Celebrating the American Legion at Lake Forest Days
For more than 90 years, Lake Forest American Legion Post 264 has presented Lake Forest Days in the community North of Chicago.
On the Right Track for Galesburg Railroad Days
All aboard for Galesburg Railroad Days! Enjoy a street fair, railroad tours and more at the two-day event.
Threshing Time in Altamont
Head to Central Illinois this summer for the annual show put on by the Thresherman’s Association in Altamont.
Have a Blast at Rend Lake
Bring the family to the Rend Lake Beach Blast for guaranteed fun in the sun.
Strawberry Jazz Festival in Kankakee
Enjoy berries and beats at the annual Strawberry Jazz Festival in Kankakee.
Peachy Keen at the Cobden Peach Festival
Celebrate the sweet summer fruit at the annual Cobden Peach Festival in August.
Full of Hot Air at the Great Galena Balloon Race
Enjoy more than 20 hot air balloons, live music and more at the Great Galena Balloon Race.
More On 34 Highway Yard Sale is a Picker’s Paradise
Stretching 100 miles through five counties and 18 Illinois towns, More on Highway 34 isn’t your typical yard sale.
Got Milk? Get Your Fill at Harvard Milk Days
Celebrate June Dairy Month at one of Illinois’ longest-running festivals – Harvard Milk Days.
2013 Prairie Queen Quilt Show
Head to Bishop Hill, Illinois for the 2013 Prairie Queen Club Quilt Show.
Terrific Tractors at Pope County FFA Antique Tractor Show
Bring the whole family to the 13th Annual Pope County FFA Antique Tractor Show in Golconda.
Dutch Days in Fulton, Illinois
Community hosts annual Dutch Days Festival to celebrate their heritage.
Learn Lincoln’s Legacy at Presidential Exhibit
Discover the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln at this traveling exhibit.
Disabled Farmer Takes Center Stage in “Farm Hands” Play
Chicago playwright Wendy Whiteside wrote a play called “Farm Hands” about differently abled farmers. She was inspired by memories of her farmer father, who is afflicted with polio, and her disabled grandfathers.
Groundhog Days in Woodstock, Illinois, Celebrates Movie, Holiday
Celebrate the movie “Groundhog Day” at its film location during the annual Groundhog Days in Woodstock, Illinois.
Winter Art Festival in Highland Park
See holiday-inspired art by 40 of the area’s most talented artists at The Inside Show: A Winter Art Festival in Highland Park.
Candlelight Walk and Poinsettia Show in Peoria
Step into a winter wonderland filled with hundreds of poinsettias at Luthy Botanical Garden’s Candlelight Walk and Poinsettia Show in Peoria, Illinois.
Old Tyme Christmas in Metropolis
Experience Christmas like it was celebrated in the 18th century at Old Tyme Christmas at Fort Massac State Park in Metropolis.
Festival of Lights in Shelbyville
Kick off the holiday season at Forest Park’s annual Festival of Lights in Shelbyville, IL, featuring thousands of twinkling lights.
Marvelous Mansions at Christmas at the Mansions
Celebrate the holidays with this annual three-stop historic home tour in Bloomington-Normal.
Christmas on the Square in Cambridge
Enjoy beautifully decorated homes, visits with Santa, holiday treats and the Festival of the Trees at Cambridge Main Street Christmas on the Square in Cambridge.
Once Upon a Holiday in Bloomington
Welcome the Christmas season in Bloomington, Illinois with an array of fun and festive activities.
Eagle Watching at Starved Rock State Park in Utica
Catch a glimpse of majestic bald eagles at one of the best viewing spots in the state of Illinois, Starved Rock State Park in Utica.
Get Your Cameras Ready for the Picture Illinois Photo Contest
Capture the beauty and diversity of Illinois’ agricultural landscape in this year’s Picture Illinois photo contest from the Illinois Farm Bureau.
1,000 Tree Project Plants Seeds, Good Deeds
The 1,000 Tree Planting Project is an all-volunteer effort to plant 1,000 trees on one day every fall in the village of Riverside.
Chow Down on Illinois Chowder
Enjoy hearty soup at a Southeastern Illinois “chowder,” which, in this region, refers to a social gathering where the dish is made and served.
Hardin County Fluorspar Festival in Rosiclare
Enjoy a carnival, barbecue, pet parade and more at the Hardin County Fluorspar Festival in Rosiclare, Illinois.
Highwood Pumpkinfest in Highwod
Head to the Highwood Pumpkinfest for music, hayrides and pumpkin carving. And to see if they can break their own world record for the most jack-o’-lanterns lit.
Annual Chestnut Festival in St. Francisville
Join in the yearly celebration of the trees with live music, a parade, and a car show at the 37th Annual Chestnut Festival in Francisville.
Hog Days Festival in Kewanee
The festival that claims the world’s largest outdoor pork barbecue invites you to bid farewell to summer with a 96-hour celebration of good food, music, cars and carnivals.
