Fifth Annual French Heritage Corridor Conference
2025-04-24 10:00 - 19:30, 2025-04-25 08:30 - 20:30, 2025-04-26 10:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | Washington University in St. Louis, MO, 1 Brookings Dr., St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
Wednesday, April 23
Culture and Identity in Upper Louisiana
Defining the “Creole Corridor” Colloquium
Lunch included.
Hosted by French Connexions at Washington University.
Thursday, April 24
Full day conference at Washington University
Site Visits in Ste. Genevieve, MO and
Private Reception at St. Louis Mercantile Library, 10 am – 4:30 pm, with lunch included followed by a cocktail reception concluding by 7:30 pm.
Friday, April 25
Celebrating Lafayette’s Bicentennial
Saturday, April 26
Events in St. Louis including a private, curated visit to the Missouri Historical Society’s Library and Research Center
Sponsorship opportunities and registration opening soon.
For inquiries, please contact Lisa Kahn, Director,
French Heritage Corridor Initiative
fhschicago@frenchheritagesociety.org

Karaoke Night
2025-04-24 19:00 - 23:00, 2025-05-01 19:00 - 23:00 | The Twisted Pin, 15610 Joliet Rd., Plainfield, IL, 60544, United States
Join us for Karaoke with Host Joe Son!
Start your weekend on a high note – Food, Fun, Self Serve Beer Wall, Craft Cocktails & Giveaways!

"We Can Be Heroes" WriteOn Joliet Radio Theatre
2025-04-25 19:00 - 21:30, 2025-04-26 14:30 - 16:30, 2025-04-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theatre, 201 W Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL, 60432, United States
Ten members of WriteOn Joliet will explore various aspects of heroism in original radio-style stories and poems.
The first 15 audience members will receive a FREE WriteOn Joliet Anthology!Lobby doors open one hour before performances.
Concessions and drinks are available for purchase.
WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the shows conclusion.

Recycling Resource Day - Lockport
2025-04-26 09:00 - 12:00 | City of Lockport
Learn about the resources available in Lockport to help you live a more eco-friendly lifestyle!
Local organizations will be on hand to share information about their services, programs, and initiatives designed to support environmentally conscious choices. Plus, bring your plastic bags for collection as we work together to reduce waste and promote sustainability in our community!

Sensory Festival - Ottawa
2025-04-26 10:00 - 16:00 | Ottawa Visitor Center, 1028 LaSalle St., Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
A full day of activities for those with Sensory sensitivities! All ages welcome!
–Sensory tables with slime, sand, play dough, and different texture sensations.
–Art activities for lots of creative opportunities throughout the day
–Foam party!–Music (low volume for audio sensitivities)
–Calm rooms for breaks
–Headphones if needed!
Plus vendors, food trucks & so much more!
See you at the Sensory Festival on April 26!!

Native American Beading & Craft Market
2025-04-26 10:30 - 15:30 | Central Square Gymnasium, 222 E. Ninth St., Lockport, IL, 60441, United States
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Native artistry created by Indigenous artists, authors, and craftsmen, and take home something truly special!
Admission is $3.00

Spring Fling
2025-04-26 11:00 - 13:00 | Joliet Area History Museum, 204 Ottawa St., Joliet, IL, 60432, United States
You’re Invited to a Spring Fling! � Come join us for a fun-filled, family-friendly Spring Fling party! � We’ve got something for everyone, from exciting games and creative crafts to a special butterfly piñata! ��
Bring your family, your smiles, and your energy as we celebrate the season with fun and laughter! We can’t wait to see you there! �
What’s included � Activities include: Music and dancing Craft station for all ages Fun games for the kids A butterfly piñata surprise!
What’s not included This is NOT a drop off program. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Itinerary 11:00 am Music, crafts and games start 12:50 pm Piñata! Don’t miss the scavenger hunt in the museum after the party!

1st Annual Blooming Spring Market
2025-04-26 11:00 - 15:00 | The Eagle Theatre, 319 N. Plum St., Pontiac, IL, 61764, United States
Join us for the 1st Annual Bloomin’ Spring Market at the Eagle Theater on Saturday, April 26th!
From 11AM to 3PM, browse a variety of local vendor booths.
Tickets are $15 per person and include a pasta bar and mocktail.
All proceeds from the event will go towards Last Nite NYE 2025.

