Frosty on First - Winter Festival
2025-11-07 17:00 - 22:00, 2025-11-08 10:00 - 22:30 (America/Chicago) | Downtown LaSalle, 1st Street, LaSalle, IL, 61301, United States
Frosty on First is La Salles ultimate winter festival celebration, held downtown on First Street.
This two-day, family-friendly event features live bands, inflatables, an ice skating rink, delicious food trucks, real reindeer, and spectacular fireworks. Bundle up and bring the whole family for nonstop winter fun, festive cheer, and magical memories!
Festival Highlights: Ice rink and kids activities: Glide into the season on our synthetic ice rink or explore the excitement of our inflatable maze, slide, and snowman perfect for kids and kids at heart!
Delicious Culinary Delights: Indulge your taste buds with a mouthwatering array of food vendors. From savory street food to sweet treats, every bite is a new adventure in flavor.
Live Music Entertainment: Groove to the beats of live performances featuring talented bands and musicians. The stage will be alive with music that will get you dancing and singing along all night long. Cap off your evening with a breathtaking fireworks show that lights up the night sky in a dazzling array of colors. It’s the perfect grand finale to an incredible day of festivities.
Bundle up, bring your family and friends, and experience a weekend full of winter magic, local pride, and unforgettable memories. From live entertainment and cozy treats to family activities and holiday surprises, theres something for everyone.

The Red Roses in Concert
2025-11-07 19:00 - 21:30 | Joliet Area History Museum, 204 Ottawa St., Joliet, IL, 60432, United States
The Red Roses band performs live in the Joliet Area Historical Museum’s Auditorium Theater on Friday, Nov. 7th at 7pm (doors open 6:15pm).The Red Roses are a fantastic Chicago-based 5-piece band that plays rock, alternative & indie hits that you know and love! Awesome guitar, buzzy synths, driving beats and soaring vocals played with passion and authenticity. You’ll hear songs by The Strokes, The White Stripes, The Killers, The Black Keys, The Flaming Lips, Coldplay, Beck and more!Beverage bar (beer, mixers, wine, soda, etc.), snack vendor, access to museum galleries & exhibits. Only $13 for Museum Members or $15 for General Public. General seating for all, with reserved highboy tables available for additional fee.Museum located at 204 N. Ottawa St. in downtown Joliet. Register/Info go to www.jolietmuseum.org or call (815) 723-5201.

Migratory Bird Hike
2025-11-08 08:00 - 10:00 | Lake Renwick Preserve, 23113 W. Lockport Street, Plainfield, IL, 60455, United States
Many birds use Lake Renwick to rest and refuel during migration.
Join us for a guided hike in search of amazing waterfowl, soaring eagles and beautiful songbirds.
Registration required by Thursday, Nov. 6: 815-722-9470.
Bring binoculars and dress for the weather.
A limited supply of binoculars will be available for loan.
The group will meet at the visitor center at the Renwick Road entrance.
No dogs or bicycles please.
Participants will hike up to 1.5 miles on natural surfaces across uneven terrain.
Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service to participate in this program should submit a request online no later than 48 hours before the program. Ages 7 or older.

Stories from the Shelf
2025-11-08 10:30 - 12:00 | Isle a la Cache Museum, 501 E Romeo Road, Romeoville, IL, 60446, United States
Do you have an interesting item sitting on your shelf? A fossil? A rock? A rare postcard?
Objects are powerful they’re scientific evidence, they’re story tellers and sometimes they are just curious. Join a naturalist to discover how interesting items, weird collections and curiosity cabinets morphed into the museums we have today. After the presentation, we will learn from each other! Guests are invited to bring their own item to share the objects story or facts and answer questions from the rest of the group. You do not need to bring an object to attend the program.
Registration required by Thursday, Nov. 6: 815-722-9301 Ages 18 and older.

