Wheaton residents looking for family entertainment have two options landing within 24 hours of each other: the West Suburban Symphony Orchestra opens the back half of Cantigny Park's long-running Sounds of Summer series on Saturday, Aug. 1, and the Great Midwest Train Show fills the DuPage County Fairgrounds with more than 300 vendor tables on Sunday, Aug. 2.
Saturday: Orchestra plays movie scores at Cantigny
Maestro Peter Lipari leads the West Suburban Symphony Orchestra through an evening of film music at Tank Park inside Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road. The concert runs from 7 to 9 p.m. under the theme "Soundtracks," with selections ranging from the 1952 western High Noon to recent films including Encanto, Wicked, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
The performance is part of the Sounds of Summer Concert Series, which Cantigny has hosted for more than 30 years. Concertgoers can grab food and drinks at Cantigny's Beer Garden and Cafe before or during the show.
Weekend parking is $10 per car through September. Members park free.
Sunday: Nation's largest monthly train show rolls into the fairgrounds
The Great Midwest Train Show takes over three buildings at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Organizers bill it as the nation's largest monthly model train show, a distinction the event has held for more than 50 years.
More than 300 tables of dealers and collectors sell new and used model trains, accessories, and parts. Outdoor sellers set up weather permitting. A free test track lets visitors run their own trains, and anyone can bring items to sell.
Kids 11 and under get in free.
Adults pay $8 at the door or $7 if they purchase tickets online at Trainshow.com. The show returns monthly through December, with the next dates set for Sunday, September 13, Sunday, October 4, Sunday, November 1, and Sunday, December 6.
Upcoming community events
- Saturday, August 1 — Sounds of Summer: West Suburban Symphony Orchestra, 7–9 p.m., Tank Park at Cantigny, Wheaton. Parking $10.
- Sunday, August 2 — Great Midwest Train Show, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., DuPage County Fairgrounds, Wheaton. $8 adults/$7 online; kids free.
- Saturday, August 8 — Sounds of Summer: Hairbangers Ball, 7 p.m., Cantigny Park, Wheaton.
- Saturday–Saturday, August 8–9 — Veggie Fest Chicago, Lisle (free admission).
- Saturday, August 15 — Sounds of Summer: Fletcher Rockwell, 7 p.m., Cantigny Park, Wheaton.
- Saturday, August 22 — Sounds of Summer: Burning Red (Taylor Swift tribute), 7 p.m., Cantigny Park, Wheaton.
- Saturday, August 29 — Sounds of Summer: Vital Signs Band, 7 p.m., Cantigny Park, Wheaton.