Utica's Sweet Stroll 2025
2025-04-26 11:00 - 17:00 | North Utica, 101 E. Canal, North Utica, 61373, United States
Join us for a day of sweets, shopping, and entertainment!
Enjoy tastings from your favorite restaurants, wineries, and stores throughout Utica!
ADMISSION TICKETS: $25 per person for advance online purchase. Your Admission Ticket includes 8 tastings from your choice of local participating businesses and a souvenir bag!
Additional tasting tickets may be purchased for 1.25 each.
There are a limited number of admission tickets for this event. Be sure to grab them now while they last! If we don’t sell out, tickets at the door will be $25.
This event is for all ages; however, only participants 21 years and older may redeem alcoholic tastings. HOW DOES THE SWEET STROLL WORK? Visit the locations listed on your passport and enjoy sweet treats or drink tastings. This is an open-house type format. You can check in at any time that is convenient to you and can visit the locations in any order you would like. Participating locations will be announced ASAP!

Jimmy Buffet Tribute - "South of Disorder"
2025-04-27 10:30 - 14:30 | Jacob Henry Mansion, 20 S. Eastern, Joliet, IL, 60433, United States
Remember the one and only Jimmy Buffet with this tribute by the fun Chicago-based group, South of the Disorder.
Join Panama Jay and his island friends for an afternoon of good music, good friends, and maybe even a good margarita.
Lunch Entree: Key West Chicken – Boneless breast of chicken marinated in teriyaki and topped with a mango pineapple salsa, served with island rice and a steamed vegetable.
Price: $60 per guest.

Design a Decorative Window, No Painting
2025-04-27 15:00 - 16:30 | Canal Cargo Market, 737 1st St., LaSalle, IL, 61301, United States
Learn how to apply Iron Orchid Design transfers to a window.
IOD Transfer Class Window $38.
Take this 1.5-hour class for tips and techniques to apply IOD transfers to a variety of surfaces.
Purchase or bring window of your choice.
Class includes a $10 discount off transfer of your choice.

"The Missing Piece" Sam Burns Jazz Album Release Party
2025-04-27 19:00 - 21:30 | Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theatre, 201 W Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL, 60432, United States
The talented SAM BURNS electric band is releasing their latest jazz album- “The Missing Piece”!
Lobby, cash bar & refreshments open at 6:00 pm.
FREE ADMISSION
Courtesy of the American Federation of Musicians Local 37& the Musicians Performance Trust Fund in honor of Jazz Appreciation Month!

26th Annual Lighted Way Spaghetti Dinner
2025-04-29 15:30 - 19:00 | Uptown Grill, 601 1st St., LaSalle, IL, 61301, United States
26th Annual Lighted Way Spaghetti Dinner Hosted By Uptown Grill.
Dinner Includes: Large portion of spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, bread & cake for $15.
Dine In, Drive Through, Carry-Out.

Anton Carus Special Performance
2025-04-29 19:00 - 21:00 | Hegeler Carus Mansion, 1307 7th St., LaSalle, 61301, United States
Anton Carus Special Performance
Award-winning violinist Anton Carus currently, attending String Academy of the Puchheim Youth Chamber Orchestra in Germany, will give a special performance at the Hegeler Carus Mansion.
The Hegeler Carus Mansion was the home of his great-great-great grandfather Edward Hegeler.
Refreshments will be served after the performance. Tickets are $55 per person.

Kentucky Derby: History & Traditions
2025-04-30 10:30 - 14:00 | Jacob Henry Mansion, 20 S. Eastern, Joliet, IL, 60433, United States
Beginning in 1875, the Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuously running sports event in the nation. Put on your fanciest hat, and join us as historian Leslie Goddard traces the history of the Kentucky Derby and the traditions that make it so beloved.
Lunch Entree: Kentucky Derby’s Famous Hot Brown – Hot open faced turkey sandwich with bacon, tomato & a mornay sauce with sprinkle of parmesan cheese, complimented by potato wedges.
Price: $50 per guest

Plant Bingo
2025-04-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Rejuvenate – Plants & Wellness, 2212 Plainfield Rd., Crest Hill, IL, 60403, United States
Join us for Plant Bingo the last Wednesday of each month!
$30 buy in for 10 games, equaling $3.00 a game. One card per person, per game! 3 FREE games after the initial 10!
Win Rare Plants, Hand-painted pots, Gift Certificates, Home Goods, Workshop Gift Certificates, Cool Stuff & MORE!
Bring your own beverages and snacks to enjoy while you play!
First game starts at 6:00pm each game day! Limited spots available.
Please pre-register to claim your spot! Whether you win or lose, everyone will walk out with a little something, something!
Come enjoy a fun night out! Pre-Registration is required!
All tickets will be checked at the door!
Limited spots are available so please pre-register!

