Trail of Terror

Tucked among the charming small towns, lush scenery and hassle-free motoring in North & Northwest Illinois is the Trail of Terror, a self-guided tour of the area's finest haunted houses, cemetery walks, pumpkin patches, festivals and other spook-tacular seasonal sensations. The fun begins in September and continues through all of October in Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside & Winnebago counties. For all the details and to dig up more information on all of the cool creepiness check out the website for details.

CITY: Polo

John Deere Green Iron Days

The John Deere Historic Site will be covered in green during the 13th biennial tractor & equipment show. Enjoy the sights & sounds of hundreds of pre-1979 machines. You can also tour the John Deere home, archaeological excavation site of his original blacksmith shop and see a live demonstration of blacksmithing in a replica of his shop.

CITY: Grand Detour

Selmi's Pumpkin World

Pumpkins, haunted house, little spooks house, corn maze, animals, and much more.

CITY: Rock Falls

Dixon Petunia Festival

Come to Dixon, the Petunia Capitol of Illinois, for the 49th annual celebration in the Hometown of President Ronald Reagan. Headline entertainment will be The Spin Doctors and a new family event will be the Brush, Bloom and Boom painting competition for all ages. In addition to a kids carnival every day, there will be fireworks on the 4th, a parade, 14th annual Reagan 5K run, the men’s garden club pancake breakfast, bags tournament, Elks Lodge poker tournament, Dixon Municipal Band concert, community worship service, a fishing derby and an art show.

CITY: Dixon

Oregon Trail Days

Celebration of our American Indian and Western heritage with a variety of live entertainment including cowboys on horses, Annie Oakley, The Whip Guy and authentic American Indian dancing and drumming. Pioneer gathering with log cabin, art show, vendors and food court. Lots of children's activities and tours of the Black Hawk Statue. Live country music entertainment, including a Johnny Cash Tribute.

CITY: Oregon

Franklin Grove Summer Harvest Festival

The 34th Annual Franklin Grove Summer Harvest Festival is a city-wide celebration of the area's heritage with a wide variety of activities and events for all to enjoy. The festival includes a pancake breakfast, village-wide yard sales, tours of the H.I. Lincoln Building, the Franklin Grove Art & Fiber Festival, the Living History Antique Equipment Show and parade plus tours of the Franklin Creek Grist Mill and Nachusa Grasslands. Many of the Summer Harvest Festival activities and events will take place at Chaplin Creek Village which will also host live blue grass and folk music, draft horse and mule jamboree The Chaplin Creek Muzzle Loaders encampment, 19th century prairie village demonstrations and more.

CITY: Franklin Grove

Whiteside County Barn Tour

Now in its 6th year, the 2013 tour of historic barns will take place in the southwestern area of Whiteside County, starting at RK Riewerts Landscaping, 9585 Henry Rd, Morrison. Admission is $20 per vehicle, includes tour book and map. Cookout by the Whiteside County Cattlemen's Association.

CITY: Morrison

Polo Town and Country Days

This family friendly event runs four fun-filled days. Highlights include: fireworks display on Thursday evening, carnival rides all weekend; kids activities, mainstage musical entertainment, chainsaw carving, crafts & collectibles show, kids water fights, food stands, hot air balloon rides, huge parade Sunday at noon and much more!

CITY: Polo

Petunia City Quilters Fall Show

The Petunia City Quilters will be displaying their quilts during "Quiltapalooza" at the Northside Baptist Church in Dixon. This event will also feature vendors, raffle baskets, appraisals, bake sale, raffle quilt, handcrafted items and a Pink Breast Cancer Challenge by members.

CITY: Dixon