5 things to do in DeKalb County

1. Free pumpkins and Pumpkin Rol’Down unofficial kickoff to Sycamore Pumpkin Fest on Saturday

The annual Free Pumpkin Distribution, this year made possible by the Sycamore Lions Club and Theis Farm, will start at 10 a.m. Saturday by the Wally Thurow Tribute statue at the southwest corner of Elm and Somonuak streets in downtown Sycamore.

For information, go to www.sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/Events.html

That will be followed by the annual Pumpkin Rol’Down hosted by the Sycamore Park District from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Sycamore sled hill. Registration is expected in advance, a $5 per person for ages 2 and older, with those younger attending for free.

Register at the Community Center or online at sycamoreparkdistrict.com/pumpkin-roldown

Proceeds support Kiwanis Club of Sycamore.

2. Bring your costumed dog Saturday to Howl-O-Ween at Katz Dog Park, 393 W. Dresser Road, in DeKalb for a costume contest

The free event begins at 11 a.m. with winners announced shortly afterward for most “spook-tacular,” “howling with laughter,” and best owner and pet costume combo.

For information, go to dekalbparkdistrict.com.

3. Northern Illinois University’s StemFest on Saturday in the Holmes Student Center, MLK Commons and Founders Memorial Library on campus

The free event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday will be held in person and feature more than 80 exhibits with hands-on activities, crafts and talks.

Free parking is available in the NIU parking garage and in any non-reserved parking spot on campus. If the weather is sunny, there will be a solar power shuttle from the Chick Evans Fieldhouse to the southwest corner of the MLK Commons.

For information, go to niusteam.niu.edu.

4. Free fall concert by Kishwaukee Concert Band at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in the Music Building on the east side of NIU campus

There is no charge for admission, and the building is handicapped accessible.

For information go to kishconcertband.org/schedule.html

5. DeKalb community cleanup from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday

A local cleanup day has been organized by DeKalb’s Citizens’ Environmental Commission for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, and several other volunteer groups plan to help pick up trash at four locations in the city.

The groups include Trash Squirrels, the Pathway Committee of the Kiwanis Club and Northern Illinois University’s Green Paws environmental group. Anyone is invited to participate.

Cleanup will occur in both residential and recreational areas, including Kishwaukee Kiwanis bike trail from the NIU lagoon through Hopkins Park, Dresser Road from First Street to Normal Road, and First Street from Dresser to Bethany roads.

The city will provide bags, gloves and trash pickers.

Would you like your event featured in this weekly feature? The first step is submitting your events to the Daily Chronicle’s community calendar at shawlocal.com/daily-chronicle/local-events/ where they are then considered for inclusion in this feature. Submissions to the community calendar are also printed in the Thursday edition of the Daily Chronicle.