Where Feathers Meet the Flash Photo Contest
2025-05-01 09:00 - 2025-05-31 16:00 | Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 S Walnut Ln., Channahon, IL, 60410, United States
This ongoing Forest Preserve District of Will County program runs from Thursday, May 1, to Saturday, May 31.
Preserve hours are 8 a.m. to sunset. Two sessions will be held, one for adults age 18 or older and one for teens and children ages 17 or younger. Submit your picture of a native wild bird at McKinley Woods for a chance to win a gift certificate to the Cornell Lab Bird Academy(Opens in a new window) and new bird-feeding supplies from Wild Birds Unlimited of Joliet(Opens in a new window).Visit Four Rivers Environmental Education Center to check out recent sightings and get directions to the best spots for taking photographs of birds in their natural habitat. Register your bird photo by scanning the QR code at the photo submission stations along the trails and in the visitor center for the duration of the contest. Complete contest rules are included on the submission form.

Lucille Ball Portrayal
2025-05-01 10:30 - 14:30 | Jacob Henry Mansion, 20 S. Eastern, Joliet, IL, 60433, United States
In the 1950’s, actress and comedienne Lucille Ball captured the hearts of television viewers across the nation, while her production company brought new innovations off screen. You won’t want to miss this portrayal by historian Leslie Goddard.
Lunch Entree: Chicken Apricot – Seasoned breast of chicken dressed with a delicate apricot sauce served on a bed of wild rice and chefs choice vegetable.
Price: $50 per guest.

Rival Sons
2025-05-01 19:30 - 22:00 | Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet, 60432, United States
Rival Sons play rock ‘n’ roll in its purest form without apology or pretense.
They simply plug in, turn up, and rip on a path of their own. Along the way, they’ve architected a critically acclaimed catalog, including Pressure & Time [2011], Head Down [2012], Great Western Valkyrie [2014], Hollow Bones [2016], and FERAL ROOTS [2019]. The latter represented a creative and critical high watermark, scoring a pair of GRAMMY® Award nominations in the categories of Best Rock Album and Best Rock Performance for the single Too Bad. Elevating the band to another level, Do Your Worst vaulted to #1 at Rock Radio as their biggest hit to date, tallying north of 60 million streams and counting. Speaking to their impact, Rolling Stone attested, Rival Sons have done their part to introduce new fans to rock. Beyond sharing stages with everyone from Black Sabbath, The Rolling Stones, and AC/DC to Guns N’ Roses and Lenny Kravitz, they’ve ignited television shows such as The Late Late Show with James Corden. During 2021, they launched their own label Sacred Tongue Recordings distributed by Thirty Tigers, and celebrated the anniversary of their debut album with live-streamed performances from Catalina Island Casino.
Hand-picked by Black Sabbath for their final tour, they’ve held their own on stage with the greats like The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, and Lenny Kravitz in addition to blowing the roof off television staples such as The Late Late Show with James Corden, Jools Holland and Jimmy Kimmel.

Streator Food Truck Festival
2025-05-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Streator City Park, 301 N. Vermillion St., Streator, 61364, United States
This annual event is the largest Food Truck Festival in Starved Rock Country. Grab your expandable waist pants, cut another notch in your belt and bring a friend for a food filled afternoon! Many selections, delectable delights, and scrumptious snacks will be available. Food Trucks will be announced in early May.
The event is free to attend. This event is outdoors with large grassy areas for guest seating. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets. Some on-site seating will be available.
The Streator Walldogs Food Truck Festival will return for its 9th year on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 12pm to 7pm on the 200 block of Hickory Street, south of Streator City Park, Streator, IL.
Proceeds from the food truck event will go towards Streatscapes (Streator Walldogs Committee), a fund for public art and beautification. The funds will go towards the next public art project in Streator.

