Tourism news
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.
Meramec Caverns barn signs have become a rare and nostalgic sightseeing opportunity along Historic Route 66.
Wilmington VFW Post 5422 teams up with Ryan Jandura as iconic statue goes to auction.
VisitNW Illinois in partnership with TDG Agency in the Black Hills of South Dakota has announced that its website won the Silver ADDY for Best Online/Interactive Website at the 2024 Black Hills American Advertising Awards Federation Gala.
Opinion: March has arrived, and you don’t have to be a college or high school basketball fan to enjoy the “madness” of fun activities and events the month has in store here in DeKalb County, writes Brad Hoey of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The annual inside guide published by Naturally McHenry County is out now in print and digital editions.
National Trust for Historic Preservation wants public to share personal experiences about the famed Route 66.
The state has awarded a $1.2 million grant to Heritage Corridor Destinations for Route 66 projects, most of them in Will County.
As we usher in 2024, DeKalb County is brimming with new opportunities for both residents and visitors alike, writes Cortney Strohacker of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In her latest PBS series, “Places To Love,” Samantha Brown spotlights Route 66 attractions along The First Hundred Miles.
Woodstock businesses Casting Whimsy and Hempstock Pharms, as well as Huntley business The Irie Cup recently were inducted into the Illinois Made program, according to a recent news release from the county.
Travel and tourism are back in a big way in DeKalb County and throughout the state, the local tourism bureau announced, citing data recently released by the Illinois Office of Tourism.
'Secrets and Surprises in Illinois' starts Monday
Rock Falls residents can enter contest until 5 p.m. Dec. 12.
Cedar Fair and Six Flags are merging to create an expansive amusement park operator with operations spread across 17 U.S. states and three countries.
Dixon’s City Council has created a 5% municipal hotel tax that on Dec. 1 will take the place of a 5% hotel tax Lee County has been imposing countywide on hotel operators.
‘The Wizard of Oz’ begins at 3 p.m.; ‘Poltergeist’ showing starts at 7 p.m.
Visitors to the John Deere Historic Site this weekend were able to learn about his legacy – developing the first commercially successful, self-coursing steel plow nearly 190 years ago – tour his home and even play some fun games during the site’s Fall Fest.
Fulton’s second annual Fall Fest welcomed large crowds Saturday, Oct. 7, with vendors, food trucks and live music from acts including Dan Peart and Jen Craft Acoustic.
Visitors to Rock Falls Tourism’s Lumberjack show got a taste of the hard work that goes into the craft Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.
The John Deere Historic Site will host Fall Fest with a wide array of activities Saturday, Oct. 14, and Sunday, Oct. 15, in Grand Detour.
Rock Falls Tourism once again hosted a Lumberjack show Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.