2013 Travel Guide
Enjoy Illinois App
Showing 1-96 of 206 items
Riddles Comedy Club
South side's hottest comedy! Located at 5055 W 111 street in Alsip. we are just 20 minutes from the Chicago loop and Northwest Indiana. Lots of free parking, a full service bar offering both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and friendly staff all add up to a great night out!
CITY: Alsip
RiverView Suites
These suites are private, secure and first class in a quiet, relaxing atmosphere. Fully furnished one and two bedroom units. Kitchen, VCR, digital cable, washer and dryer, free local calls.
CITY: Alton
Super 8 Motel - Alton
Super 8 Alton hotel lets you make the most of your time on the road. Located on Illinois Highway 3 close to Route 67 and Interstates 55 and 270, our Alton, Illinois, hotel is just 30 miles from downtown St. Louis and convenient to popular area attractions, including the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway.
CITY: Alton
Jackson House - Alton
Jackson House offers a Victorian elegance in the main house, or secluded luxury in a guest house. Sink into a king-sized bed in the spacious master bedroom or snuggle under a quilt in the atmospheric Fireplace room. After slumbering in the loft of The Barn, enjoy the woodland landscape while lounging on the enclosed porch. In The Cave, a cozy earth house, you might bask in the glow of the fireplace, or in the summer, relax on the romantic patio.
CITY: Alton
Oct 12
Alton Farmers' & Artisans' Market
The Alton Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market is held at the corner of Piasa and 9th streets beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at noon on Saturdays. There will be an abundance of delicious fresh produce, crafts, baked goods, plants & flowers, locally-raised hormone-free meat, handmade soaps, jewelry, artwork, pottery, art demonstrations and more at the Alton Farmers' & Artisans' Market. Have breakfast at the market – coffee and breakfast items are available.
CITY: Alton
Haagen Haus
Comfort, convenience and beautiful surroundings await you in this 1870s guest house located in the historic Christian Hill District. Enjoy private one or two bedroom units with secluded brick courtyards and cozy gas fireplaces. Located on State Street, the Haagen Haus is within walking distance to downtown shops, restaurants, the scenic byway, biking and walking trails, and the Argosy Casino.
CITY: Alton
Holiday Inn - Alton
If you're searching for full-service hotels in Alton, IL, look no further. In addition to state-of-the-art event facilities, we have a large atrium with comfortable seating to encourage conversation. We also have added all new 32" flat screen tvs in all guest rooms. Located at the intersection of Route 140 and Route 3, and within minutes of I-255 , I-270, and the Amtrak Station, this hotel boasts unparalleled amenities and the friendliest staff, as well as ideal proximity to downtown Alton.
CITY: Alton
Comfort Inn - Alton
From the moment you arrive at Comfort Inn, we want you to relax and feel at home. Our helpful staff is there to welcome you, and you'll find everything to suit your needs, including clean, comfortable, and well-appointed rooms with cozy beds. We also offer free high-speed Internet access. Feel at ease knowing that your satisfaction is important to us!
CITY: Alton
Tiffany Inn
Ideally placed in the historic Downtown Alton antique district, the Tiffany Inn is walking distance from shops, restaurants and the casino, with beautiful views of the Mississippi River and Clark Bridge. Located above the Alton Stained Glass Works shop, the inn has three elegant rooms decorated with lovely stained glass and antiques. Amenities include: private baths, air conditioning, mini refrigerators and coffeemakers.
CITY: Alton
George Street Suites
Perfect for pleasure and business. Stay by the night, week or month. One, two and three bedroom furnished apartments with full kitchen, coffee maker, stove, microwave and dishes. Enjoy all the modern conveniences including digital cable TV, DVD, and complementary Wi-Fi. Located in the Middletown Historic District next to the award winning Beall Mansion Bed and Breakfast. Close to shopping and businesses, marina, wineries, restaurants, hiking and biking trails, historic sites and the Argosy Casino Alton.
