Events

The Annual Central States Threshermen's Reunion ​is held over Labor Day weekend and is the second oldest steam show in the USA (beginning in 1949.) This show features a variety of entertainment including a parade held in Downtown Pontiac, a flea market, craft shows, tractor rides, a

Join us for the Lemont Downtown Farmers Market at the Village Green, presented by Aster Gardens! These markets will continue on Tuesday evenings through the September 30th from 4-7pm. Vendors feature vegetables and fruit, flowers, mushrooms, local honey, micro greens, crepes and more! Stay tuned as we

Calling all families with preschoolers! Join us for a hands-on program designed for your little one. This program is geared toward children ages 2 to 5 and is complete with tons of facts, singing, story time, table activities and crafts. Registration required by Tuesday, Sept. 2: 815-722-9301.

Join Lemont Classic Car Club on our farm for an unforgettable evening at our last Car Cruise Night, where the classic cars meet the magic of music! Enjoy live performances from a talented band playing all your favorite oldies and classic hits, creating the perfect backdrop for

Experience Hammel Woods in a new and exciting way. Join a naturalist in a hands-on exploration of the creek. While visiting the habitats in and around the water, were sure to spot some interesting creatures. Using a hand lens and nets, investigate both the small and large

Snakes are one of the most beautiful, yet misunderstood and important animals in nature. Join a naturalist to learn snake basics, dispel some misconceptions, discover snake species that call Will County home and find out why snakes are our friends. Participants will have the opportunity to meet

Start your Saturday with an exciting market experience! Enjoy fresh produce, local honey, handmade crafts, and delectable local treats. Indulge in farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. Explore unique, handcrafted treasures from talented local artisans. Relish mouthwatering baked goods and tasty treats from food stalls. Bring your family, friends, and even your

Have you seen those BookTok read-a-thon challenges but thought who has the time?! Well, calling all busy grownup bookworms your next chapter begins here! We know life can easily get in the way of your reading goals, so mark this four-hour program on your calendar to give

Enjoy a walk through historic downtown Morris, IL. Learn about the historic buildings and the back-alley stories that go along with them - the first public hanging, murders, gambling, political bosses, and even brothels! The walk will take approximately 90 minutes and will cover approximately 1.5 miles.

Do you think you have what it takes to be a voyageur? Can you properly pack a canoe? Trade goods? Navigate the wilderness? During this Living History Encounter, you will meet voyageurs and settlers who journeyed to this land and made it home. Learn about their journeys

Join us for the Lemont Downtown Farmers Market at the Village Green, presented by Aster Gardens! These markets will continue on Tuesday evenings through the September 30th from 4-7pm. Vendors feature vegetables and fruit, flowers, mushrooms, local honey, micro greens, crepes and more! Stay tuned as we

Picture it: 1848 Illinois. Prairie covers the state. Overland transportation is slow and treacherous. And only a few small communities exist, including a small port town on Lake Michigan called Chicago. Then the I&M Canal opens, and everything changes. Relive the fateful turning point in our history

Picture it: 1848 Illinois. Prairie covers the state. Overland transportation is slow and treacherous. And only a few small communities exist, including a small port town on Lake Michigan called Chicago. Then the I&M Canal opens, and everything changes. Relive the fateful turning point in our history

Picture it: 1848 Illinois. Prairie covers the state. Overland transportation is slow and treacherous. And only a few small communities exist, including a small port town on Lake Michigan called Chicago. Then the I&M Canal opens, and everything changes. Relive the fateful turning point in our history

 Join us in welcoming fall with a fun participatory drum circle. James Evans, a representative from Three Rivers Drum Circle, will guide you on your journey as you learn about the instruments and basic techniques for playing them as well as how to create authentic rhythms. No

Picture it: 1848 Illinois. Prairie covers the state. Overland transportation is slow and treacherous. And only a few small communities exist, including a small port town on Lake Michigan called Chicago. Then the I&M Canal opens, and everything changes. Relive the fateful turning point in our history

Picture it: 1848 Illinois. Prairie covers the state. Overland transportation is slow and treacherous. And only a few small communities exist, including a small port town on Lake Michigan called Chicago. Then the I&M Canal opens, and everything changes. Relive the fateful turning point in our history

Tatters, the beloved dog of the Hegeler family, wants you to come to the mansion! For this Tatters’ Tales, come learn how books are made and explore where they used to be printed inside the Mansion. Then use your creativity and stamp your very own book cover!

Start your Saturday with an exciting market experience! Enjoy fresh produce, local honey, handmade crafts, and delectable local treats. Indulge in farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. Explore unique, handcrafted treasures from talented local artisans. Relish mouthwatering baked goods and tasty treats from food stalls. Bring your family, friends, and even your

Mini Artsian Print & Iron Orchid Designs Embellished Frame CLASS  - Choose a Mini Artsian Print and embellish a frame for it! Paint it or leave it bare wood. Choose among a range of our paints types and colors and use our extensive library of IOD moulds

Here we go with the first announcement! Up for entertainment on the stage, Pluto Fest will kick things off with Rays Rockets from 11am - 3pm. Known for their wide rage of songs from the 50's to the 80's including classic rock, pop, rhythm and blues, and

Ages 14 or older. Participants younger than 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult. Start the day off right with some self-care, beautiful nature and quiet reflection. This program includes a 35- to 45-minute all-levels yoga session and a 35- to 45-minute hike along our scenic

Picture it: 1848 Illinois. Prairie covers the state. Overland transportation is slow and treacherous. And only a few small communities exist, including a small port town on Lake Michigan called Chicago. Then the I&M Canal opens, and everything changes. Relive the fateful turning point in our history

