The Geneva Chamber of Commerce is asking the city for $150,000 toward promotion and advertising of its four main festivals – Swedish Days, Geneva Arts Fair, Festival of the Vine and Christmas Walk, records show.

The newly created Sterling Street Fest, an afternoon and evening downtown festival that will launch this summer, took a giant leap forward Wednesday as the group organizing the July 25 event announced the three musical acts that will take the stage.

The city of Yorkville held its annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The festivities began with a 5K run followed by the Lucky Leprechaun Hunt, the Brass Band procession and then the Irish Parade. Food and live music was also a big part of the fun.

St. Patrick's Day is almost here and that means the bagpipers will soon be be turning up in downtown Plainfield.

The Lake County Film Festival is celebrating its 16th year in 2026 with a “Sweet 16” theme and marking the milestone with its first-ever screenings at The Antioch Theater.

Instead of Venue 1012 hosting concerts all summer, plans are to hold one full-day event event at the amphitheater on Sept. 19. The free movie Movies Under The Stars series will be back.

Sterling announced its plans Wednesday for a new street festival this summer featuring live music and activities for all ages. The inaugural Sterling Street Fest is slated for July 25.

Country music star Chris Young highlights the musical talents set for the third Bradley 315 Music Fest.

Officials running the Bureau County Fair announced that country band Sawyer Brown and Lonestar will headline the annual fair this summer.

In the past, the festival has been spread out across different locations in downtown Plainfield. Plainfield Fest will be held July 17-19.

The Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival will again be held at Atwood Park in 2026 after the Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a special-use permit for the event at its Monday meeting.

PrairieFest will take place Father’s Day weekend, June 18-21, at PrairieFest Park, 91 Plank Drive in Oswego.

After the big buildup that Geneva’s iconic Swedish Days festival was in jeopardy without city funding, a Thursday meeting resulted in ... not much – publicly, anyway.

The Let Freedom Ring Festival Committee of Mt. Morris is holding its annual dessert auction/spaghetti dinner Saturday, Feb. 28.

Check out these beer festivals happening in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin this winter.

Special events director Ann Sylvester provided a preview this week of activities planned for the new Joliet City Square.

The Student Silent Film Festival is a film competition in which students from 12 Chicago area high schools create original motion pictures.

Rock Falls Tourism presents Flock to the Rock ’26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Rock Falls American Legion.

Jefferson Starship's hits include "Jane,” “We Built This City,” “Find Your Way Back” and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” alongside classic Jefferson Airplane staples “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love.”

New city events director discusses plans for 2026 after New Orleans North and Taste of Joliet have been canceled

From 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan 10, Viking Park will turn into a winter wonderland for Frosty Fest.

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

Lydea King participated in the 151st Christmas Festival at Carthage College in the magnificent A. F. Siebert Chapel in Kenosha, Wisconsin. King, from Rock Falls, is a member of wind orchestra and philharmonic orchestra.

Next summer, area residents and visitors will be able to gather for a new festival in Algonquin following the end of Founders Days.

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

The biggest summer event in Joliet has been called off for 2026. The Joliet Park District plans to replace it with a downsized event in 2027, and it may not be in the summer.

The lineup for 2026 is out, but what Wayne Jett won’t yet announce is whether the McHenry Music Festival will return in 2027.

Evelyn Grace Kamer, a sophomore at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox and member of student council, will portray St. Lucia – also known as the Queen of Light – at the festival.

The live production follows a cast of “wee folk” on their adventures of doing good works while outsmarting trolls.

The festival is set to take place from noon to 10 p.m. Oct. 3 at Settler’s Park in downtown Plainfield .

The Oswego Christmas Walk will take place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. in downtown Oswego.

Celebrate the season with the Village of Mundelein at the Winter Tree Lighting Festival from 3 to 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at Courtland Commons, 444 E. Courtland St.

The Joliet Police Department noted there will be street closures and detours. Plan for traffic delays and a large amount of pedestrian traffic in the area.

The 27th annual Light Up the Holidays Festival in downtown Joliet will be held from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

Festival of Trees is the major fundraiser for the Museum of the Grundy County Historical Society. Volunteering for the benefit has been a family affair for many in town.

The Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce welcomes the community to this three-day celebration from Nov. 20-22, 2025. Activities include Holiday Bingo, Christmas Walk, Love Light Reading, $1,000 Giveaway and Grinch Dodgeball.

Mark Friday, Dec. 5, on the calendar. The annual Christmas Walk is one of Discover Dixon’s premier holiday traditions, celebrating over 35 years of bringing festive cheer to the community.

Don’t miss Jingle Fest 2025, Lanark’s holiday craft and vendor fair, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, in Eastland’s Jr./Sr. High gym and cafeteria.

Check out photos from the Frosty on First event by MaKade Rios.

The Polo Christmas Festival Committee is seeking volunteers to help make this year’s holiday celebration a success. The festival will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, and there are a variety of opportunities available to get involved.

Benesh: On behalf of the AOP Board and Committee, I would like to sincerely thank our local support services, sponsors, and volunteers for their ongoing commitment to the Autumn on Parade Festival held on Oct. 4 and 5, 2025.

These local arts and crafts fairs provide the perfect opportunity to shop for unique gifts and support local artists.

The annual Oktoberfest celebration took place on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Rotary Park in Princeton. The event featured German music from the Heidelberg German Band, food trucks, sausage toss competition, stein holding competition, lederhosen bike ride and more.

After this year’s record-breaking Yortktoberfest, organizer Jason Pesola said the Kiwanis Club of Yorkville might have to establish an extra grant because so much money was raised for scholarships.

Harvard's population is over 50% Hispanic, and the city's Day of the Dead event honors that autumnal tradition

Dixon's Halloween tradition continued Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, with the annual Scarecrow Fest.

The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Dixon.

Let Freedom Ring's Fall Family Festival on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Mt. Morris offered kids' games and trunk or treat.

Scarecrow Weekend held its 40th anniversary event last weekend, and the winners of its scarecrow contest have been revealed.

Scarecrow Weekend, one of St. Charles' signature events, celebrates its 40th anniversary over the weekend with contests, family activities, food, live entertainment, crafts and much more – including, of course, scarecrows.