Make the end of summer more memorable by planning a getaway at a unique resort or bed & breakfast in northern Illinois

From Romeoville to Pontiac, you’ll be surprised at all the hidden gems you discover during your wine-sampling excursion.

Visit Insanity Haunted House in Peru or Nightmare Haunted Attraction in Princeton this Halloween weekend... if you dare!

National Sandwich Day is Monday, Nov. 3 Check out these award-winning sandwich shops in Kane and McHenry counties, Illinois Valley and Sauk Valley.

The little castle on Main Street in Ottawa has life once again, as Keely’s Castle recently opened at the site of the former Prince Castle ice cream shop.

Frosty on First will run from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, immediately following the Run Run Rudolph 5K

Discover the colors and activities of autumn at these parks in the Illinois Valley.

Explore haunted houses, trails, campgrounds and tours located in Starved Rock Country in La Salle County.

Starved Rock Coffee Co. uses coffee beans from all over the globe to build a line of coffee named after local natural wonders.

Check out these delightfully frightening haunted houses in northern Illinois, guaranteed to bring the scares this season.

Wine & Art Walk is Saturday, Nov. 8 at Heritage Harbor in Ottawa.

'Puffs' will be presented Nov. 14-16 and Nov. 21-23.

Check out these award-winning pizza places in Kane, Kendall and McHenry counties, as well as the Sauk Valley and Illinois Valley, to celebrate National Pizza Month during October.

Hometown Halloween kicks off at 10:30 a.m. in La Salle, and includes a costume parade, trick-or-treating and more.

The fully immersive experience, including the macabre aspects of death in the Victorian Era, will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. from Oct. 23 to Oct. 25, according to a Hegeler Carus news release.

These northern Illinois pumpkin farms are ready to welcome guests for a day of family-friendly fall fun.

As Halloween approaches, downtown Streator will be the place to be if you’re looking to get in the holiday’s spirit with a variety of events for all ages.

Guests will follow a trail of clues hidden throughout downtown Ottawa, where each stop reveals another piece of the puzzle.

Watch football and baseball playoff games at one of these lively sports bars in northern Illinois.

Starved Rock Lodge will host an Oktoberfest Dinner Oct. 19, while Princeton's Oktoberfest is Oct. 18.

The Illinois Valley has several haunted tours that explore the supernatural this Halloween season.

National Dessert Day is Tuesday, Oct. 14!

The Princeton Public Library, 698 E. Peru St., will host several programs and events in October.

The Virginia hillside where Quaker Run Vineyard is located is an unlikely spot for growing grapes.

Burgoo Festival is Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 12 in Utica.

The 55th annual Burgoo Festival is Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 12 in downtown Utica.

Tickets for each show are $15 and can be purchased online at festival56.com or by calling the box office at 815-879-5656. A four-ticket Sound Stage Pass is also available for a $10 savings.

Here are the winners for Best Taco and Best Mexican Restaurant in the 2025 Best of the Fox, Best of the Illinois Valley and Sauk Valley Favorites contests.

Engle Lane Theatre in Streator will present Mystic Pizza: The Musical, with showings Wednesday through Friday.

Looking for an outdoorsy getaway this season? Check out these four destinations in northern Illinois.

The 75-25 Reserve Light Whiskey won high honors at the Heartland Whiskey Competition.

The Monster Mash Balloon Bash is Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Bureau County Fairgrounds, while the Ottawa Scarecrow Festival is also Saturday.

It's a weekend of fall fun in Ottawa, with the Scarecrow Fest Saturday and Fall Fest on Sunday.

Festival 56 has appointed Marc Bitler as its new Producing Artistic Director, marking his return to the Princeton theater company after a decade away.

Enjoy tricks, treats and scares at the Bureau County Fairgrounds this weekend!

Check out these fantastic fall festivals in Sycamore, St. Charles, Utica, Aurora and more.

The rural Oglesby farm provides a unique agritourism experience.

The Treehouses of Starved Rock are steps away from Starved Rock State Park’s system of picturesque hiking trails, canyons, waterfalls and bluffs.

For the entire month, wine lovers are encouraged to host small, casual get-togethers to celebrate their love of wine.

The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra will kick off its season Saturday, Sept. 27. Bill's Barktober Fest is also happening Saturday in downtown Ottawa.

From wine tastings to historic tours, Galena is the perfect destination for a quick weekend getaway.

The Lumberyard is a recreation and shopping destination, and home to Refuge Coffee and The Rusty Rooster, an eclectic home decor store.

‘Lincoln’s Ottawa: Stories from Valley View’ take guests on a tour of several historic sites in the Illinois Valley related to Abraham Lincoln.

The Napa Valley winery is known for high quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

While many Oktoberfest celebrations happen in September, here's a list of German-themed beer festivals happening in October.

Try the Mega Hike at Starved Rock State Park.

The final Third Friday event of the season is Friday, Sept. 19 in downtown Ottawa. Princeton's Artisan

Events include Vintage Illinois Wine Festival, Redbud Creek Farm Fall Festival and more.

National Cheeseburger Day is Thursday, Sept. 18!

Bureau County is home to a number of exciting fall and holiday events in 2025.