family walk. For details, call (847) 509-9595.

Long Grove

Open house: The Towner Green Shops of Long Grove welcome spring with an open house from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday. There will be food available, live classical musicians will perform on the Green (if weather permits, otherwise inside at Timmy's), and Nick DePaolo from the Long Grove Art School and Gallery will give an oil painting demonstration. For details, call (847) 634-0888.

Round Lake Beach

Art Auction: Grayslake Exchange Club art auction will be held Friday at Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center, 2007 Civic Center Way. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a viewing of the items available for purchase. The auction will begin at 7 p.m. More than 200 pieces of art in all media and price ranges will be offered. Complementary refreshments will be served along with a cash bar. Admission is $10. Proceeds will go towards the prevention of child abuse in Lake County. For details, call (847) 757-4767.

Vernon Hills

KITE FLY: Vernon Hills Park District will host a family-orientated kite fly as part of the Illinois Association of Park District's statewide "Flying 4 Kids" at 11 a.m. Saturday in Century Park near Lakeview Parkway. This is a free event and no registration is necessary. A limited number of kites will be available at the event. For details, call (847) 996-6933.

Arts and Craft fair: Hawthorn School District PTO will hold a spring boutique from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, at Hawthorn Middle School South, 600 N. Aspen Drive. Vendors will feature hand-crafted items like jewelry, themed teacher gifts, journals, basket liners, fleece blankets and more. Vendor fees benefit the district schools. Food vendors include Opa! and Portifino restaurants. For details, call (847) 858-5602.

Wadsworth

Arbor Day sale: Wauconda Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the village of Wauconda, will participate in the observance of Arbor Day with a tree and shrub sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Acres Group, 610 W. Liberty St. The event will offer a variety of trees and shrubs at greatly reduced prices. A portion of the proceeds will fund an educational program that teaches the environmental benefits provided by trees. Each school will receive a tree for its participation. Bring a container for free compost with any purchase. For details, call (847) 526-5580.

Waukegan

Dinner dance: Millburn Masonic Lodge 127 will hold a dinner dance from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday at Midlane Country Club, 4555 W. Yorkhouse Road. For ages 21 and older. Tickets are $5 and includes dinner, dancing and 6 door prize tickets. For details, call (847) 372-6679. Here & now