Pumpkin Smash - Ages 18 & Older
2025-11-08 12:00 - 16:00 | Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 419 Trout Farm Road, Bolingbrook, IL, 60440, United States
Come smash and bash pumpkins in the name of saving the Earth!
Choose how your jack-o-lantern will meet its demise pounded to a pulp, launched over a railing and more. It’s going to be a smashing good time! Work up an appetite smashing your pumpkin then enjoy roasting hotdogs and smores over an open fire. Stay a while and enjoy the rest of the festivities as well. Pumpkin Smash is a regional event spearheaded by SCARCE to promote composting and wise use of resources. By composting your pumpkin, you are keeping waste out of landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating a natural fertilizer for soils.

Stories from the Shelf for Kids
2025-11-08 13:00 - 14:00 | Isle a la Cache Museum, 501 E Romeo Road, Romeoville, IL, 60446, United States
Do you have an interesting item sitting on your shelf?
Objects are powerful they’re scientific evidence, they’re story tellers and sometimes they are just curious. Join a naturalist to discover how interesting items and weird collections morphed into the museums we have today. Guests are invited to bring their own item. A pretty rock, a fossil, a seashell, a skull found in the backyard you name it! After the presentation, we will learn from each other! Guests will have time to share their objects story or facts and answer questions from the rest of the group. You do not need to bring an object to attend the program.
Registration required by Thursday, Nov. 6: 815-722-9301.
Ages 6 and older. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Natural Ink Making Workshop
2025-11-08 13:00 - 15:00 | Open Space Art Gallery & Studios, 223 W. Madison St., Ottawa, 61350, United States
Learn the process of making inks and watercolors from plants as well as othermaterials. Take home at least one bottle of ink, recipes and reading suggestions. All ages welcome. BYOB for 21+. Admission $45. All sales final

Shop, Sip & Sparkle Weekend!
2025-11-08 16:00 - 21:00 | Downtown Ottawa, 223 W. Madison, Ottawa, 61350, United States
Kick off the holiday season in the Middle of Everywhere with a magical weekend full of festive fun!
Happenings All Weekend Long
Downtown Ottawa Christmas Open Houses
Ornament Hunt & Lamp Light Carolers (Friday)
King Carriage Rides (Friday 4-9 PM)
Freshly Baked Cobbler by the Ottawa Boy Scouts (Friday)
Wine & Art Walk at Heritage Harbor (Saturday, Nov. 8, 2–6 PM)
Exploreum’s Sparkle Spectacular Christmas Tree Auction
Shop Local & Win!Bring 5 receipts from any downtown Ottawa businesses you shop at during Shop, Sip & Sparkle Weekend to the Ottawa Visitors Center. Each set of 5 receipts enters you for a chance to win a $250 Downtown Discover Gift Card! Drawing will be held Tuesday, November 26 at noon.
Wine & Art WalkSip, stroll, and shop as you enjoy wine tastings and beautiful works from local artists at Heritage Harbor. Tickets are on sale now—don’t wait!
It’s the perfect way to jumpstart your holiday spirit, find unique gifts, and make magical memories with family and friends.

UpBynOOn
2025-11-08 19:00 - 21:30 | Festival 56, 316 S. Main St., Princeton, IL, 61356, United States
UpByn00n started first as a lifestyle with a mission as simple as its name, to make it out of bed at a time functional adults do (before noon). As we grew, the music has grown with us tackling issues like feeling trapped in your own life and the inability to escape the digital world around us. That being said we hope the common line across the board here is we put out bangers. Admission $15.

Living History Encounter: 18th Century Weaponry
2025-11-09 12:00 - 15:00 | Isle a la Cache Museum, 501 E Romeo Road, Romeoville, IL, 60446, United States
Hear history go BOOM as you learn about weaponry of the 18th century.
During this Living History Encounter, you will see live demonstrations of various weapons from Alexander Hamilton’s New York Provincial Company of Artillery as well as meet voyageurs and settlers who journeyed to this land and made it home.
This is a drop-in program; come anytime between noon and 3 p.m.

