The Festival of Lights and Christmas tree sale kick off Friday, Nov. 28.

Upcoming events include Sports and Fun with Santa, Whoville Holiday and Holiday Hoedown.

Celebrate the holidays with a family brunch at these locations in northern Illinois.

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 27 in 2025. Make your dinner reservations now and leave the cooking and clean up to someone else!

Make plans to spend a day exploring the historic city of Galena during the holiday season.

The historic home and grounds in Wheaton will be awash in color for the next month and beyond as Christmas at Cantigny returns Friday

Christmas at Cantigny opens for the holiday season on Friday, Nov. 21.

Check out these theaters across northern Illinois that are bringing holiday classics like "The Nutcracker" and "A Christmas Carol" to life this season.

The brilliant light and color show runs through Jan. 3.

This holiday festival features light shows with McCormick House tours, ice skating, holiday treats, and a new, magical twist to Sunday nights.

The Christkindlemarket opens Friday, Nov. 21 at RiverEdge Park in downtown Aurora.

Anderson’s special guest is Italian guitarist Alberto Lombardi.

Wander the zoo, marvel at the millions of lights and sip Elf-inspired cocktails at the Nov. 20 event.

In the third installment of the Christmas at Pemberley trilogy, two friends forge their own way in a Christmas season tale filled with music, ambition and sisterhood.

Steve Cochran and Company return Nov. 15 and The Second City's annual holiday revue is set for Nov. 20-Dec. 23 in Paramount’s Copley Theatre.

Downtown Wheaton is offering a variety of family-friendly events to celebrate the holidays this season.

Holiday events include the annual Reindeer Run, Holiday Sip & Stroll, Dinner with Santa and more!

Performances of “Hansel and Gretel” will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Downers Grove.

Get a sneak peak at Morton Arboretum's "Illumination: Tree Lights" holiday light show at IllumiBrew on Friday, Nov. 14.

Check out this list of national chains and locally-owned restaurants offering specials to service members on Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11.

Explore the fine wines of Italian winery Tenuta Luce as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.

The Soweto Gospel Choir, a 20-member South African ensemble, will perform at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn Nov. 8.

This show chronicles the amazing musical journey of the international pop star’s four-decade career from his time in Wham! through his illustrious solo career.

From Romeoville to Pontiac, you’ll be surprised at all the hidden gems you discover during your wine-sampling excursion.

Celebrate local veterans at Cantigny Park with Brew It Forward on Saturday, Nov. 8.

British guitarist Steve Hackett celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Genesis album “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway."

Country Music powerhouse Lainey Wilson will perform on the Grandstand Stage on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Illinois State Fair

Make the end of summer more memorable by planning a getaway at a unique resort or bed & breakfast in northern Illinois

The Halloween Lights Trolley Tours run Thursday and Friday in Naperville, while the Great Midwest Train Show is Sunday in Wheaton.

Additional performers in the 2025-2026 season include the Soweto Gospel Choir, Cirque Kalabanté and many more.

The first fast-casual concept in the Bien Trucha Group will close for a rebrand Saturday, Nov. 1.

Discover the colors and activities of autumn at these parks in the Illinois Valley.

Check out these delightfully frightening haunted houses in northern Illinois, guaranteed to bring the scares this season.

The two-time Tony Award nominated musical is a family favorite that brings generations together to celebrate the magic of the holidays.

Check out these Halloween-themed events this weekend happening in the western suburbs.

Howlin' at the Moon, an event for adults 21 and over, is set for Friday and Saturday nights at Naper Settlement.

Check out these exciting family events happening in Glen Ellyn!

These northern Illinois pumpkin farms are ready to welcome guests for a day of family-friendly fall fun.

Upcoming events include

Watch football and baseball playoff games at one of these lively sports bars in northern Illinois.

Actors Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan and Elijah Wood will reunite with fans for "An Evening with the Hobbits: In Celebration of 25 Years," at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026.

Comedian and actor Paul Reiser will be at the McAninch Arts Center on the College of DuPage campus Friday, Oct. 17.

Reiser will perform at the Glen Ellyn venue on Friday, Oct. 17.

Interactive highlights include responsive light sculptures, laser graffiti, enchanted fountains, train car installations, rooftop laser shows and more.

The Illinois Valley has several haunted tours that explore the supernatural this Halloween season.

National Dessert Day is Tuesday, Oct. 14!

October is a jam-packed month at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, with events for adults-only and the whole family.

Try Detroit style pizza at restaurants in Bartlett, Elgin, Algonquin and Naperville.

The Virginia hillside where Quaker Run Vineyard is located is an unlikely spot for growing grapes.

Featured will be selections from soaring Puccini and Verdi operas to musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein and themes of beloved movies.