Red hot and ready
Cool down at the open bar after sweating to DJ beats at Red Ball, a benefit for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. With appetizers and silent auction items like autographed gear from Javier Vazquez and Kanye West. 6 p.m. $75-$100. Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave. 800-621-5359.
New fest on the block
There are a million ways to celebrate summer, and you just got one more. Newbie street bash North Side Summerfest debuts with live music (Afrodisiacs, Mike & Joe), a farmer’s market (7 a.m. Saturday), arts and crafts, food vendors and more. 5 p.m. Friday; noon Saturday-Sunday. $5 donation benefits charities in the 47th Ward. 4100 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-665-4682. Find more weekend fests on metromix.com.
West really is best
Street fests generally aren’t associated with great music, but West Fest 2006 breaks the stereotype with a lineup of great indie-rock bands, including headlining acts Urge Overkill on Saturday and Local H on Sunday. Plus, there are pet-grooming stations and pooch parades for dog lovers. And if your love of parades is something to shout about, catch the 77th Annual Bud Billiken Day Parade, the largest of its kind in the country. West Fest: noon Saturday-Sunday. $5 donation. Chicago and Damen Avenues. 312-850-9390. Billiken Day: 10 a.m. Saturday. Free. 3900 S. King Drive. 773-536-3710.
Cycle cinema
Steroids? Who needs ’em? You already ride with lightning speed, especially when your destination is the Bicycle Film Festival. Highlights include documentary “Adventure High” and “Joe Kid on a Stingray–The History of BMX.” $8 per screening. Films start 7 p.m. Friday; 1 p.m. Saturday. Schedule at metromix.com. Film Row Cinema of Columbia College, 1104 S. Wabash Ave. 8th floor. Tickets: bicyclefilmfestival.com.
Net worthy
The Extreme Volleyball Players Pro Am Tour serves up piping-hot eye candy for spectators; amateurs can compete for prizes in two-on-two tourneys with pros. With free volleyball clinics and an afterparty at Cactus Bar & Grill (404 S. Wells St.). 7 a.m. Free for spectators; $70 team registration fee. Register online: evptour.com. North Avenue Beach, 1600 N. Lake Shore Drive. 312-287-5109.
Blue suede running shoes
Life has you running to work, the bar and–if you’re lucky–to bed. Slap on some sideburns and do it for a good cause at the annual Elvis is Alive 5K. Includes postrace snacks and an afterparty with live music by Mark “Elvis” Hussman and others. 6 p.m. $25-$30 race registration. Concert is free. Proceeds benefit Rock for Reading. Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive. 312-587-3338.
Star of sitar
We leave Millennium Park to the tourists most weekends, but this Sunday, defend your own patch of grass. Anoushka Shankar (Ravi’s daughter) performs the final concert in the Music Without Borders series. DJ Karsh Kale opens. 6:30 p.m. Free. Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, 100 N. Michigan Ave. 312-742-1168.
Roll with it
It’s contagious, but you doctor can’t cure it. The Windy City Rollers’ Roller Derby Fever features bouts between four teams Sunday at Cicero Stadium. Bring cash for snacks, beer, league T-shirts and more. 5 p.m. doors; 6 p.m. show. $15-$20. Partial proceeds benefit Housing Opportunities for Women. Tickets: windycityrollers.com. 1909 S. Laramie Ave., Cicero.
———-
rkpalmore@metromix.com
