Here's a listing of the best live music venues in Kane, McHenry and DeKalb counties and the Illinois Valley, as voted on by Shaw Media audiences.

For 20 years, local band HOSS has been been bringing some holiday cheer with its annual holiday celebration, Hossmas, which also serves as a toy drive.

The Venue in downtown Aurora, owned and operated by the Fox Valley Music Foundation, offers a wide array of performing artists.

McHenry Outdoor Theater will end its 2022 season on a spooky note Oct. 28 and 29, with showings of the 1995 family-friendly hit “Casper” and the brand-new final installment of the “Halloween” franchise.

Steve Leslie will perform “How Sweet It Is!” at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, covering classic James Taylor songs.

The event will include a wiener dog race, the “World’s Shortest Marathon” that covers all three PBS borders, music, bologna trivia and just plain fun.

The St. Charles Public Library will host Midwest folk singer Mark Dvorak in a tribute to American folk singer Pete Seeger at 2 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Carnegie Community Room.

“Heathers the Musical” is coming to the Black Box Theatre at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake this fall.

Critics rave about guest violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins, who will be featured in the Wynton Marsalis Violin Concerto.