Ages 14 or older. Participants younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Enjoy a lovely morning by taking time for yourself and discovering the wonders of the natural world. This program includes a 30- to 35-minute all-levels seated yoga session and 25- to 30-minute natural

Join us for the Lemont Downtown Farmers Market at the Village Green, presented by Aster Gardens! These markets will continue on Tuesday evenings through the September 30th from 4-7pm. Vendors feature vegetables and fruit, flowers, mushrooms, local honey, micro greens, crepes and more! Stay tuned as we

Ages 7-12. Students must be accompanied by a chaperone. Students will learn the importance of oral stories as a means to promote cultural values and traditions as they explore the stories of the French and the American Indians of the Great Lakes region. During this exploration, students

Step back in time to Illinois during the 1750s. Students practice the barter system used by the French and American Indians to exchange goods. By participating in a trade, students learn and see the benefits of this economic process. This is an opportunity for homeschooled or remote-learning

Every Third Thursday the Hegeler Carus Mansion presents Third Thursday Concert Series May and September. Enjoy live music, food trucks, 50/50 raffles, mansion fun facts, and more. Guests bring their own chairs or blankets and enjoy music under the tree canopy on the Mansions West Lawn. Bring

Join us for the Lemont Downtown Farmers Market at the Village Green, presented by Aster Gardens! These markets will continue on Tuesday evenings through the September 30th from 4-7pm. Vendors feature vegetables and fruit, flowers, mushrooms, local honey, micro greens, crepes and more! Stay tuned as we

Cynthia Clampitt, a member of the Illinois Humanities Road Scholar presenters, will present the history of corn and how it transformed the Americas before First Contact, how it traveled the world after First Contact, and its stunning impact on the creation of not only the historic Midwest

Celebrating our 76th year in 2025, Corn Festival is the cornerstone event in Grundy County. A county wide celebration - Corn Festival makes its home in the county seat of Morris with an emphasis on events downtown. The festival is a homecoming of sorts and takes place

Join us on Knots Landing, Heritage Harbors floating pavilion, for a night of stand-up comedy that's as crisp as the fall air. Enjoy a lineup of top-tier comedians with coast-to-coast credits and punchlines that push the edge without crossing into grandma would be horrified territory. Tickets are

Celebrating our 76th year in 2025, Corn Festival is the cornerstone event in Grundy County. A county wide celebration - Corn Festival makes its home in the county seat of Morris with an emphasis on events downtown. The festival is a homecoming of sorts and takes place

Enjoy your evening at the 2025 Rooftop Summer Music Series! Doors Open: 6:15pm. You can now reserve highboy or bistro tables for Rooftop Concerts on a first come-first served basis. General concert-style seating available for all guests. Live Music, Full Beverage Bar, Snack Vendor & More! In

Join us for the Lemont Downtown Farmers Market at the Village Green, presented by Aster Gardens! These markets will continue on Tuesday evenings through the September 30th from 4-7pm. Vendors feature vegetables and fruit, flowers, mushrooms, local honey, micro greens, crepes and more! Stay tuned as we

Classic Seger is bringing the legendary sounds of Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band to The Rialto Square Theatre as part of the band’s Travelin’ Man 2025 World Tour. Thrilling audiences across the globe, Classic Seger brings the energy, excitement, and raw power of a vintage

Experience the woods like never before! Come dressed in costume and hike along a glowing trail to learn what goes bump in the woods at night. Visit spooky stations, but beware! Will tricks or treats await? Enjoy a crackling fire while roasting marshmallows for smores. This program

Experience the woods like never before! Come dressed in costume and hike along a glowing trail to learn what goes bump in the woods at night. Visit spooky stations, but beware! Will tricks or treats await? Enjoy a crackling fire while roasting marshmallows for smores. This program

A Celebration of Their Greatest Songs and a Reunion with Old Friends Fans of the internationally renowned Irish music phenomenon, Celtic Thunder, are in for a special treat as the group announces their brand-new show, An Intimate Evening with Celtic Thunder. This unique production will bring audiences

Start your Saturday with an exciting market experience! Enjoy fresh produce, local honey, handmade crafts, and delectable local treats. Indulge in farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. Explore unique, handcrafted treasures from talented local artisans. Relish mouthwatering baked goods and tasty treats from food stalls. Bring your family, friends, and even your

The Joliet City Center Partnership (CCP) is excited to host the 4th annual Stone & Steel Spooky 5K Saturday, October 4th, 2025 at 8 a.m. This chip-timed race starts in Downtown Joliet and runs through the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site. Walkers and runners are welcome to

Join our recreation coordinator on the trail for some fun, leisurely bike rides this fall! Meet at Hammel Woods — Crumby Recreation Area in Shorewood for a 9.5-mile ride at a comfortable group pace. Register and complete all four Rec Bike Club rides in this series and

General W. H.L Wallace was killed while leading his Division during the Civil War battle of Shiloh in 1862. He and his family are buried in this private, land-locked cemetery on the north bluff in Ottawa. Registration for tours will begin at 8:30am at the Ottawa Historical

Learn about the world’s first nuclear reactor. Presentation at Sagawau, followed by a moderate hike at Red Gate. Ages 18 & up.  

Enjoy a lovely morning by taking time for yourself and discovering the wonders of the natural world. This program includes a 30- to 35-minute all-levels seated yoga session and a 25- to 30-minute natural world exploration. Depending on the weather, yoga may take place outside under a