5 Things to Do weekly in Illinois
Dixon's Scarecrow Fest is Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
Comedian and actor Paul Reiser will be at the McAninch Arts Center on the College of DuPage campus Friday, Oct. 17.
Browse a Halloween craft show, take a haunted hayride and more this weekend in Will County!
Take a guided ghost tour of the historic Ellwood House mansion in DeKalb on Friday or Saturday night.
Search for candy-filled eggs at Yorkville's Halloween Egg Hunt on Friday, Oct. 17.
Starved Rock Lodge will host an Oktoberfest Dinner Oct. 19, while Princeton's Oktoberfest is Oct. 18.
Richmond Family Fall Fest is Saturday Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19.
Thousands of glass pumpkins will be on display at the Morton Arboretum from Friday, Oct. 10 through Sunday, Oct. 12.
Help support Will County's Children Advocacy Center at the Men Who Cook fundraiser Oct. 11.
Witches Night Out is set for Thursday, Oct. 9 in downtown Sycamore.
Burgoo Festival is Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 12 in Utica.
Sterling's popular beer festival Hops on the Rock is set for 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11.
The Edith Farnsworth House in Plano will host its Fall Festival on Sunday, Oct. 12.
Marengo Settlers' Days, Algonquin Wine & Dessert Walk, live music and more this weekend in McHenry County.
The Fall Fox Fest is Sunday, Oct. 5 in downtown Oswego.
Autumn on Parade, Old English Faire happen this weekend in Oregon.
Naperville Oktoberfest
The Norge Ski Club's Jumptoberfest is set for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-5 at the Fox River Grove club.
The Old Joliet Prison will host a special anniversary screening of "The Blues Brothers" on Oct. 4.
NIU's Homecoming Parade and Block Party is from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2 in downtown DeKalb.
The Monster Mash Balloon Bash is Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Bureau County Fairgrounds, while the Ottawa Scarecrow Festival is also Saturday.
The annual Taco Throwdown is set for Friday, Sept. 26, from 3-10 p.m. in Rock Falls.
Brookfield Zoo is hosting an Oktoberfest on Sunday, Sept. 28, while Cantigny in Wheaton is hosting their Fall Fest on Saturday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Sept. 28.
The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra will kick off its season Saturday, Sept. 27. Bill's Barktober Fest is also happening Saturday in downtown Ottawa.
Yorktober Fest is Friday, Sept. 26 and Saturday, Sept. 27 at Riverfront Park East in Yorkville.
The 2025 Johnny Appleseed Festival is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 in downtown Crystal Lake.
The Egyptian Theatre will host "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" with a live shadow cast on Friday, Sept. 26.
The Frankfort Wine & Ale Walk and Plainfield Park District's Autumn Family Fun Fest will both be held on Saturday, Sept. 27.
Joliet Pride Fest is Saturday, Sept. 20 at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park.
Cary Main Street Fest is Sept. 19-21, while Woodstock's Art Fair on the Square is Sept. 20-21.
The final Third Friday event of the season is Friday, Sept. 19 in downtown Ottawa. Princeton's Artisan
Fox Republic Brewing, The Law Office Pub & Music Hall will have live music events this weekend in Kendall County.
Naperville Irish Fest is Saturday, Sept. 20 at Central Park, while Glen Ellyn's Oktoberfest is at Two Hound Red Brewing Co. Thursday, Sept. 18 through Saturday, Sept. 20.
STEM Fest is set for Saturday on the NIU campus, and Wine on the Terrace is Saturday evening at the Ellwood House Museum.
The Fiesta Day Parade kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20.
Downers Grove Oktoberfest runs Friday and Saturday in downtown Downers Grove. Grammy Award-winning band Gipsy Kings will perform Friday night.
Check out classic cars and hot rods at Jalopy Fest Sept. 12-13.
The 13th annual Taste of Fiesta is Saturday afternoon in RB&W Park in Rock Falls. Morrison hosts the monthly 3 French Hens Country Market on Saturday.
The Fiesta en el Bicentennial Park is set for Saturday, Sept. 13 in Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park.
Woodstock's Stage Left Cafe will host an open mic night on Friday, Sept. 12 and trivia on Thursday, Sept. 11.
The Lions Club Cookie Crawl is Saturday, Sept. 13 and the Sycamore Chalk Walk is also Sept. 13.
The BBQ & Blues Fest is set for Friday, Sept. 12, while the Jazz'N the Street Festival is Saturday, Sept. 13.
The Grand Detour Arts Festival is Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at the John Deere Historic Site.
Venue 1012 in Oswego will host Battle of the Lukes & Wasted on Wallen tribute bands on Saturday, Sept. 6.
The Downers Grove Fine Arts Festival is Sept. 6-7, and the DuPage Comic Con is Sept. 6 at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.
The Sumthins will perform at Ottawa's Washington Square Park on Saturday night.
Enjoy food, music and 18 holes of glow-in-the-dark mini golf at Lippold Park in Crystal Lake on Saturday night.
The Sandwich Fair runs through Sunday, Sept. 7, and the DeKalb Kite Fest is also set for Sept. 7 at Kiwanis Park.
Visit Dellwood Park in Lockport for live battle reenactments, music, food and more!
The McHenry Outdoor Theater will have double feature screenings of "Jaws" and "Tremors" over Labor Day Weekend.