Sample a variety of whiskeys paired with a five-course dinner on Jan. 16-17.

The annual event in downtown Joliet featured New Orleans-style music, food and street entertainment.

Twenty-five grappling matches featuring 50 athletes, including 16 women, are planned, with the middleweight championship bout, or main event, featuring Michael Mutter of Team Curran and Jeff Serafin of Serafin Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Evanston.

Country music band Roseland will perform at The Idle Hour on Jan. 10.

Sample a variety of unique cocoa flavors and freshly-roasted coffees.

You don't need to travel too far to enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing.

From the passing of former Illinois Gov. George Ryan to county historian Jack Klasey, the Kankakee County community experienced the loss of beloved people.

Anderson’s Bookshop will host a Q&A with the Emmy-award winning actress best known for her role as Erica Kane on “All My Children.”

Start the New Year off right with a First Day Hike at one of DuPage County's many forest preserves.

Start the New Year off right with a First Day Hike in one of the area's state parks or in one of the Forest Preserve District of Will County parks.

Get the New Year started off right with a First Day Hike at one of Kane County's many forest preserves and nature trails.

Enjoy nature on a First Day Hike Jan. 1 at Silver Springs State Fish & Wildlife Area in Yorkville.

Start the New Year off right with a First Day Hike at Franklin Creek State Natural Area, which has over four miles of trails.

Start the New Year off right with a guided winter hike at Starved Rock State Park.

These 15 stories from The Scene saw the most visitors this past year.

National Bloody Mary Day is Jan. 1. Celebrate with a cocktail at one of these award-winning bars in Kane and McHenry counties, the Sauk Valley and the Illinois Valley.

Cantigny flips the switch to a movie themed light show, backed by the soundtracks that have made Hollywood famous with 'Lights, Camera, Action!' until Jan. 4.

The Morris Theatre Guild will hold auditions for “Steel Magnolias” on Jan. 4 and 5 at the theater.

Puttshack, Topgolf and more suburban entertainment centers are hosting New Year's Eve bashes.

After months of renovations, demolition and installation of new fixtures, painting walls and selecting tiles, Kelsey and Dane Stier were ready to welcome their first guests at the renovated Knox Hotel on North Main Street in downtown Princeton.

You only have a few days left to check out the amazing holiday light shows in DuPage County!

The BoDeans will perform Saturday, Dec. 27 at the Arcada Theatre in downtown St. Charles.

Starved Rock Lodge will host guided hikes and historic trolley tours Dec. 27-28.

The Prophecy will pay tribute to Trans-Siberian Orchestra at The Dixon Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 27.

The Oswegoland Park District will host a family-friendly New Year's Eve event at Boulder Point Dec. 31.

The Roxy in Lockport will host two “Magic of the Holidays” magic shows on Saturday, Dec. 27.

Actor Eric McCormack will perform with Laura Bell Bundy on March 6.

Visit all six Christmas Pop-Up bars at Karas Restaurant Group locations in St. Charles, West Dundee, Woodstock, Campton Hills, South Elgin and Hoffman Estates.

Guests who complete the challenge will receive a free, limited-edition, redesigned t-shirt, that showcases the local breweries.

Celebrate the New Year at these exciting events in northern Illinois.

Watch college and professional football playoffs this January at these award-winning pubs and sports bars in Kane, Kendall, McHenry, DeKalb and Will counties, as well as the Sauk and Illinois Valley areas.

Marriott Theatre’s special event for New Year’s Eve will be “New Year’s Rockabilly Eve, featuring the cast of ‘Million Dollar Quartet Christmas.’”

The city is developing an expanding special events staff, but director was not consulted about future of Taste of Joliet.

The Rialto Square Theatre will host

Christmas Wizards will pay homage to the music of Trans-Siberian Orchestra at a holiday concert Dec. 20 at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.

It's the last chance to shop for unique goods at Ottawa's Chris Kringle Market and get your holiday scares on at Insanity Haunted House!

Salt Creek Ballet will have several performances of 'The Nutcracker' this weekend at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn.

The Dixon Historic Theatre will screen "White Christmas" on Friday, Dec. 19.

The Edith Farnsworth House will host a Merry Take & Make event on Saturday, Dec. 20.

Drive or stroll through these magnificent holiday light displays in Kane County.

Port Barrington's Arctic Winter Bar features live music, heated barn and seasonal craft cocktails through Feb. 1.

Visit these spectacular light shows and displays this Christmas season.

This week's announcement of Mattel, Inc., joining Bradley's development of an indoor waterpark in the area of Interstate 57 and Northfield Square mall has the region thinking of its impact.

The tours run on select days through Dec. 15.

The Second City's "Jack Frost Roasting on an Open Fire" is playing at the Copley Theatre in downtown Aurora through Dec. 23.

Taylor Swift tribute Taylorville will perform at The Dixon Historic Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Singer Chris Isaak and the Joliet American Legion Band will perform at Joliet's Rialto Square Theatre this weekend.

Pinz Entertainment Center in Yorkville will host "The Grinch" and "Elf" trivia on Friday, Dec. 12.

Tour La Salle's Hegeler Carus Mansion and Ottawa's Reddick Mansion during holiday open houses this weekend.

The DuPage Symphony Orchestra will present two holiday concerts on Sunday, Dec. 14 in Naperville.