Celebrate 'Drinksgiving,' the night before Thanksgiving, at these favorite bars and taverns in northern Illinois.

Ottawa's Chris Kringle Market opens for the holiday season Friday, Nov. 28, which is also the same day as the Festival of Lights Parade at 6 p.m.

The beloved Chris Kringle Market opens for the season Friday, Nov. 28 in downtown Ottawa.

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.

Princeton's Christmas Walk Weekend kicks off Friday, Nov. 21 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 23.

Here are the winners for the best coffee shops in the Best of the Fox, Best of the Illinois Valley, DeKalb County's Finest and Sauk Valley Favorites contest.

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

The weekend kicks off Friday, Nov. 21 at Tangled Roots Brewing Company.

Audiences will notice some real magic inside Stage 212 now that the La Salle theater has undergone major improvements. And what better way to showcase the overhaul than with a little on-stage magic?

The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra will perform its first regular-season concert in Streator in recent history at 3 p.m. Nov. 9 at Streator High School.

Tickets include Leinenkugel-inspired dinner and beverage tastings and a chance to win great prizes.

NCI ARTworks and Heritage Corridor Destinations will exhibit the work of several artists in Utica and then in Peru.

The show is a fundraiser supporting the recent renovation of the auditorium. It will feature local performers singing and dancing to a variety of holiday favorites.

The Model Train Fair & Farm Toy Show is Saturday, Nov. 15 at the Bureau County Fairgrounds.

Seasoned performers are getting in on the act in Dixon, where seniors' talents are getting an encore performance, thanks to a new theater group.

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

‘Lincoln’s Ottawa: Stories from Valley View’ take guests on a tour of several historic sites in the Illinois Valley related to Abraham Lincoln.

Open Prairie United Church of Christ will hold its annual Christkindlmarkt, a traditional German Christmas market, on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

La Salle's Frosty on First festival kicks off Friday, Nov. 7 and continues Saturday, Nov. 8. Ottawa's Shop, Sip & Sparkle also runs Nov. 7-8.

Frosty on First will run from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, immediately following the Run Run Rudolph 5K

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

The Treehouses of Starved Rock are steps away from Starved Rock State Park’s system of picturesque hiking trails, canyons, waterfalls and bluffs.

National Sandwich Day is Monday, Nov. 3 Check out these award-winning sandwich shops in DeKalb, Kane and McHenry counties, Illinois Valley and Sauk Valley.

Check out this list of the best bakeries and donut shops in DeKalb, Kane, Kendall and McHenry counties, the Sauk Valley and the Illinois Valley.

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

Visit Insanity Haunted House in Peru or Nightmare Haunted Attraction in Princeton this Halloween weekend... if you dare!

The little castle on Main Street in Ottawa has life once again, as Keely’s Castle recently opened at the site of the former Prince Castle ice cream shop.

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

Explore haunted houses, trails, campgrounds and tours located in Starved Rock Country in La Salle County.

Starved Rock Coffee Co. uses coffee beans from all over the globe to build a line of coffee named after local natural wonders.

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

Wine & Art Walk is Saturday, Nov. 8 at Heritage Harbor in Ottawa.

'Puffs' will be presented Nov. 14-16 and Nov. 21-23.

Check out these award-winning pizza places in Kane, Kendall and McHenry counties, as well as the Sauk Valley and Illinois Valley, to celebrate National Pizza Month during October.

Hometown Halloween kicks off at 10:30 a.m. in La Salle, and includes a costume parade, trick-or-treating and more.

The fully immersive experience, including the macabre aspects of death in the Victorian Era, will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. from Oct. 23 to Oct. 25, according to a Hegeler Carus news release.

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

As Halloween approaches, downtown Streator will be the place to be if you’re looking to get in the holiday’s spirit with a variety of events for all ages.

Guests will follow a trail of clues hidden throughout downtown Ottawa, where each stop reveals another piece of the puzzle.

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

Starved Rock Lodge will host an Oktoberfest Dinner Oct. 19, while Princeton's Oktoberfest is Oct. 18.

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

National Dessert Day is Tuesday, Oct. 14!

The Princeton Public Library, 698 E. Peru St., will host several programs and events in October.

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

Burgoo Festival is Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 12 in Utica.