The State of Water: Our Most Valuable Resource
2025-11-12 10:00 - 2026-01-07 16:00 | Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 S Walnut Ln., Channahon, IL, 60410, United States
This ongoing program runs from Wednesday, Nov. 12, to Wednesday, Jan. 7. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays.
Only 0.007% of the planets water is available to fuel and feed its 8 billion people. Brad Temkin’s photography puts visitors face to face with the systems and techniques that deliver our most valuable natural resource. In doing so, the exhibition encourages us to see water conservation as a process we can all get involved in. Water stands as the most important chemical compound used by humans daily, and polling shows many Americans care deeply about water quality. But despite highly visible water crises like the high lead levels in Flint, Mich., and scarcity within the Navajo Nation the quality and safety of drinking water often are taken for granted. It comes out of a faucet or a fountain, initiated by an easy turn of the knob or push of a button. In truth, that water has taken a much longer and complicated journey to reach us, having traveled through a vast network of systems that most of us will never see. In The State of Water: Our Most Valuable Resource, Guggenheim award-winning photographer Brad Temkin continues his longstanding attention to our relationship with nature how we appreciate and accommodate it and how it accommodates us. Temkin’s pictures celebrate ideas in water and wastewater engineering design, showing the inventiveness in architecture and infrastructure necessary to meet our needs and to accommodate nature.
The State of Water exhibition is brought to you through the generous support of The Nature Foundation of Will County(Opens in a new window).

Karaoke Night
2025-11-13 08:00 - 17:00 | The Twisted Pin, 15610 Joliet Rd., Plainfield, IL, 60544, United States
Get ready to unleash your inner superstar!
Start your weekend on a high note with delicious food, a self-serve beer wall, craft cocktails, and awesome giveaways!
Don’t miss out on the fun – bring your friends and let’s make some unforgettable memories!

Beginner Stained Glass Workshop
2025-11-14 17:30 - 20:30 | Open Space Art Gallery & Studios, 223 W. Madison St., Ottawa, 61350, United States
Create your own beautiful stained glass art. Learn how to cut & break glass as you create your own project using the copper foil method. The session will deal with type & quality of glass, appropriate tools, cutting techniques and assembling. Each person will leave the class with a completed stained glass piece, you will choose between a selection of 3-4 pieced templates. Holiday templates will be available!Preregistration required.10 seats available.Age 10 and up. $95 per person. *All sales final.

Craft Beer & Beverage Tasting at the Museum
2025-11-14 17:30 - 21:00 | Joliet Area History Museum, 204 Ottawa St., Joliet, IL, 60432, United States
Join us at the Museum’s Indoor Auditorium on Friday, November 14th from 5:30-9pm and sample over 35 hand crafted beers, ciders, seltzers & more!There will be local and regional craft brewers on hand to share their products and knowledge. Attending brewers and brews will be posted soon on facebook!Admission just $28 for general public or $25 for museum members, and includes hot appetizers, unlimited beer/beverage sampling, prizes, raffles, and access to the Museum exhibits & galleries. Phil Angotti will be on hand to play music by The Beatles, Stones, John Lennon, Tom Petty & more!Registration/Info at www.jolietmuseum.org or call 815-723-5201. Museum located at 204 N. Ottawa St. in downtown Joliet. Free parking available across from Museum, and all street parking free after 5pm. Event sponsored by D’Arcy Motors, Kozol Bros., Inc., & Heineken USA.

Let's Talk Turkey!
2025-11-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 419 Trout Farm Road, Bolingbrook, IL, 60440, United States
It’s the holiday season! Chances are good that you’ll feast on turkey sometime soon.
This program will provide you with turkey talking points so you can get through those celebratory meals without having to resort to talking about the weather. You’ll learn natural history, fun facts and what makes a wild turkey different from a farm-raised turkey.
The program will start indoors and end outdoors with an activity and a short hike in search of the perfect wild turkey habitat.
Registration required by Friday, Nov. 14: 815-722-4121. Ages 8 and older.

