American Toby Jug Museum

Showcasing the largest collection of Toby and Character Jugs in the world including many rare and unique jugs within the complete Royal Doulton collection. On display are over 6,000 pieces illustrating their evolution from inception circa 1765 to the present day. Admission is free.

CITY: Evanston

Jefferson County Historical Village

Experience the past as you walk through a pioneer village of authentic log cabins featuring a calaboose (circa 1820), the Mount Olive Church (circa 1873), a one room school house and more.

CITY: Mount Vernon

Stang Arts Studio & Gallery

Stang Arts Studio & Gallery features art classes for both children and adults, along with holding various events throughout the year. The artist, Jamie Stang, also specializes in "paint parties." These parties are great for a group, as they feature great food, drinks, music and art. Jamie helps visitors discover their inner-artist while relaxing in a chic studio-style atmosphere. Check out her gallery while you're there too.

CITY: Effingham

100th Birthday Celebration Orion Band Shell

It’s time for a Band Shell Bash as Orion’s historic band shell celebrates its one-hundredth anniversary. An all-day event will feature crafts, music, activities for children, food, free birthday cake, a re-dedication of the band shell, a special auction of vintage items, and customized fireworks in Central Park.

CITY: Orion

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center offers a total 840,000 square feet of flexible exhibition space. Configure it any way you like. You may need a 500-booth to 800-booth area, or 100 to 200 booths. If you’re planning a larger show, you’ll appreciate our continuous 250,000 square-foot space for 1,225 booths. Or you can create a multiple hall layout for up to 3,566 booths. Customized floor plans are our specialty, so just ask.

CITY: Rosemont

The Varsity Center for the Arts

What started as a single-screen movie house in 1940 has become a power house for live music and community theater. This gorgeous theater is one of the greatest components to Carbondale's thriving art & culture scene, as it serves as home to the Jackson County Stage Company, which presents several plays during the year, and hosts the weekly Friday Night Film series. The Varsity serves as a venue for live entertainment during the Carbondale Rocks Revival, an annual city-wide music festival in addition to accommodating local and regional musicians during the year to bring the city exceptional entertainment.

CITY: Carbondale

Sacagawea Statue

A beautiful sculpture of Sacagawea graces the campus of Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois. The piece was crafted by Glenna Goodacre who also designed the image on the Sacajewea $1 coin.

CITY: Godfrey

Grayslake Heritage Center

A state of the art history museum dedicated to collecting and sharing the history of the greater Grayslake area. The Grayslake Heritage Center offers programs, exhibitions and special events all year round and includes two galleries, a community room and classroom.

CITY: Grayslake

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

The urban gateway to nature and science. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is a place where city dwellers can reconnect with the wonder of the natural world. From a hands-on water lab to a wilderness walk to the only international, year-round butterfly haven, science comes alive.

CITY: Chicago

Center on Halsted

Center on Halsted is the Midwest's most comprehensive community center dedicated to building and strengthening the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community. Center on Halsted's Community and Cultural team creates and hosts a wide array of fun, interactive and engaging programs enjoyed by members of the entire community. Events range from volleyball games in our gymnasium to dance recitals in our theatre. We host regular receptions showcasing local LGBTQ artists and special events for LGBTQ families and friends.

CITY: Chicago

Viper Alley

Viper Alley is a new boutique concert venue and nightclub, with an exciting line-up of live musical acts in an industrial-chic setting. The venue offers year-round entertainment, combining high-tech bowling, food and nightlife with flexible private event space. An acoustically superior, intimate live music experience all year long. Our calendar of artists and performers cut across many different genres and generations in order to provide an eclectic mix of quality live music to Chicagoland's most discerning music fans.

CITY: Lincolnshire

Marytown National Religious Shrine of St. Maximillion Kolbe

One of the nation's most beautiful religious sites features beautiful stained glass windows and seven-foot mosaics decorating the chapel, as well as seven types of marble.