CITY: Alton
Alton Little Theater
Entertaining audiences since 1934, the Alton Little Theater offers a season of great live theatrical performances from dramas to comedies to everyone's favorite musicals. The Alton Little Theater is one of the oldest community theaters in the state of Illinois.
CITY: Alton
Jacoby Arts Center
Jacoby Arts Center is dedicated to creating opportunities for individual artists in their pursuit of artistic excellence and economic success. The stunning gallery presents works of regional and national artists and the retail shop, known as The Artist Shop, showcases items in a variety of media while providing artists a retail outlet to their audiences.
CITY: Alton
12 - 22
Alton Little Theater: The Drowsy Chaperone
The curtain rises on a present-day musical theatre fanatic eager to tell you about his favorite Broadway musical - The Drowsy Chaperone. As he begins listening to the rare cast recording, the show cleverly blooms to life, telling the hilarious tale of a pampered Broadway starlet and her debonair fiance, an overzealous producer, a dizzy chorine, the Latin lover, and a couple of bumbling gangsters. Ruses are played. Hi-jinks occur. And the plot spins everyone into musica comedy euphoria. This production will Sept. 12 - 15 and Sept. 19 - 22.
CITY: Alton
Aug 30
Alton Summer Concert Series
Summer is here, and the sounds of summer will be bouncing off the Mississippi River during the “Five Dollar Friday” Summer Concert Series at the Alton Riverfront Amphitheater. The first concert of the season on June 14 will feature Changes in Latitude - a tribute to Jimmy Buffett . The second concert will feature Think Floyd USA - a tribute to Pink Floyd, June 21. The third concert will feature Street Fighters - a tribute to the Rolling Stones, Aug 16. The final concert of the season will feature House of the Holy - a tribute to Led Zeppelin on Aug 30.
CITY: Alton
18 - 28
Alton Little Theater: The Music Man
The 80th season of Alton Little Theater kicks off with The Music Man. In July 1912, a traveling salesman, “Professor” Harold Hill, arrives in River City, Iowa, intrigued by the challenge of swindling the famously stubborn natives of Iowa. Masquerading as a traveling band instructor, Professor Hill plans to con the citizens of River City into paying him to create a boys’ marching band, including instruments, uniforms, and music instruction. Once he has collected the money and the instruments and uniforms have arrived, he will hop the next train out of town, leaving them without their money or a band. It’s all part of a big swindle, but falling in love with the town librarian wasn’t part of the deal. With classic tunes that include the show-stopping “Seventy-Six Trombones,” The Music Man is an irresistible, all-American musical for the entire family!This will be an all-youth production scheduled for July 18-21 and 25-28.
CITY: Alton
Best Western Plus Parkway Hotel
Perfect for business or pleasure and conveniently located with easy access to key area attractions, restaurants and businesses.The friendly staff is ready to ensure a comfortable and memorable stay. Make a reservation today and save at this Alton hotel!
CITY: Alton
Nov 3
Alton Little Theater: THe Haunting of Hill House
Dr. Montague, an anthropologist whose true passion is the supernatural, rents the supposedly cursed titular building in order to investigate the existence of psychic disturbances. His guests are the house's heir and two women with previous experience of the paranormal. The group bonds almost immediately, but fear is a corrosive emotion and the house's manifestations soon cause cracks to appear. The horror inherent in the play does not lie in Hill House (monsterous though it is) or the events that take place within it, but in the unexplored recesses or its characters' (and its audiences') minds. This is perhaps why it remains the definitive haunted house story. This mystery is scheduled for Oct. 24 - 27 and Oct. 31 - Nov. 3.
CITY: Alton
Feb 2
Alton Little Theater: Moonlight and Magnolias
Legendry Hollywood producer David O. Selznick has a problem. He has just fired the director of Gone With the Wind and the script is on its umpteenth version. He desperately needs a new director and writer -- immediately! However, the writer he wants, Ben Hecht, has never read the novel and his director of choice, Victor Fleming, is not sold on the success of the storyline; but Selznick believes in this movie so much that he locks the three of them in his office for five days, with bananas and peanuts as their only food, to pull together a new script. As work begins, Selznick and Fleming attempt to act out all the characters in the novel while Hecht types. Take a fun, farcical look at the behind-the-scene birth of one of the most beloved films of all time. This production is scheduled for Jan. 23 - 26 and Jan. 30 - Feb. 2, 2014.
