5 things to do in La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties: Wide variety of activities in store this weekend

1. Hop over to Peru and celebrate Wally the wallaroo. The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp will be throwing a Wally the wallaroo theme night at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 24, at Veterans Park. The Pistol Shrimp, on a three-game winning streak as of Wednesday afternoon, will host Clinton. Admission to the game is free. Wally earned local fame when he ran away from his owner in December and led police on a chase for him, eventually resulting in his rescue by fisherman passing by in the Illinois River.

2. Go BIG for a cause in Ladd. The 17th Convoy Against Cancer BIG Truck Show is returning. The truck show is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 24, in downtown Ladd. Route 89 will be lined with all makes and models of new and restored BIG trucks, including truck cranes, firetrucks, wreckers and pickups, from across north central Illinois. The proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society Relay For Life.

3. Try your hand at chess or checkers in Ottawa. Chess N’ Checkers will host games for about three hours beginning noon Sunday, July 25, at Washington Square. All ages are welcome. The monthly event is set up by 12-year-old Eleanor Hasty. Organizers are willing to show beginners how to play but it’s best a player comes with at least a little bit of experience with chess.

4. Enjoy some theater in Princeton or La Salle. Festival 56 in Princeton will present its final two shows of the season. “Spittoonia on the Erie” with music by David Mallamud and words by Nathan Christensen will be performed 2 p.m. Saturday, July 24, at the outdoor stage behind the Bureau County Metro Center, 837 Park Ave West, Princeton, and the theater’s closing cabaret will be presented 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 25, at the same location. Tickets to the cabaret are $8 in advance or $10 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, call or visit the box office from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the Grace Theater, 316 S. Main St., Princeton; call 815-879-5656; or visit www.festival56.com.

If you missed out on the weekend fun, Stage 212 has you covered with “Jesus Christ Superstar” opening 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 26, at the Manahan Centre, 700 First St., La Salle. Tickets are available at $20 each, and can be purchased by visiting the box office 4 to 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, or by calling 815-224-3025 during the same hours. Tickets also can be be purchased online at stage212.org.

5. Catch an intimate acoustic set in Ottawa. Leigh Nash, the lead vocalist in the seminal 90′s pop band Sixpence None the Richer, known for hit song “Kiss Me,” will be performing an acoustic show at Heritage Harbor’s Red Dog Grill, 411 Great Loop East Drive. The concert 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 23, is part of the Harbor Stories: Unplugged. Tickets are $20 per person and available for purchase through Heritage Harbor.

5 Things To Do near me

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