Editor’s note: For a roundup of Independence Day events and where to see fireworks in DeKalb County on Thursday, visit www.shawlocal.com/daily-chronicle
this weekend
1. Learn about the history of barbed wire in DeKalb: Built by Barbed Wire is a free program starting Saturday at 3 p.m. at the DeKalb Public Library (309 Oak St.) featuring Glidden Homestead Executive Director Jessi Haisch LaRue. LaRue will speak about the history of invention in DeKalb. Library Executive Director Emily Faulkner will provide a behind-the-scenes tour of the part of the library building donated by inventor Jacob Haisch. The event marks the 150th anniversary of Joseph F. Glidden’s patent for barbed wire. For more information, contact LaRue at jessi@gliddenhomestead.org or 815-756-7904.
2. Get up close and personal with community gardening in Sycamore: The DeKalb County Community Garden is inviting the public to participate in a gardening session on Saturday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the DCCG and Northwestern Medicine Community Garden (2475 Bethan Road, Sycamore). Volunteers can help water plants, sow and plant vegetables, harvest food that the community garden regularly distributes to the neighborhood, and weed flower beds. This event is open to all ages and no registration is required. Participants are asked to wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes that they don’t mind getting dirty. For more information, contact Chelsea at chelsear@dkpl.org, call (815)-756-9568 ext. 1700, or visit www.facebook.com/events.
this month
3. Enjoy an outdoor show in Sycamore: The newest addition to the Sycamore Park District’s summer concert series is The Grady Experience, taking place on July 11 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the GoodTymes Shelter, Sports Complex, 435 Airport Road in Sycamore. Attendees are asked to bring chairs or blankets. Grilled items like burgers, hot dogs and sausages will be available for purchase, as well as snacks, beer and wine. For more information, visit sycparks.org.
4. Check out a performance of “Cabaret” in DeKalb: The curtain call of Stage Coach Players’ newest musical begins at 7:30 p.m. on July 11 at the theater at 126 S. Fifth St. in DeKalb. “Cabaret” runs through July 13 and from July 18 to July 20, with matinees at 2 p.m. on July 14 and 21. “Cabaret” tells the story of Clifford Bradshaw, an American writer who travels to Berlin to write a new novel. Bradshaw accepts a black market job from German smuggler Ernst Ludwig and ends up staying at a boarding house run by Mrs. Schneider. He visits the Kit Kat Klub and meets and befriends Sally Bowles, a British cabaret singer. Bowles visits Bradshaw the day after he is fired and convinces him to let her stay in her room. Schneider also begins a romance with Mr. Schultz, an elderly Jewish fruit store owner. The show contains adult content. Tickets are $23 for seniors and children 12 and under, and $25 for everyone else. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit stagecoachplayers.com.
This summer
5. Get ready for a night of laughs in Sandwich: Comedian Jeff Allen will perform a comedy show at the Sandwich Opera House (140 E. Railroad St., Sandwich) on Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. He’s on the road for his “Are We There Yet Tour?” tour, which covers topics from his book of the same name and also covers recovery. For more information, visit sandwichoperahouse.org.
Want your event to be featured in this weekly feature? The first step is to submit your event to the Daily Chronicle’s community calendar at https://www.shawlocal.com/daily-chronicle/local-events/. Your event will then be considered for inclusion in the feature. Community calendar submissions will also be published in Thursday’s edition of the Daily Chronicle.