CITY: Libertyville

Shiloh House

The residence of the founder of the City of Zion, Dr. John Alexander Dowie, is a stately 23-room mansion that was built in 1901-02 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

CITY: Zion

Carbondale Train Museum

Built in 1903 by the Illinois Central Railroad, the Old Railroad Passenger Depot has since been restored and now serves as home to the Carbondale Train Museum. Filled with information, artifacts and souveniers, the museum contains significant facts relating to Carbondale's history. Ring the bell of an original train car from the Illinois Central Railroad, which still sits on the track!

CITY: Carbondale

Windsong Acres

Step back in history as you tour one of Illinois' most beautiful and unique show barns, the 1912 Show Barn, or visit the artistic home studio of commercial artist Shelly Rasche. Take a pottery class, kick up your heels at a genuine barn dance, or take in a breathtaking prairie sunset.

CITY: Camp Point

Trickster Gallery

Native American Art Gallery. Movies and music performed to enrich the public on Native American culture.

CITY: Schaumburg

MetroCentre

Hosts a variety of world-class entertainment: concerts from the biggest stars in music and comedy, circuses, rodeos, motor sports, family shows. Home to three different sports teams: ice hockey, indoor football and indoor soccer.

CITY: Rockford

Eta Creative Arts Foundation

This South Side cultural arts center features year round main stage productions and an art gallery.

CITY: Chicago

The Unborn - Bohemian National Cemetery

In this supernatural flick, a young woman is haunted by the spirit of her unborn brother who tries to take over her body. Desperate to survive, the woman undergoes an exorcism to prevent her evil sibling from being born.

CITY: Chicago

The Unborn - Sound Bar

In this supernatural flick, a young woman is haunted by the spirit of her unborn brother who tries to take over her body. Desperate to survive, the woman undergoes an exorcism to prevent her evil sibling from being born.

CITY: Chicago

Stage Coach Theatre

Stage Coach Theatre is one of the oldest, continuously operating community theatres in Northern Illinois. They have produced over 250 dramas, comedies, and "whodunit" productions, and produce six new shows every year.

CITY: DeKalb

Porchlight Music Theatre

By uniting the arts of music, drama, dance, and design we transform stories into thrilling, passionate and relevant events, which affect the lives of artists and audiences alike.

CITY: Chicago

The Music Theatre Company

The Music Theatre Company explores the musical in the interest of expanding the canon of musical theatre through fully-staged productions, commissions of new works and musical experiments.

CITY: Highland

Collaboraction

Collaboraction creates original works of theatre that emphasize high production values, push boundaries, and highlight issues that are socially relevant to a diverse community of Chicagoans.

CITY: Chicago

Evanston Arts Depot

This cultural center is a restored train station in the heart of Evanston. Home of the Piccolo Theatre and Custer’s Last Stand Festival which takes place each June.

CITY: Evanston

Block Museum of Art

Northwestern University's Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art is one of the largest fine art museums in the Chicagoland area.

CITY: Evanston

Calico Basket

Country gift shop, collectibles, pictures, Pipka Lizzi High dolls, Santa's Pat Richter pictures, year-round holiday room, and Yankee candles.

CITY: Paris

Tarble Arts Center at Eastern Illinois University

Offering a year-round schedule of art exhibits and activities for all ages. Gift shop and sales rental gallery. Focus on Paul Sargent and Midwest art.

CITY: Charleston

Drama Group Studio

All ages will enjoy this celebration of dr. Seuss stories with terrific music and a fine message: be loyal to your friends, don't give up, keep your promises, and let your imagination soar.

CITY: Chicago Heights

Private Home Tours of Quincy

Groups of 20 or more can now enjoy "Private Home Tours" of some of Quincy's finest mansions. Contact the Quincy Area Convention & Visitors Bureau to arrange a private tour at 217-214-3700 or 1-800-978-4748. Over 20 homeowners are participating in this unique venue that allows group tours inside magnificent homes and gardens throughout Quincy.