Wrap Pants Workshop
2025-11-15 10:00 - 13:00 | Open Space Art Gallery & Studios, 223 W. Madison St., Ottawa, 61350, United States
Wrapped Pants Workshop with Jacqueline JoAnn. All Materials ProvidedCome join us for a fun and creative sewing class where you’ll make your very own reversible wrapped pants! These stylish and comfortable pants are perfect for lounging, layering, or showing off your unique flairand the best part? They’re reversible, so it’s like getting two pants in one!Taught by the talented Jacqueline JoAnn, this 3-hour class is perfect for confident beginners or seasoned makers looking for a fresh project. You’ll have access to a variety of fabrics to suit your personal style, and all materials are included. These adjustable pants can be made to fit sizes xs-xl.By the end of the session, youll walk away with a finished pair of wrapped pants youll be proud to wear. Come sew, laugh, and create something fun together!*If you have a fabric machine please bring yours with you. Price per person $55.

Yoga & a Hike
2025-11-16 09:00 - 10:30 | Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 S Walnut Ln., Channahon, IL, 60410, United States
Start the day off right with yoga and a hike!
This program includes a 35- to 45-minute all-levels yoga session and a 35- to 45-minute hike along our scenic trails.
Ages 14 or older. Participants younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration required by Saturday, Nov. 15: 815-722-9470.

Deer Tail & Trails
2025-11-16 15:30 - 17:00 | Hammel Woods, Black Rd. east of Rte 59, Shorewood, IL, 60404, United States
How much do you know about Illinois’ state mammal, the white-tailed deer?
Join a naturalist to examine different parts of deer and their current and historical uses. We will then hit the trails to look for sights and signs of deer.
Registration required by Friday, Nov. 14: 815-722-4121.
All ages. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

Introduction to Digital Art
2025-11-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Open Space Art Gallery & Studios, 223 W. Madison St., Ottawa, 61350, United States
*Please note- you will need to bring your own iPad with the Procreate app downloaded for this class. Having an Apple Pencil will make the activities easier but is not 100% necessary. Please make sure all devices are charged before class.*Have you downloaded the Procreate app excited to try your hand at digital art, but got overwhelmed seeing all the tools and options available? Unlock the potential of your creativity with this class! We will introduce you to the Procreate interface, gesture controls, and some other helpful tools to get you comfortable with creating your own digital art pieces. Price per person $35. Class limit of 6.

Breakfast with the Birds
2025-11-20 08:00 - 09:30 | Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 S Walnut Ln., Channahon, IL, 60410, United States
Start your morning with an unparalleled view of the Four Rivers bird feeders!
View the resident birds and new winter arrivals indoors from the exhibit room and the Grand Hall. Enjoy provided warm beverages and muffins. Need more than a muffin? Bring your breakfast. A naturalist will give a brief talk about the visitors at the feeders and will be on hand to discuss all the birds that come and go throughout the morning.
Registration required by Tuesday, Nov. 18: 815-722-9470.
Ages 12 or older.

Craft + Chill
2025-11-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Open Space Art Gallery & Studios, 223 W. Madison St., Ottawa, 61350, United States
Settle in for a relaxing evening of creativity at Craft + Chill: Painting & Drawing, a laid-back night designed for anyone who loves to make art in good company.Well have a variety of materials ready for you canvases, tote bags, wood pieces, and more to paint on plus drawing supplies and still life objects to inspire you. Whether youre splashing color on a canvas, sketching something from your imagination, or experimenting with new materials, this is your space to create freely.Theres no lesson or pressure just a chill night to paint, draw, and unwind alongside other creative souls in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. Price per person $35. All supplies provided. BYOB for guests 21 and over.

Brad Williams "The Growth Spurt Tour"
2025-11-20 19:30 - 22:00 | Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet, 60432, United States
Pound for pound, Brad Williams is the funniest comedian in the country right now, and has become one of the most in-demand comedians working today. Williams started doing stand-up comedy as a teenager and has been touring successfully ever since, routinely selling out prestigious venues all over the country and world.

