DeKALB | You are so close to finishing.

When you do, that’s the time you can go back to the ‘burbs and do whatever it is you do there. It’s certainly not better than a few days spent in the lovely, historical, life-changing DeKalb.

In these few precious weeks left, take advantage of your time in the Barb City. Here are my choice picks for what you should be doing this weekend.

What: NIU Earth Day Music and Art Festival

Where: NIU Central Park

When:  Today from noon – 9 p.m.

How much: FREE

Why: Sponsored by the NIU Students for a Sensible Drug Policy, this nine-hour outdoor concert is the first-ever NIU Earth Day Music and Art Festival. The bill includes 3Days/OneNight, The Atlas Stone, EGI, JellyBones, Great Influence Machine and DeKalb veterans Legend Haz It. In addition to the crunchy grooves, there will be food for purchase, art exhibitions and live demonstrations. Right on. According to the event’s Facebook page, the forecast is predicting thunderstorms, and the festival will be moved inside if the weather is bad.

What: Old Soul Company

Where: Otto’s Underground, 118 E. Lincoln Highway

When: Tonight at 9 p.m.

How much: FREE

Why: Sometimes the band you see for no charge is a double-edged sword. Sure, it’s free, which means more dough for Shirley Temples, but does it really make up for that awful rendition of “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap?” Old Soul Company, a female-fronted bluesy quartet, attempts to buck this trend when they play the Underground tonight for a solid four hours. My prediction: people will be minding their own business and playing pool when all of a sudden a few Tracy Chapman riffs are heard and a dance party ensues.

What: Shane-O, A-Rod, D-Bot, Drewline

Where: Starbusters, 930 Pappas Drive

When: Today, time TBA

How much: TBA

Why: Although it may seem like a Berlin boy band from the year 3000 will perform at ‘Busters tonight, it’s just a bunch of local and Chicagoland DJs. I looked up Shane-0’s work, and he has some pretty impressive mash-ups with names like “My Girl Is Crunkalicious.” Take this weekend before finals come up and get down to some dope DJs. Oh, and newsflash, you better believe they’re bringing “da hard beats.”