CITY: Quincy

Hollywood Blvd Cinema

The 1st full service, fully integrated restaurant, bar and movie theater to open in the greater Chicagoland area. Each auditorium features terraced seating with high-back executive leather chairs.

CITY: Woodridge

Children's Museum of Edwardsville

Toddlers to 12-year-olds can enjoy the unique interactive exhibits and seasonal events at this fun children's museum.

CITY: Edwardsville

Victor Hotel

World class dance music in one of Chicago's most intimate settings.

CITY: Chicago

On Any Sunday Motorcycle Museum

See 40 motorcycles on display, including European bikes built from 1942-1978.

CITY: Polo

The Informant! - Federal Plaza

The vice president of an agri-business giant is recruited by the FBI to uncover evidence of his company’s suspected illegal price-fixing. But in his zealous attempt to become the ultimate informant his lies begin to pile up and erode the secret agent world he has created for himself. Look for Alexander Calder’s giant red outdoor Flamingo sculpture as two of the movie’s main characters walk through downtown Chicago’s Federal Plaza

CITY: Chicago

Baby On Board - Babette

The busy life of a successful power couple (she’s an image-conscious business woman and he’s a divorce attorney) is turned upside down when they find out they are unexpectedly pregnant and the next nine months turn into an emotional roller coaster ride they never saw coming.

CITY: Chicago

Baby on Board - Equinox Health Club

The busy life of a successful power couple (she’s an image-conscious business woman and he’s a divorce attorney) is turned upside down when they find out they are unexpectedly pregnant and the next nine months turn into an emotional roller coaster ride they never saw coming.

CITY: Chicago

Fred Claus - Bridges Downtown Chicago

Fred Claus lived his entire life in his brother's shadow. Fred tried, but could hardly live up to the example set by the younger Nicholas, who was a saint. Nicholas grew up to be the model of generosity, while Fred became the opposite: a fast-talking repo man who is jealous, sad and broke. Eventually Fred's bad behavior sends him to jail. His only option is to turn to his brother. Over Mrs. Claus' objections, Nicholas agrees to help his brother on one condition: that he come to the North Pole and earn the money he needs by working in Santa's Toy Shop. Features Starbucks, Clark and Hubbard Streets.

CITY: Chicago

Horsemen - Tower Building

A recently widowed detective discovers a shocking connection between himself and a serial killing spree linked to the biblical prophecies of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

CITY: Chicago

The Unborn - Montrose Harbor

In this supernatural flick, a young woman is haunted by the spirit of her unborn brother who tries to take over her body. Desperate to survive, the woman undergoes an exorcism to prevent her evil sibling from being born.

CITY: Chicago

The Unborn - Two Prudential Plaza

In this supernatural flick, a young woman is haunted by the spirit of her unborn brother who tries to take over her body. Desperate to survive, the woman undergoes an exorcism to prevent her evil sibling from being born.

CITY: Chicago

The Vow - Club Lucky

A newlywed couple is involved in a car crash that sends the wife into a coma. Once she awakens with severe memory loss, her husband finds that he has to win her heart all over again.

CITY: Chicago

Bad Teacher - Kol Tuv Kosher Foods

Dumped by her sugar daddy, a foul-mouthed junior high school teacher pursues one of her new well-heeled colleagues, competing for his affections against a popular teacher.

CITY: Chicago

In The Heat Of The Night - Misselhorn Art Gallery

A respected Philadelphia homicide detective is mistakenly accused of murder in a racist southern town, and is then hired to help the local sheriff with the investigation. The movie town's name was changed to Sparta so that signs in the Illinois community where the flick was filmed would not have to be changed. The railroad station used in the film is now the Misselhorn Art Gallery, which features a permanent exhibit dedicated to the movie.

CITY: Sparta

Contagion - Sherman Hospital

An international team of doctors is contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak of a deadly disease.

CITY: Elgin

Elgin Symphony Orchestra

Named "Orchestra of the Year" an unprecedented three times by Illinois Council of Orchestras, the ESO performs over 60 concerts a year thrilling more than 50,000 patrons, from Chicagoland to Wisconsin and Indiana.

