The Forest Preserve District of Will County has announced its 2026 event calendar, featuring a year of art exhibits, festivals, live music, educational programs and outdoor experiences across Will County.

Permits are required for groups of 25 or more and encouraged for smaller groups that want to ensure the use of a specific shelter location.

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.

With spring here and temperatures slowly warming it is time to get out your bike and head out to these Will County trails.

Kendall County offers excellent paved and limestone-screened trails ideal for biking.

The book run consisted of 56 businesses of bike dealers, bars/grills, and places of interest.

Yorkville celebrated the last holiday weekend of summer with its annual Hometown Days festival, held over Labor Day weekend, Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 28-31, at Beecher Community Park, 908 Game Farm Road, Yorkville.

The 2025 Will County Fair celebrates its 122nd year at the fairgrounds in Peotone from Aug. 20 - 24, 2025.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County is holding the River Paddle Adventure on the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 22, at Hammel Woods in Shorewood.

Crowds came out to enjoy the food, music, carnival and more over the three days of Montgomery Fest, Friday through Sunday, Aug. 15-17, 2025.

As the summer winds down and families prepare for the new school year, the Joliet Public Library remains a steady and welcoming space.

Montgomery Fest,the annual three-day event, will be held Friday through Sunday, Aug. 15-17.

Celebrate summer break’s end with science experiments, trail walks, nature art and more at this three-day family program at Four Rivers Education Center in Channahon.

Fans brought their canine friends with them to the ballpark as part of a special promotion by the Joliet Slammers on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

The Joliet Blues Festival was staged for its seventh year on Saturday, attracting local and regional music fans.

Romeoville's annual summer festival RomeoFest begins today and runs through Sunday. All activities will be held between Village Hall and the Recreation Center.

Get ready for a hot weekend across northern Illinois as triple-digit heat levels are expected by Friday

Shorewood hosted its annual Crossroads Festival from Friday, Aug. 1 to Sunday, Aug. 3. The annual late summer festival features carnival, music, craft fair and more.

So far this summer, more than 18,000 people have visited the Park District’s Civic Center Aquatic Pool and Winrock Pool in Oswego.

The Illinois Tollway has launched 24-hour hot weather patrols to deploy additional crews to assist drivers stranded during the dangerously hot and humid conditions expected to continue through Friday

Check our these Joliet area public pools and splash pads to cool off from the intense heat headed our way beginning Wednesday.

The annual River Fest was held at Riverfront Park in Yorkville on Saturday, July 19, 2025. The day featured music, local food vendors, family activities and the cardboard boat race on the Fox River.

Dangerous heat index values of 105 to 115 degrees are expected Wednesday and Thursday across northern Illinois

Plano Library will host free community programs for kids and adults this summer. Summer Reading Program is underway.

The 15th annual Plano American Legion Car Show on Sunday will also feature food provided by the Legion.

Montgomery invites the public to the free first concert in the park of the year, featuring the high-energy party band Disco Circus.

The Joliet Slammers will partner with Pabst beer to drop 2,600 packaged hot dogs to fans at the July 22 game. Tickets will be at a special price.

The free, family-friendly evening of food and music by the water takes place Saturday at the Forest Preserve District of Will County's Monee site.

The American Red Cross is urging all donors to give blood or platelets to keep the blood supply strong this summer. Several donor events are scheduled throughout Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle and Will counties.

Auto enthusiasts can get out and show off their flashy and vintage cars at community cruise nights throughout Will County.

Yorkville Public Library has announced its schedule of programs for July 2025.

Here are the Forest Preserve District of Will County programs for the week of July 7. Online registration is available at ReconnectWithNature.org.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is encouraging the public to be aware of ticks to prevent the spread of Lyme disease during these warm weather months.

Average gas prices in many northern Illinois counties are expected to be cheaper than last year for the Fourth of July weekend as the cost of fuel continues to decline over the past several years.

Theodore Street in Joliet buckled during the intense heat this week. Still, the city of Joliet says problems like that should not be a widespread issue locally because most streets are asphalt paved.

One of the oldest Little League organizations in the United States is making plans for its next 74 years with the help of the Joliet Slammers, Rotary Club of Joliet, and other local businesses and organizations.

As extreme heat is predicted for northern Illinois in the coming days, health departments are warning residents of the signs of heat sickness. Cooling centers can found throughout Will County.

Day two of the Taste of Joliet celebrated country music and big crowds came out to hear performers including the headliner Brett Eldredge. The city's largest summer festival, which features more than 20 food vendors, carnival, music and other live entertainment, runs through Sunday,

The Taste of Joliet drew big crowds on its second full day on Saturday, the longest day of the year and the warmest for far. The city's largest summer festival, which features more than 20 food vendors, carnival, music and other live entertainment, runs through Sunday,

When it gets hot outside, pet owners need to remember to keep their dogs, cats, horses and any other beloved pets cool.

Billy Corgan and the Machines of God was a top draw on opening night of the Taste of Joliet at Memorial Stadium on Friday, June 20, 2025.

The annual Taste of Joliet, the city's biggest summer festival, opened Friday, June 20. The event features food vendors, multiple music acts across many genres, other live entertainment and a carnival. Runs through Sunday, June 22 at Memorial Stadium.

The biggest summer festival in Joliet starts at 3 p.m. Friday and runs through the weekend featuring more than 20 food vendors, just about as many music acts, and a carnival.

West Nile has been detected in 17 counties across Illinois. A county is considered positive for West Nile virus if a mosquito, horse or human from that county tests positive for the virus.

Northern Illinois Food Bank is once again launching its free summer meals for kids program, now through Aug. 15.

The annual Star Wars Day returned to downtown Joliet on Saturday, June 7, 2025. This year's event was held at the Joliet Slammers stadium. The Joliet Public Library presents Star Wars Day with support from the city of Joliet, Joliet Township, Friends of the Joliet Public Library, Joliet City Center Partnership, Heritage Corridor Destinations, Old National Bank, D’Arcy Buick GMC and Shales McNutt Construction.

Lockport's annual Old Canal Days festival will take place from June 4-8, 2025 with a carnival, parade, fireworks, food, and live entertainment.

The first Plainfield cruise night of the summer season took place on Tuesday, June 3. The weekly events are held on Lockport Street on Tuesday evenings through Aug, 19 and are sponsored by the Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce.

Lockport held its first downtown car show and Concert in the Square of the 2025 summer season on Monday, June 2, 2025. Cars lined State Street and 10th Street and food trucks set up at Central Square where the Neverly Brothers performed at the bandshell.