The Produce 500 at Tower Hill’s Fall Festival
See vehicles made from produce as small as a grape and as large as a watermelon at Tower Hill Fall Festival’s annual Produce 500 race.
Fall Festival in Mt. Vernon
Celebrate the season with live entertainment, a parade, pumpkin contests and more at the three-day Fall Festival in Mt. Vernon.
Mallard Fest in Hanover
Celebrate the arrival of fall in Hanover at Mallard Fest, a tribute to the town’s Whistling Wings Hatchery.
Sweet Corn Blues Festival in Normal
Enjoy over 50,000 ears of fresh sweet corn and the state’s best blues music at the Sweet Corn Blues Festival in Normal, Illinois.
Get Your Fill of Work and Play at Naperville Settlement
Experience the early settler’s take on “Work and Play” at the Naper Settlement’s month-long program featuring craft demonstrations, games and chores.
Celebrate the Nation’s Birthday at Frontier Days in Arlington Heights
Honor the nation’s birthday with great food, carnival rides, sporting events and a parade at Frontier Days in Arlington Heights.
Fiesta Days in McHenry
McHenry’s annual Fiesta Days is one of the oldest and largest summer festivals in the Chicago area.
Pretzel City Festival in Freeport
Twist again at Pretzel City Festival in Freeport, which has embraced its namesake and each year celebrates the baked, knot-like dough.
Blossoms at Butterworth Center in Moline
Travel back in time in the gardens of Butterworth Center at the annual Blossoms at Butterworth Deere Family Mansion in Moline.
Living History Weekends at Fort Massac State Park
Fort Massac State Park in Metropolis honors the Massac Marines with a re-enactment of the history and traditions from the 18th century.
Perry Pioneer Days
Pike County’s smallest community celebrates its heritage in a big way at the annual Perry Pioneer Days.
Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues Festival in Bloomington
The annual Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues Festival in Bloomington started as a one-day musical tribute with five artists, but it has grown into a weekend-long celebration featuring some of the biggest names in blues and drawing more than 5,000 visitors.
Fields of Irises: Visit the Iris Farm in Wayne City
Stroll through fields of the blooming flower at the Iris Farm in Wayne City, Illinois. At peak bloom in May, the farm expects several acres of irises.
Hear the Train Whistle Blow at Chicago’s Winter Flower and Train Show
Watch model trains wind and weave through a small village of red, white and pink poinsettias during the Winter Flower & Train Show.
One-Stop Shop at Chicago’s One of a Kind Show
Shop til you drop at the One of a Kind Show and Sale in Chicago.
Travel Illinois: Peoria
There’s no better time than winter to visit Peoria, when we all long for a touch of the familiar and the comfortable. The fact this city has attractions galore doesn’t hurt, either.
All That Jazz in Decatur
It’s all about jazz the first weekend of February when the 37th annual Central Illinois Jazz Festival takes the stage in Decatur.
Skating in the Sky at Chicago’s John Hancock Observatory
Located on top of Chicago’s John Hancock Observatory, a 900-square-foot rink constructed of state-of-the-art synthetic ice gives visitors the chance to skate in the sky.
Sights for Soar Eyes in Alton
From December to March, bird watchers can find eagle-viewing opportunities in Alton including bald eagle tours and festivals.
Preservation Board Moves Quincy’s Annual Victorian Christmas Event to May
Tour six of Quincy’s historical and architecturally significant private homes decorated for the holidays during the town’s annual Christmas Candlelight
Holidays With Abe in Springfield
Discover where President Lincoln’s sons hung their stockings for Santa and how the family celebrated the holidays by taking a Christmas tour through the Lincoln Home in Springfield.
Light Up the Night in Kewanee
Thousands and thousands of twinkling Christmas lights adorn the city streets, neighborhoods and Windmont Park in Kewanee for locals and visitors to enjoy.
Walking in Fulton’s Winter Wonderland
Enjoy an illuminated walk through the decorated Heritage Canyon, listen to music in the village church, stop by Town Hall for delicious cookies and listen for carolers during the Christmas Walk at Heritage Canyon in Fulton.
Take a Trip Down Memory Lane at Kampsville’s Old Settlers Days
Take a step back in time during the Old Settlers Days in Calhoun County, Illinois.
A Taste of History at Clinton’s Apple N’ Pork Festival
Smell the aroma of apple butter at the DeWitt County Museum Association’s Apple N’ Pork Festival.
Rend Lake Hosts Illinois Wine and Art Festival
For a weekend of wining and dining, complete with art, music and theater, head to the Illinois Wine and Art Festival.
Golconda, Illinois is Big on Shrimp
Enjoy a true taste of the South at the Golconda Shrimp Festival in September.
Illinois Ag in the Classroom Bike Ride
Agriculture in the Classroom Bike Ride teaches students about agriculture and its importance, as well as bicycle safety.
Baker’s Memorial Fun Fly
Watch the weekend fly by at Baker’s Memorial Fun Fly, during which the Freeport Radio Control Modelers Club pilot radio-controlled model airplanes all day.