CITY: Elgin

Greenhouse Theatre Center

It is our mission to nurture small to mid-size theater companies toward continued growth and expression in an artists’ space at the heart of the Chicago theater community. We strive to provide an epicenter for diverse artistic points of view and excellent entertainment through area partnerships, annual programming, educational events, careful selection of resident theater companies, affiliations with the League of Chicago Theaters, and local Chambers of Commerce.

CITY: Chicago

Freedom Hall

Freedom Hall offers a diverse series accenting dance, music, theatre, popular attractions, children's theatre and outreach activities. Join us in the intimate 280-seat Nathan Manilow Theatre.

CITY: Park Forest

McLean County Arts Center

The McLean County Arts Center presents approximately twelve exhibitions yearly, including the annual Holiday Treasures exhibition and the annual Amateur Competition and Exhibition which for over 85 years has showcased the best amateur artists from the region. The Center also offers art classes, artist lectures, art workshops for children and adults and associated performing and literary arts presentations. The community is also offered opportunities to purchase or rent artwork through the Center's Sales & Rental Gift Gallery.

CITY: Bloomington

Macoupin County Courthouse

The Macoupin County Courthouse, built in 1870, used to be the largest county courthouse in the United States, with the possible exception of one in New York City. It was even larger than the Illinois Statehouse. While the courthouse still serves as the seat of county government, it has also become a showplace that attracts tourists, architects and artists from across the country, as well as overseas.

CITY: Carlinville

Prairie Land Heritage Museum

This museum is home of the annual Steam Show and Fall Festival, as well as the Prairie Land Liberty Church, which was built in 1900. Enjoy antique tractors, train rides and local history.

CITY: Jacksonville

Chicago Center For The Performing Arts

This theater venue includes three performing arts schools, a casting center, a 350-seat theater, a lobby bar and banquet space. Plays, musicals and original productions are performed here.

CITY: Chicago

Vittum Theater

The 299 seat theater is named after Harriet Elizabeth Vittum, head resident of the Northwestern University Settlement House from 1907 to 1947. Miss Vittum was a friend, counselor, and good neighbor to thousands of new Chicagoans in her community. She advocated dramatic and musical arts because she believed that they empower self-expression and self-worth.

CITY: Chicago

Park West

One of Chicago's best equipped multimedia facilities, this historic theatre has been an integral part of the entertainment scene since it opened in the 1920's. Capacity 100-1000.

CITY: Chicago

Dillon Home Museum

Built in 1858, this Italian Renaissance-style home displays the history of the Dillon family and Northwestern Steel, as well as fine antiques which belonged to the Dillons.

CITY: Sterling

From My House To Yours

Historic home with five rooms plus a garden area crafts, used furniture, candles, nick knacks, flavored coffees, old plows, wheel barrel and more. "Five rooms to browse".

CITY: Mount Olive

Open Door Repertory Company

Open Door Repertory Company is a professional non-equity theater organization that produces plays and provides theater education to serve audiences and theater artists of all ages and backgrounds throughout the Chicagoland area. Their purpose is to inspire, entertain, and provoke emotional and intellectual responses.

CITY: Oak Park

Ukrainian National Museum

A collection of Ukrainian history and folk art is gathered under one roof and includes everything from festive costumes to colored eggs.

CITY: Chicago

Ten Thousand Villages

Experience exquisite, handcrafted jewelry, clothing, home decor and gifts from around the world. Invest in education, housing and hope for villages in 33 countries. Each store operates as a cooperative with its own board of directors, and provides vital, fair income to people in developing countries by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories.

CITY: Oak Park

Quincy Community Theatre

This state-of-the-art community theatre far outshines and outperforms many professional theatres. The Quincy Community Theatre's first production was in 1929. The theatre seats 498 people and is complete with a thrust stage and full orchestra pit. Six different performances a year attract sell-out crowds.

CITY: Quincy

Noble Fool Theatricals at Pheasant Run Resort

Brand new theater includes stadium seating for 320 people with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems.

