Here are the winners for Best Taco and Best Mexican Restaurant in the 2025 Best of the Fox, Best of the Illinois Valley and Sauk Valley Favorites contests.

Sterling's popular beer festival Hops on the Rock is set for 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11.

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

Northwest Illinois, eastern Iowa and southwest Wisconsin are home to frightfully fun haunted houses.

Royally hand-in-hand: A pair of Stillman Valley businesses under one roof sought to bring back memories of generations ago: one with the name of a longtime grocery store chain, and another with Grandma's beef jerky recipe.

This popular fall craft beer festival will be held at the Sterling Marketplace on Saturday, Oct. 11.

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

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

Autumn on Parade, Old English Faire happen this weekend in Oregon.

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.

Busy day of running, shopping, kids’ activities and live music offered.

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

For the entire month, wine lovers are encouraged to host small, casual get-togethers to celebrate their love of wine.

Influencers from beyond the grave told their tales Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, during the annual Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society’s Cemetery Walk.

Australian-born guitarist Orianthi will perform Oct. 11, while rock band Buckcherry takes the stage Oct. 19.

The menu at a downtown Dixon restaurant has customers seeing green, as well as many vegetable and fruit colors to consider in a more healthier offering.

New this year is the Women's Skillet Throwing Competition, which has four age categories.

The annual Taco Throwdown is set for Friday, Sept. 26, from 3-10 p.m. in Rock Falls.

The festival will be from 3-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at the RB&W District, 201 E. Second St., Rock Falls. The throwdown is a celebration held in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month.

From wine tastings to historic tours, Galena is the perfect destination for a quick weekend getaway.

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

Peanut Butter and Deli on Morrison’s Main Street is a deli-style restaurant that serves up sandwiches, salads, drinks and desserts from one of Morrison’s oldest buildings — and one of it cleverest named businesses.

Looking for an outdoorsy getaway this season? Check out these four destinations in northern Illinois.

The Napa Valley winery is known for high quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

While many Oktoberfest celebrations happen in September, here's a list of German-themed beer festivals happening in October.

Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, will be a day with many farms to stroll around throughout Ogle County, with farmers showing their farms, practices, products and antiques to help educate visitors on food sources and the life of a hard day's work.

Try the Mega Hike at Starved Rock State Park.

To B or not to B – that was a question that Blair McCafrey's fans of his cooking often asked about starting his own restaurant one day, and the Amboy native made it happen with Uncle B's Bar and Grill, serving up its own styles of food and fun.

The Fiesta Day Parade kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20.

National Cheeseburger Day is Thursday, Sept. 18! Enjoy a freshly-made burger at one of these Sauk Valley favorites!

Check out these family-friendly seasonal events happening this fall in Whiteside County.

Voices from the Dixon Mausoleum will rise to observe the structure's 100th anniversary during the annual Oakwood Cemetery Walk. Five volunteers will portray historically significant people buried in the mausoleum during the cemetery walk from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 28, 2025.

Blackhawk Steak Pit in Oregon has become a destination for travelers and locals to enjoy dinner in the relaxed surroundings of a supper club atmosphere.

A Morrison couple loves living a life of Adventures, hauling their home away from home on highways and byways, and sharing their journeys with kindred wandering spirits.

The Next Picture Show will host its fourth annual Wine Tasting Gala at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, in the main gallery at 113 W. First St. in downtown Dixon.

The 13th annual Taste of Fiesta is Saturday afternoon in RB&W Park in Rock Falls. Morrison hosts the monthly 3 French Hens Country Market on Saturday.

National touring artists Orianthi, Buckcherry and Dishwalla will perform at The Dixon Theatre this fall.

The Clinton Symphony Orchestra will open its 72nd concert season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, in the new Durgin Performing Arts Center at Clinton High School in Clinton, Iowa.

West coast winemaker Dave Merfeld of Northstar Winery continues to promote Merlot, the often-maligned wine varietal.

Timber Lake Playhouse closes its 2025 main stage season with "The Bridges of Madison County," onstage from Sept. 12 to 21, 2025.

From fall festivals to Dixon's Christmas Walk, there's plenty of fun to be had in Lee County this season!

The next time you include cheese in your recipe, maybe there's another variety that works well. Visiting a cheese shop can bring one closer to a new taste, and a place in eastern Stephenson County has more than 50 varieties that can work.

The fall months bring several craft beer festivals throughout northern Illinois.

The Grand Detour Arts Festival is Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at the John Deere Historic Site.

Illinois' oldest continuing county fair returns this week with a packed schedule.

The 76th Grand Detour Arts Festival – one of the oldest of its kind in northern Illinois – returns Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, to the John Deere Historic Site with art, music and food.

Check out this list of apple orchards in northern Illinois for perfect family fun this fall!

The Novel Bloom is located in the former River Valley Designs space in Savanna. The book and flower shop serves coffee and pastries, and after 2 p.m., guests can enjoy a glass of wine.

The Dixon Historic Theatre presents Billy Joel tribute act "Billy the Kid" on Saturday, Aug. 30.

Kelly's in Sterling combines traditional Irish pub with authentic Mexican cuisine, making for a unique experience in the Sauk Valley.