Bootiful Nauvoo
With hundreds of pumpkins lining the streets, a goblin parade and a haunted house, Nauvoo certainly knows how to celebrate Halloween with its spooky annual festival, Bootiful Nauvoo.
Long Grove’s World Tour
Travel around the world without leaving Long Grove at the town’s World Tour, an international festival held over Labor Day weekend.
Pike County Fall Color Drive
Barry, Griggsville, Pleasant Hill and Pittsfield each offer a unique roster of events, activities, craft vendors and food specialties for those passing through on the annual Pike County Fall Color Drive.
Murphysboro Apple Festival
This five-day Murphysboro Apple Festival features contests for eating apple pies and throwing apple cores, along with a parade, car show and much more.
Kankakee County Barn Quilt Tour
Learn about the history behind Kankakee’s quilt-block-adorned barns during the annual Barn Quilt Guided Tour in October.
Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Contest
Once a considerable chore, splitting logs into rails is now celebrated as a fierce competition at the Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Contest in Lincoln.
Wheaton’s All-Night Flea Market
You won’t want to miss the annual All-Night Flea Market in Wheaton, Illinois on August 20.
The Illinois Shakespeare Festival is a Summer Night’s Dream
Since 1978, talented theatre professionals and interns have gathered at Bloomington’s Illinois Shakespeare Festival for a celebration of performing arts.
Lift off at the Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival
Find live music, good food and a sky full of hot air balloons at the Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival during the last weekend of August.
Mill Around Heritage Days at Prairie Mill in Golden
Golden, Illinois’ Heritage Days and the Sweet Corn Dinner in mid-July celebrates the history of the restored, U.S.-built Prairie Mill.
Celebrate Fine Art at the Midsummer Arts Faire in Quincy
Spend a leisurely weekend in Washington Park with 52 celebrated artists from around the region at the Midsummer Arts Faire in Quincy.
Midsommar Festival Swedish Days in Geneva
Ever tried your hand at rosemaling? The annual Midsommar Festival Swedish Days in Geneva is a great opportunity to give it a try.
Beer, BBQ, and Blues Festival in Freeport
The 8th annual Brats, Beer and Blues Festival at the Freeport Art Museum offers a way to enjoy the summer than with brats, beer and blues.
Illinois State Fair: Food, Fun and a Cow Made of Butter
More than 600,000 visitors from all over the state find themselves in Springfield in late August each year for games and rides, arts and crafts, agriculture competitions, and live entertainment at the Illinois State Fair.
Get Your Taste of Chicago at Annual Food Festival
Experience an array of exotic, ethnic and local culinary delights at the ten-day Taste of Chicago food festival in Grant Park June 24 – July 3.
Farmers’ Market Finds: Shopping Tips and Recipes
Discover recipes that use those farmers’ market finds, including squash, cucumbers and other summer produce.
Big Bagel Bash in Mattoon
The small breakfast treat called “bagel” is recognized in a huge way each July at Bagelfest in Mattoon.
Chicago’s Musical Tattoo
Chicago hosts the Heartland International Tattoo Music and Dance Festival, the only musical tattoo of its kind in the Midwest each year.
Gone to the Dogwoods in Quincy
Travel to Quincy in Western Illinois each spring, and it’s no secret why this town has been dubbed Tree City, USA.
Find Everything From Duck Calls to Decor in St. Charles
The National Antique Decoy and Sporting Collectibles Show in St. Charles, Illinois, is the largest of its type in the country.
Be Seen at Rockford’s ArtScene
Rockford’s ArtScene in April is a free event that attracts thousands of visitors who can mingle with watercolorists, sculptors, photographers, potters and artists of other mediums.
St. Patrick’s Day Turns Chicago’s River Green
Chicago is known for many things – shopping, sports and food, just to name a few. But it’s also famous for dyeing its main waterway bright green in honor of the patron saint of Ireland.
Southern Lights Shine on Shryrock
The Shryrock Auditorium on the campus of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale has hosted its fair share of fame.
Piasa Winery in Grafton, IL, holds Mushroom Festival
Make the most of your mushrooms at the annual Mushroom Festival at Piasa Winery in Grafton on May 1.
Galena Daffodil Festival
Get a glimpse of what Galena’s all about at the annual Galena Daffodil Festival, slated for April 30-May 1.
International Horseradish Festival in Collinsville
Since 1988, Collinsville, Illinois has been home to the International Horseradish Festival, which takes place the first weekend in June at Woodland Park.
Snow Days Chicago is a Popular Winter Event
Hosted by the City of Chicago and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, Snow Days Chicago is a free three-day winter festival.
Jazzing It Up at the Central Illinois Jazz Festival
Warm up with live jazz at the Central Illinois Jazz Festival this winter in Decatur.
A Colorful Bicycle Ride through Jo Daviess County
Soak up the scenery of Jo Daviess County on the Leaf Peeper bike tour.
Holidays at Bishop Hill
Visit the Village of Bishop Hill in Northwestern Illinois for holiday festivals and shops and museums.