CITY: St. Charles

Czechoslovak Heritage Museum

DuPage County, Chicago’s Western Suburbs - Highlights the history and culture of the Czech Republic and Slovakia through authentic folk costumes, lead crystal, chain, ceramics, embroidery, and historical displays. Donations welcome.

CITY: Oak Brook

Hoosier Grove Schoolhouse Museum

Originally built as a one-room schoolhouse in 1904 on the corner of Old Church and Barrington Roads, the museum was moved to its present site in 1991.

CITY: Streamwood

Madison Street Theatre

The Madison Street Theatre, founded in 1959 as the Village Players Performing Arts Center, a non-profit organization, promotes the arts through theatrical productions and educational programs that encourage cultural understanding and embrace diversity.

CITY: Oak Park

Drury Lane Children's Theatre

DuPage County, Chicago’s Western Suburbs - Be a part of the sparkling lights and glamour of Broadway at the award winning Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace. The Children's Theatre features stellar performances made just for kids that will entertain and inspire.

CITY: Oakbrook Terrace

Floating World Gallery

The best Japanese art gallery probably in the world outside of Japan. Elias Martin's knowledge and passion will educate you and amaze you. A must see in Chicago.

CITY: Chicago

Road to Perdition - LaSalle Street Bridge

In this period drama a hit man for an Irish gangster finds himself on the run and looking for revenge after his young son witnesses a mob killing. The movie was filmed primarily on location in the Chicago area, including the interiors, which were shot on a soundstage that was specially constructed in a city armory. The iconic shot of the hit man's car driving into Chicago involved 120 1930s-era cars motoring over the downtown LaSalle Street Bridge on a quiet Sunday morning.

CITY: Chicago

Sin Bin - Happy Foods

This teen coming-of-age comedy centers around a high school senior who loans out his van, called the Sin Bin, to friends as a place to bring dates and serve as an apartment on wheels.

CITY: Chicago

The Informant! - Washington & Wells El Station

The vice president of an agri-business giant is recruited by the FBI to uncover evidence of his company’s suspected illegal price-fixing. But in his zealous attempt to become the ultimate informant his lies begin to pile up and erode the secret agent world he has created for himself. Look for Alexander Calder’s giant red outdoor Flamingo sculpture as two of the movie’s main characters walk through downtown Chicago’s Federal Plaza.

CITY: Chicago

The Time Traveler's Wife - Newberry Library

This is the story of Henry DeTamble, an adventurous and handsome librarian who travels involuntarily through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Henry and Clare's passionate love affair travels back and forth through time and captures the lovers in a romantic trap.

CITY: Chicago

The Time Traveler's Wife - "L" Train Platform

This is the story of Henry DeTamble, an adventurous and handsome librarian who travels involuntarily through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Henry and Clare's passionate love affair travels back and forth through time and captures the lovers in a romantic trap.

CITY: Chicago

Sin Bin - Irish American Heritage Center

This teen coming-of-age comedy centers around a high school senior who loans out his van, called the Sin Bin, to friends as a place to bring dates and serve as an apartment on wheels.

CITY: Chicago

Sin Bin - Super Dawg

This teen coming-of-age comedy centers around a high school senior who loans out his van, called the Sin Bin, to friends as a place to bring dates and serve as an apartment on wheels.

CITY: Chicago

Horsemen - Cheney Mansion

A recently widowed detective discovers a shocking connection between himself and a serial killing spree linked to the biblical prophecies of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

CITY: Oak Park

Baby on Board - The Capital Grille

The busy life of a successful power couple (she’s an image-conscious business woman and he’s a divorce attorney) is turned upside down when they find out they are unexpectedly pregnant and the next nine months turn into an emotional roller coaster ride they never saw coming.

CITY: Chicago

Horsemen - Spaulding School

A recently widowed detective discovers a shocking connection between himself and a serial killing spree linked to the biblical prophecies of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

CITY: Chicago

Nothing Like The Holidays - Humboldt Park

A Puerto Rican family living in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood faces what may be their last Christmas together.

