Tourism

The City of Joliet has named Ann Sylvester as its new director of cultural affairs and special events. She previously worked for the city of Chicago's special events department.

Matt Hicks with the Sauk Valley Water Ski Shows group said his organization is seeking sponsors and donations to raise money to bring water ski shows and other aquatic entertainment to Rock Falls.

Kankakee Alderman Dave Baron is the new president of the Visit Kankakee County Board of Directors, formally known as the Kankakee County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

A $45,500 contract to create a conceptual master plan for the now-Bradley-owned Northfield Square mall has been approved by the Bradley Village Board.

The operating profit may have been the first in the theater's 99-year history, Executive Director Wade Welsh told the Joliet City Council on Monday.

Christine Johnson told the Joliet City Council it's time remove a ban that keeps her husband and another former guard at the old Joliet Correctional Center off the prison grounds.

Deer Ridge Barn recently celebrated upgrades to the Limestone wedding and event venue which enables it to operate year-round thanks to a grant from the Kankakee County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The business hosted over 8,000 guests in 2024 as a seasonal venue.

Standing on the edge of a 300-foot limestone bluff in southern Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest, Machaela Sweeney could thank the perfect words she typed into ChatGPT for bringing her to the unexpected spot.

Hordes of Illinoisans will take a jaunt for July Fourth, packing O’Hare International Airport for far-flung adventures and the Tri-State en route to Michigan and Wisconsin.

The Hill BMX racetrack recently was named as the host track for the 2025 BMX State Championship. It's a chance to draw thousands to the area in September, an Elgin tourism agency official said.

Trucks, tractors, rat rods and cars were all on display Saturday, June 28, 2025, at Rock Falls' Touch-a-Truck event.

A growing number of visitors are discovering southern Illinois as a travel destination amid a recent effort to entice more people to visit for the summer season.

Melinda Jones has a message for people – My hometown Rocks! – and the city’s tourism director and her team are committed to getting that message out to people near and far.

Over 170 vehicles were put on display Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Rock Falls for one of the largest Touch-a-Truck events in the region.

The Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce’s Summer Splash did its best to cool down visitors Saturday, June 21, 2025.

Street-legal race cars traveled to Rock Falls on Thursday, June 19, 2025, during a stop on Sick the Mag's travel tour. Several vehicles took part in a burnout show for the thousands who descended on RB&W Park. Visitors also could talk to drivers and get close-up views of cars.

Column: Many attendees of the recent IPW tourism conference are venturing beyond Chicagoland this week on FAM – short for “familiarity” – tours, with one such tour making stops in DeKalb County, writes Bradley Hoey of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The administration building at the Old Joliet Prison now is open for visits. Must be 16 and older to go on tours,

More than 300 drag racing cars will make a stop in Rock Falls on Thursday, July 19, with a block party planned so residents can see the cars up close and talk to their drivers. There will be music, food and a burnout contest.

The River's Edge Farmers Market kicked off the 2025 season in Oregon on Thursday, June 5. The markets are held each Thursday night from 5-7:30 p.m. at 123 N. 2nd St., along the riverfront below the Oregon dam on the west bank of the Rock River. The weekly events also include music, kids activities, and food booths.

The administration building at the Old Joliet Prison now is open for visits. Must be 16 and older to go on tours,

The TALK-LINE interview for June 3 featured Rock Falls Tourism Director Melinda Jones and representative John Watts discussing upcoming events June into July.

Bradley and the operator of the nearly 7,700-square-foot restaurant and bar complex at the Bradley 315 Sports Park have come to terms on a lease, with a targeted opening set for the week of June 23.

The Gemini Giant now has a neighbor near his new home on South Island Park in Wilmington.

The Gemini Giant now has a neighbor near his new home on South Island Park in Wilmington.

Read the transcript from our May 15 Talk-Line interview with Matthew Lenox of Visit Northwest Illinois

The TALK-LINE interview for May 15 featured the Executive Director of Visit Northwest Illinois, Matthew Lenox discussing the work on the organization’s website

Opinion: As summer takes center stage in DeKalb County, we are thrilled to announce a fantastic lineup of events that promise fun, excitement, and community spirit, writes Cortney Strohacker of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The annual Red Carpet Corridor Festival for Route 66 returns this weekend to Joliet. The festival is designed to accentuate such points of interest as the Old Joliet Prison.

The Joliet Slammers hosted a preview event Thursday for its new food and beverage offerings as well as some upcoming special events before the team's season opener.

The new Landing Pad in Will County won't have burgers and fries, but it will be a Route 66 souvenir shop 'just steps away' from the relocated Gemini Giant is Thursday.

The Dixon City Council has approved two contracts that allocate funds to Discover Dixon and the Lee County Industrial Development Association. Both contracts provide a specific amount of annual funding – $325,000 for Discover Dixon and $50,000 for LCIDA.

The new Landing Pad in Will County won't have burgers and fries, but it will be a Route 66 souvenir shop 'just steps away' from the relocated Gemini Giant is Thursday.

Bettendorf Castle in Fox River Grove has halted all scheduled events after the village rescinded its permit to host tours and other events on the property.

Read the transcript from our Talk-Line interview with Rock Falls Director of Tourism Melinda Jones discussing upcoming events in Rock Falls during the spring and summer

The TALK-LINE interview for April 25 featured Rock Falls director of tourism, Melinda Jones

The Joliet City Center Partnership and 11 downtown businesses are celebrating the 1980s on May 3.

Lake County’s delectable culinary and beverage scene took center stage at the highly successful Lake County February Flavor Festival.

Opinion: April has brought the end of Mac & Cheese Madness and the start of spring events, writes Alexis Aviles of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The summit is an “opportunity to connect with Route 66 enthusiasts, community leaders and tourism experts,” according to the Joliet Area Historical Museum website. Registration is required.

The music festival kicks off with a drum clinic from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 7 at the McCormick Event Center, 205 E. Third St. in Rock Falls, followed by live performances from four bands from 1-8:30 p.m at the RB&W District amphitheater, 201 E. Second St.

A new hotel, anticipated to be a four-story Hilton TRU, will be located at Weber Road and Normantown Road in Romeoville.

The Village of Channahon announced Monday that construction on the I&M Canal Gateway Project at 25450 W. Eames St. is beginning this week.

After an 11-year hiatus, the Kankakee River Valley Regatta has scored a two-year commitment from the American Powerboat Association for a national event for Labor Day weekend 2025.

Rock Falls Tourism held its annual Flock to the Rock on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, with eagle watching at the lower dam and educators at the American Legion.

Kankakee area tourism continues to grow, visitors seek the outdoors.

The Cherry Tree in, where Bill Murray's character stayed in "Groundhog Day" the film, has a wait list of several years to stay at the inn during the festivities.

Council's action Tuesday night paves way for fire station's expansion in River Front Commercial District; decision comes a week after city planning commission recommended denial, citing desire for station to relocate altogether.

Heritage Corridor Destinations held an open house on Jan. 8 for its new office at 701 Essington Road, Suite 100 in Joliet. Attendees at the open house included business partners, community leaders and stakeholders.

Visitors came from near and far to witness the iconic Gemini Giant reclaim his right as a U.S.Route 66 roadside attraction during a homecoming event in Wilmington.