Festival

Early bird registration for the Corn Fest 5K run is currently underway through Saturday, Aug. 24 for $25 per person.

The inaugural Chicago area festival happens Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Kane County Cougars' stadium in Geneva.

The weekend also marks the Education Foundation of Downers Grove Grade School District 58′s 11th annual Oktoberfest, the foundation’s largest fundraiser.

Ottawa Oktoberfest is Saturday, Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the city's Jordan Block.

Rock Falls Tourism kicked off its fiesta-themed season with Taste of Fiesta on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at RB&W Park.

Activities at the Dement Town Music Fest on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Dixon.

Armed with a 25-year-old film camera and a 20-year-old roll of 36-exposure film, photographer Alex T. Paschal made it his mission to take 36 individual portraits of people he met at a southern Illinois music festival. Here is the result.

Naperville Irish Fest will feature a variety of live performances, traditional Irish dancing and cultural exhibits from the Irish American Heritage Center that showcase the rich history and heritage of Ireland.

Fall-themed beer festivals will brew up fun from northwest Illinois to the Chicago suburbs.

The Lockport Township High School 205 Foundation has announced the third annual Taste of Lockport event will be held Saturday, Sept. 21.

The 44th year of the event opened at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 6, in Grant Park near Buckingham Fountain and runs through Sunday, Sept. 8.

Here is a gallery of film portraits taken by Shaw Local photographer Alex T. Paschal at a southern Illinois music fest – Full Terror Assault – in 2023.

Metra will offer special service on the Heritage Corridor Line on six Saturdays this fall, so residents can explore the communities along the route that begins in Joliet and ends in Chicago at Union Station.

Summer Sunset Festival is coming back to Sunset Park in Lake in the Hills but with some changes this year.

The free event on Sept. 21 includes live entertainment, a kids area with plenty of activities, a photo booth, food and drink and more!

A rock lineup launches the RISE Up Music Festival in McHenry, running Sept. 12 to 14, capped by two nights of country music stars.

Fall-related events, including an Autumn Fair, the Festival of the Vine and more, are headed to Kane County.

The Joliet American Legion Band, along with Joliet Township High School Orchestra & Central Band, will perform Thursday at the 2024 season finale of "Concerts on the Hill."

An abundance of carnivals and festivals is headed to Kendall County, including Woody's Orchard Fall Festival in Plano, and a Fall Carnival in Oswego during Labor Day weekend.

StrawFest took place Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, on the Mt. Morris College Campus in the village's downtown area. It was the second-to-last day of the ninth annual U.S. National Straw Sculpting Competition, hosted by Encore! Mt. Morris.

The fest, which dates back to the 1960s, includes music, food, family activities, a Labor Day parade and a carnival.

Say goodbye to summer with this annual celebration, featuring a carnival, food vendors, live music and much more.

Amboy capped off its popular Depot Days festival Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, with the annual car, truck and bike show. The event is also famous for big money coming from a 50/50 drawing. Bill Karper of Oregon took home the nearly $118,000 top prize.

StrawFest took place Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, on the Mt. Morris College Campus in the Mt. Morris downtown area

Fall offers its own full season of festivals and community celebrations throughout Will County. Check here for listing of special events coming up August through October.

Join the Marengo Society for Historic Preservation for an old-fashioned Ice Cream Social from Sunday.

Sponsored by Ray Auto Group from Aug. 23 to 25, Elote Fest, an exciting three-day event, will take over Civic Center Way, promising a fantastic blend of food, music and family fun.

Celebrate Fox River Grove’s 105th birthday during Fox Fest through Sunday at Lions Park.

The Fall Festival, sponsored by Grant Township and the Village of Fox Lake, will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Grant Township Center, 26725 W. Molidor Road.

The Gurnee American Legion is thrilled to announce the seventh annual Legions of Craft Beer Fest, scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 14.

Nik & Ivy Brewing in Lockport brings back the Makers Market on Saturday, as part of the brewery’s fourth anniversary weekend celebrations. The event will celebrate local artisans and will be held rain or shine.

The first annual Woodstock Truck N’ Food Show is noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24.

Dan Aykroyd says Blues Brothers movie was about "cultural preservation," loves to see new generations discover the music and film

Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi take the stage at Joliet's Old Prison for Blues Brothers Con: The Sequel.

Over a hundred attendees came out to eat corn and enjoy the many festivities.

Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi return Saturday for show at Old Joliet Prison for Blues Brothers Con, which includes music, food, beverages and merchandise for sale on site.

Adam Taylor, 39, and Monique Maginel, 41, met and fell in love at the 2019 event and became engaged at the 2023 event. Their daughter Amelia Taylor was born in 2021, and the couple is getting married on Sept. 7.

This year's Bands, Brews & BBQ event in McHenry will culminate with fireworks on Sunday, Aug. 18.

On Aug. 10 and 11, the community of Gurnee came together to celebrate the end of summer at Gurnee Days.

Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi will emcee a lineup of Chicago blues performers and deliver an encore performance featuring hits from the “Blues Brothers.”

You don't need to travel to Napa Valley to enjoy good wines. Northern Illinois is home to many wineries that produce high-quality, unique varietals not found elsewhere.

Garden Bros. Nuclear Circus will be in Kane County from Thursday to Sunday, Aug. 15 to 18, at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, complete with human cannonball.

The Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry will put on the annual music and food festival on Friday, Aug. 16 at Duly Health and Care Field.

Ninth Annual US National Straw Sculpting Competition opened Aug. 9

The Blooze Brothers, Vital Signs, Ben Tatar and more join the free music festival coming to Downtown Wheaton Sept. 21 - 22.

Tim Placher’s third annual Joliet Porch & Park Music Fest on Saturday, Aug. 17 is a free, family-friendly community music and arts event with 11 locations and more than 50 musicians and artists.

Discover Dixon and Sauk Valley Bank took visitors back to a magical street fest in Venice with its annual Venetian Night on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024.

People experience and learn about Monarch butterflies during Monarchs and Music at Crystal Lake Main Beach on Sunday, August 11, 2024.

People enjoy the Ice Cream Fest on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, at Crystal Lake’s Main Beach. The second annual event featured music, game, ice cream venders and an ice cream eating contest. Proceeds from the events benefit Big Brothers and Big Sisters of McHenry County.

The Great Fire of Lockport happened on Aug. 10, 1895. Fire Fest on Saturday will showcase not only local history but celebrate community.