CITY: Chicago

The Break-Up - North Ave. Beach bike path

This comedy concerns a couple who decides to break up, despite the fact that neither of them is willing to move out of the Chicago condo they share. Numerous film locations around the city include the bike path that winds along Lake Michigan at North Avenue Beach, the funky Fireside Bowl in the Logan Square neighborhood, the Riviera Theatre in Uptown (site of some of the hippest concerts in Chicago) and historic Wrigley Field, home to the Chicago Cubs baseball team, in Wrigleyville.

CITY: Chicago

Columbiana - Wicker Park

After witnessing her parents’ murder as a child in Bogota, a young woman grows up to be a cold-blooded assassin in search of the mobster who killed them.

CITY: Chicago

Eagle Eye - Emmit's Irish Pub

Two young strangers are thrown together by a phone call from a mysterious woman who pushes them into increasingly dangerous situations as she tracks their every move and controls them via technology while they are pursued by the FBI.

CITY: Chicago

The Babe - Wrigley Field

The life of legendary baseball star Babe Ruth is the focus of this biopic. The Danville Stadium (home to the present-day Danville Dans college baseball team) was used to portray Fenway Park and Forbes Field in the film. Wrigley Field in Chicago was used to represent all of the other baseball parks featured in the movie. Cubs fans can tell the location just by looking at how the grass is distinctively cut near first and third bases.

CITY: Chicago

Ferris Bueller's Day Off - The Art Institute

This classic Chicago teen comedy involves the wise-cracking title character who decides to cut school and see the city with his friends. Their romp around Chicago includes stops at The Art Institute (one of the world's leading art museums that's known for its important collection of French Impressionist paintings), Chicago Board of Trade (the world's oldest futures and options exchange that's housed in a magnificent Art Deco building), and the Sears Tower Skydeck (offering dizzying views of the city from atop one of the world's tallest buildings). The movie's famed Twist and Shout scene was filmed during the city's annual Von Steuben Day Parade.

CITY: Chicago

The Dilemma - United Center

A man wrestles with the dilemma of whether or not to tell his best friend that his wife is having an affair.

CITY: Chicago

Federal Reserve Bank

A thirty story court house and a forty-five-story office building, the federal building was completed after Mies' death in 1969. The building's sober black and gray exterior expression, the steel mullion and glass model, counterpoints the curving forms and bright red paint of Alexander Calder's sculpture. Photo courtesy of AIA Chicago, Wes Urschel.

CITY: Chicago

Carthage Jail

The Carthage Jail was the site of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum on June 27, 1844. Joseph and Hyrum with two companions were imprisoned here. A mob broke into the jail and killed them and injured severly one of their companions. Today the restored jail and visitors center and memorial gardens are open to visitors daily.

CITY: Carthage

Designers Choice

Vintage, antique, primitive and new furniture, home decor, jewelry and glassware. Located on the South side of the Carthage Square.

CITY: Carthage

Overshadowed Theatrical Productions

DuPage County, Chicago's Western Suburbs - Overshadowed Productions delivers quality, family-friendly drama that entertains, inspires, and promotes a Biblical message.

CITY: Itasca

Christopher Art Gallery

Located on the main campus of Prairie State College, the Christopher Art Gallery hosts six to eight shows annually, featuring local, regional and national artists, as well as student works. Programming varies by media, theme, and artists represented.

CITY: Chicago Heights

Saint Sebastian Players

The Saint Sebastian Players is a membership-based theatre company producing dramas, comedies and musicals. We emphasize collaborative theatre development in a supportive environment that fosters learning and growth. We believe theatre helps people more fully understand themselves and each other. Photo credit: (L–R) Daniel Pass as young Alexi, Megan Faye Izzo as Ivana and Evan Voboril as Vladimir in the Saint Sebastian Players' world premiere of Leigh Johnson's Lefties. Photo by John Oster.

CITY: Chicago