Falconry at The Forge
2025-05-02 10:00 - 14:00 | The Forge: Lemont Quarries, 1001 Main St, Lemont, IL, 60439, United States
Join us for an immersive falconry experience that you will remember for a lifetime!
As part of this class, you’ll learn about the ancient sport of falconry and the biology and history of the many different types of raptors used in the hunt (including hawks, falcons and owls). Each participant will learn how to handle a raptor while holding one of our Eurasian Eagle Owls before moving on to the flights. You’ll be taught how to properly fly a hawk to and from your gloved hand, one of the Five Skills of the Falconer. We will end the class with a series of free flight demos designed to highlight these amazing birds’ speed and agility.
About the American School of Falconry Established in 2014, the American School of Falconry started out with the mission of educating kids of all ages on the sport of falconry and the importance of raptor conservation. One of the most important parts of our mission is the support that we give to our brethren in the Raptor Rehabilitation community. We do this through food donations, conducting fundraisers and providing vital needed services (e.g. bird handling, training, etc.).
Duration – 3 hours each program 2025 Dates: May 2, May 3, May 4, June 6, June 7, June 8, July 25, July 26, July 27, August 22, August 23, & August 24
Available Sessions: 10:00 am & 2:00 PM

Talk Derby to Me: Girls' Night Out
2025-05-02 16:00 - 22:30 | Downtown Morris, 111 E. Washington St., Morris, IL, 60450, United States
4 – 8 PM “Run for the Roses” Shop and Dine Downtown Morris

Shop at over 15 downtown, independently owned and operated retail establishments and grab a snack or drink at our member businesses. For every $10 you spend with MRRA members, you will receive one ticket to potentially win merchant raffle baskets, which will be drawn at the Winner’s Circle Party.
8:30 PM “Winner’s Circle” After Party @Keg Grove Brewing Company

This is where the after shopping magic begins. With your purchased ticket you receive one craft drink made locally with a value of $6. You can start perusing the merchant raffle baskets, using the merchant tickets you received from shopping and dining during the day as well as the six received with your purchased ticket to try and win your favorite baskets. There will be music, a food court, and photo ops at the party.
9:00 PM “Dress for the Photo Finish” Derby Hat Contest

Wear your fanciest hat and strut your stuff to be a winner. Prizes given out for Best in Class, Win, Show, and Place. The contest will be held at the Winner’s Circle Party held at Keg Grove Brewing Co.
9:30 PM “Raising the Stakes” Merchant Raffle Basket

There will be over 20 merchant baskets available to give away. Take the merchant tickets you have received for spending money at MRRA merchants and food and drink establishments and use them to potentially win your favorite baskets at the Winner’s Circle Party held at Keg Grove Brewing Co. You MUST be present to win.
10:00 PM “The Most Exciting Two Minutest in Sports” Raffle for MRRA Spending Spree

Your purchased ticket includes a raffle ticket to be placed in the shopping spree raffle. There will be three gift certificates given away.
Two for $200 and one for $100 to MRRA member businesses.
You MUST be present to win.

Michigan MOMsemble
2025-05-02 19:00 - 21:00 | Festival 56, 316 S. Main St., Princeton, IL, 61356, United States
MOMsemble performances feature musical parodies in the styles of musical theater, pop, 80s rock, and country, with skits and monologues that tackle stressful, silly, or touching situations parents experience—for moms and everyone who has a mom!

Toast - The Ultimate Bread Experience
2025-05-02 19:00 - 22:00 | Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet, 60432, United States
TOAST is the No. 1 Tribute in the world to the 70’s hit band, BREAD!
With a surprising fidelity rarely heard from a live tribute band, their sound is often described as spot on to the original recordings. Audiences everywhere rave about closely their live performances sound like the cherished records they listened to back in the day.
BREAD VIRTUALLY INVENTED soft rock in the early Seventies, and the group’s biggest hits — ‘Make It With You,’ ‘If,’ ‘Baby I’m-a Want You’ and ‘Everything I Own’ — remain staples on lite-rock radio. – Rolling Stone
TOAST takes the audience on a journey back in time, engaging a spectrum of emotions; from the tender moments that tug on the heartstrings to the upbeat classics that compel them to jump out of their seats and dance. And when combined with the timeless music of Bread, this concert has risen to the top as one of the absolute favorites of audiences everywhere!

Morel Fest
2025-05-03 08:00 - 16:00 | Jordan Block, 123 W. Main St., Ottawa, 61350, United States
Join us at the Jordan Block (100 Main Street) where you can shop and peruse a large Botanical Market and Morel Market featuring everything… you guessed it… MUSHROOMS!
We’ll even host MOREL UNIVERSITY, where you’ll learn to identify morels, so you know exactly what to look for on your guided hunt. (Please note: The educational hunt has limited availability.)
Schedule:
7:30 am – Hunt and Morel Market sign-in
8-8:30 am – Morel University
8:45 am – Busses depart for guided hunt
9am – 3pm – Morel Market – morel mushrooms only
8am – 3pm – Vendor Market
9am – 11:30 am – Guided Hunt
12:30 pm – Awards
