Tourism

Downtown theater enjoys a good week after being shut down over asbestos issues.

Hundreds hit the downtown Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, for the annual Biz Boo Trick or Treat in Rock Falls.

Joliet and state officials on Wednesday celebrated park improvements funded through state grants made available along Route 66 ahead of the historic highway’s 100th anniversary year in 2026.

Choose a theme, get into costume and decorate a golf cart or UTV to celebrate the Halloween season. The parade begins at Rock Falls High School on 11th Avenue to West Second Street, then travels to Second Avenue to the First Street parking lot.

Using cell phone data, local tourism officials say they are now seeing hikes in the number of visitors and overnight stays that will lead to collected revenue increases for local communities.

Rock Falls Tourism held its annual Lumberjack Show at Selmi's on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. The show pitted two professional lumberjacks against once another in five different competitions.

Harvard's varied offerings of Mexican food will be highlighted in the Tacos, Tamales and Tortas Trail, which kicks off with Mexican Independence Day Monday.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at 1893 Twist Road, Franklin Grove.

The Union Pacific Big Boy Steam Engine No. 4014 made a whistle stop from 1:30-1:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at the Sterling Marketplace near the Avenue B crossing as part of its eight-week "Heartland of America Tour."

The Union Pacific Big Boy Steam Engine No. 4014 made a whistle stop from 1:30-1:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at the Sterling Marketplace near the Avenue B crossing. Big Boy came through Sterling as part of its eight-week "Heartland of America Tour." Union Pacific describes Big Boy as the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. Only eight of the 25 built during World War II remain, and only Big Boy still is in operation. Big Boy is set to make an overnight stay in Rochelle. The train will be on display from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, at Union Pacific Ike Evans Global III Terminal, 2701 Intermodal Drive, Rochelle. The event is free.

The Union Pacific Big Boy Steam Engine No. 4014 will make a whistle-stop in Sterling on Friday, Sept. 6. Here are five things to know about its visit.

With the DeKalb City Council’s approval this week, plans for the construction of a 120-room Marriott-branded hotel are expected to proceed at 902 Peace Road, DeKalb.

Opinion: This fall, frequent DeKalb County's local apple orchards, wineries, guest house, distillery, event venues and more. You’ll be investing in the county’s prosperity and, perhaps, saving money for you and your neighbor at the same time, writes Brad Hoey.

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

After two rounds of competition, finalists in the Rock Falls Tourism’s Sauk Valley Talent Competition took the stage Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 in Joliet will open again but still recovering from July storm damage.

Rock Falls Tourism held its Sauk Valley Talent Competition finals Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, at RB&W Park.

Tourism groups place Illinois Made businesses in spotlight.

The free concert by BAJA Band will be from 7-10 p.m. at the RB&W Amphitheater.

Discover Dixon invites the community to experience a touch of Europe during “Venetian Night At The Riverfront” on Saturday, Aug. 10.

Opinion: From a nostalgic trip down memory lane at the Fizz Ehrler Memorial Turning Back Time Car Show in Sycamore to the competitive spirit of the USASA Soccer Tournament, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this weekend in DeKalb County, writes Cortney Strohacker.

Downtown Joliet was the site for local and Illinois police as well as state department of transportation officials to promote a traffic safety campaign along the famed roadway on Tuesday.

A Joliet City Council committee wants more information on why the low bidder was disqualified before a vote Tuesday on a contract to build a downtown plaza and rebuild Chicago Street.

The 19th Century stone building at 515 Summit St. was part of the old brewery complex that later became home to the Diocese of Joliet and now is the site of the Bishop’s Hill Winery.

Residents of Joliet recognized Juneteenth on Wednesday by breaking ground on a new museum commemorating Black military service members at the historic Casseday House on the city's east side.

Opinion: The app offers three tours covering the northern, central and southern regions of the county, each featuring a wealth of historical information and points of interest, writes Katherine McLaughlin of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The updated guide and website showcase Aurora, Batavia, Big Rock, Hinckley, Montgomery, North Aurora, Oswego, Plano, Sugar Grove and Yorkville.

Lance Beatch transforms former Hide-A-Way-Lakes into the upscale Fox Bluff campsite and revitalizes Pearl Lake Beach.

Sick the Magazine’s Sick Summer tour brought the rides through Rock Falls, where they stopped over for a city-wide block party.

Now on the doorstep of celebrating its 25th anniversary, the windmill has become a tourism magnet that draws in visitors from around the world.

Rain fell on Rock Falls Tourism’s Bellson Fest on Saturday, June 8, 2024, but that didn’t stop the music.

Hundreds of high-powered race cars make a stop in Rock Falls on Monday, June 10, 2024. Sick the Magazine's Sick Summer tour brought the rides through Rock Falls and stopped over for a city-wide block party.

An estimated 3,500 people came to Venue 1012 to hear Sparks Fly – The Taylor Swift Experience. The band helped kick off the third full season of summer fun at the village of Oswego’s outdoor amphitheater, Venue 1012.

A little rain didn't stop the music for Rock Falls Tourism's Bellson Fest Saturday, June 8, 2024.

The City of Joliet is launching the Joliet Summer Challenge, a virtual passport program designed to encourage residents and visitors to explore local attractions and events.

Rock Falls officials are announcing road and parking lot closures due to the anticipated 300 to 550 cars expected to show up for the Sick Summer’s Rock Falls Block Party on Monday, June 10.

Ceremony celebrates construction of a new Fairfield Inn by Marriott.

About 350 race vehicles and 200 more ‘Sick Ward’ cruisers will arrive in Rock Falls throughout the afternoon on Monday, June 10, and stick around until 8-9 p.m.

All six docks going to prison site. City switches from original plan to put three at Broadway Greenway.

Drag racing at Joliet track runs Friday through Sunday. The Joliet Police Department issued a traffic alert.

Opinion: DeKalb County has a variety of events, from modern ones such as DeKalb Pride Fest to classic ones such as Kirkland 4th of July Festival, promising a summer to remember, writes Alexis Aviles of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Jerry Criss Band will kick off performances at noon.

Officials from the Village of New Lenox broke ground Monday on the new Crossroads Sports Complex, where it hopes to host large youth sports tournaments starting in spring 2025.

Class of 2024 inductees include Smashing Pumpkins, Howlin' Wolf and Richard Marx.

Rock Falls Tourism is accepting submissions from artists to exhibit their work at the Art in the Park Outdoor Art Gallery being held on Saturday, Aug. 24.

During the previous solar eclipse, an estimated 200,000 people came to southern Illinois, creating a spending impact between $15 and $18 million for the state.

Francine Bellson, a Silicon Valley physicist and engineer at the time, met Louie on a jazz cruise, “A Salute to Duke Ellington,” where Louie was performing as one of the “Ellington Alumni.”

From 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. June 8, several bands, as well as former Journey drummer Steve Smith, will perform in RB&W District Park in Rock Falls during a centennial celebration in honor of Rock Falls native Louie Bellson’s 100th birthday.

The City of Wilmington announced in a news release that the Gemini Giant, an iconic Route 66 landmark, will remain in Wilmington along its portion of the historic road.