Wild Child
2025-11-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 419 Trout Farm Road, Bolingbrook, IL, 60440, United States
Answer the call of your wild child by getting outside with this monthly nature-themed program geared toward children ages 3 to 5.
Join a naturalist for hands-on activities such as games, stories, crafts, hikes and more!
The last Friday of each month we will have something new for you and your child to explore while getting a little dirt on those hands and knees.
Registration required by Thursday, Nov. 20: 815-722-4121.
Ages 3-5. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

Christmas Walk Weekend Presented by the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce
2025-11-21 10:00 - 19:00 | Downtown Princeton, 2 Main St., Princeton, IL, 61356, United States
Let Princeton be your destination of choice to help find those perfect Christmas gifts this holiday season!

Our fabulous retailers will be open late until 7:00 pm or later on Friday evening, 4:00 pm or later on Saturday, and open Sunday 11:00 am – 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Please check store’s Facebook pages for their specific hours of operation during the holiday season as many will have extended hours and days leading up to Christmas!

Gallery Reception for the Ottawa Art League
2025-11-21 17:00 - 19:00 | Open Space Art Gallery & Studios, 223 W. Madison St., Ottawa, 61350, United States
Meet the artists! This is a free event open to everyone, come see the work from artists of the Ottawa Art League. Free to attend. Refreshments and appetizers provided.

Moon Celebration
2025-11-21 18:00 - 20:00 | The Rock & Soul, 229 S. Clark St., North Utica, IL, 61373, United States
On November 5th, the sky gifted us with a shimmering spectacle. The full “Beaver Moon” rises, shining a little brighter and closer than usual. This November full moon is also a supermoon, appearing larger and brighter than typical!

There’s something deeply magical about this lunar energy right now, which is why we want to invite you to join us for a special experience November 21st, at The Rock and Soul – Utica, IL!
Join us for our upcoming Moon Ceremony at The Rock and Soul. As the year begins to wind down, this gathering invites us to let go of what no longer serves and open our hearts to clarity, peace, and alignment.

RSVP to (815) 228-1983 for the November 21st Moon Ceremony at 6:00 PM or purchase your tickets at Eventbrite.

It Must Be Christmas - An Acoustic Event with Chris Young
2025-11-21 19:30 - 22:00 | Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet, 60432, United States
A professed fan of all things Christmas, Chris Young is excited to announce his first-ever holiday tour – “It Must Be Christmas – An Acoustic Evening with Chris Young.”
Praised as “one of the genre’s most beloved performers”, Young will be sharing the spirit of the season with his live take on holiday classics featured on his It Must Be Christmas album.
“Christmas is probably my favorite holiday,” shares Young. “Music was always heavily tied to the spirit of the season for me, so I can’t wait to celebrate that feeling with everyone out on the road this year!”
With special guest Marynn Taylor!

Christmas Walk Weekend Presented by the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce
2025-11-22 09:30 - 16:00 | Downtown Princeton, 2 Main St., Princeton, IL, 61356, United States
Shopping, Heartland Bank sponsored Carriage Rides, Hot Cocoa & Cookies provided by New Hope Church,

Extended Shopping Hours and Special Events:

Christkindlmarkt
November 22nd | Open Prairie Church | 9:30AM-2PM

Handmade for the Holidays
November 22nd 10AM-4PM & 23rd 12PM-4PM
Artisan Market at Prairie Arts Center Gallery

Visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus & Greenery Sales
November 22nd & 23rd | Prouty Building | 11AM-2PM

Bureau County History Center Holiday Open House
November 22nd | Clark-Norris Museum | 12PM-5PM

Princeton Commemorative Christmas Mug Sale
presented by Midland States Bank
November 22nd & 23rd | Prouty Building | 11AM-2PM

Trolley Hours 11 am – 4 pm

Celebrate Water Weekend
2025-11-22 11:00 - 15:00 | Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 S Walnut Ln., Channahon, IL, 60410, United States
This program will be offered Saturday, Nov. 22, and Sunday, Nov. 23.
Program hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The State of Water: Our Most Valuable Resource is here at Four Rivers!
Come check out this fantastic exhibit and then with a renewed appreciation for water head to our Grand Hall to discover even more!
There will be multiple stations using science or art to explore some of waters magical properties.
All ages.