CITY: Alton
13 - 23
Alton Little Theater: Sex, Please, We're 60
Mrs. Stancliffe's Rose Cottage Bed & Breakfast has been successful for many years because her guests (nearly all women) return year after year. Her next door neighbor, the elderly, silver-tongued "Bud the Stud" Davis, believes they come to spend time with him in romantic liaisons. The prim and proper Mrs. Stancliffe steadfastly denies this, but reluctantly accepts the fact that "Bud the Stud" is good for business. Her other neighbor and would-be suitor, Henry Mitchell, is a retired chemist who has developed a blue pill called "Venusia" to increase the libido of menopausal women. The pill has not been tested until Bud gets his hands on some and the fun begins. The women mix up Bud's Viagra pills with the Venusia, and we soon discover that it has a strange effect on men: it gives them all the symptoms of menopause, complete with hot flashes, mood swings, weeping and irritability! When the mayhem settles down, all the women find their lives moving in new and surprising directions. This production is scheduled for March 13 - 16 and March 20 - 23, 2014.
CITY: Alton
1 - 11
Alton Little Theater: Hallelujah Girls
Hilarity abounds when the feisty females of Eden Falls, Georgia, decide to shake up their lives. The action in this rollicking Southern comedy by the authors of Southern Hospitality takes place in SPA-DE-DAH!, the abandoned church-turned-day-spa where this group of friends gathers every Friday afternoon. After the loss of a dear friend, the women realize time is precious; and if they're going to change their lives and achieve their dreams, they have to do it now! But Sugar Lee, their high-spirited, determined leader, has her hands full keeping the women motivated. The comic tension mounts when a sexy ex-boyfriend shows up unexpectedly, a marriage proposal comes from an unlikely suitor, and Sugar Lee's archrival vows she'll stop at nothing to steal the spa away from her. By the time the women rally together to overcome these obstacls and launch their new, improved lives, you've got a side-splitting, joyful comedy that will make you laugh out loud and shout "Hallelujah!" This production is scheduled for May 1 - 4 and 8 - 11, 2014.
CITY: Alton
Aug 3
Alton Little Theater: 9 to 5: The Musical
9 to 5: The Musical is based on the 1980s hit movie Nine to Five. Pushed to the boiling point by their boss, three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. They conspire to take control of their company and learn there's nothing they can't do - even in a man's world. Set in the late 1970's, 9 to 5: The Musical is a hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era. Outrageous, thought-provoking, and even a little romantic, 9 to 5: The Musical is about teaming up and taking care of business. This production is scheduled for July 24 - 27 and July 31 - Aug. 3, 2014.
CITY: Alton
14
$5 Friday Summer Concerts: Changes in Latitudes
The first concert of the season will feature Changes in Latitude - a tribute to Jimmy Buffett. Tickets are $5 per person. Changes in Latitude is known as one of the country’s premier tribute bands to Jimmy Buffett. The band has 10 members including Steve Kareta (vocals, guitars), Allen Stevens (guitars/vocals), Amy Sullivan (vocals, Jon Berman (saxophone), Clark Seibold (drums), Bob Casinghino (keyboard/vocals), Brandon Marger (percussion), Jason Roseman (steel pan drums) Mark Neveu (bass) and Don Hemmer (pedal steel guitar). For more information call (800) 258-6645 or visit www.riverfrontamphitheater.com.
CITY: Alton
3
Alton/Godfrey Fireworks on the Mississippi
Alton's spectacular fireworks display are a must see in Alton! With the Clark Bridge as a backdrop over the Mississippi River, this fireworks show is always a crowd pleaser. For more information, call (618) 465-6676.
CITY: Alton
19
Sawyer Brown at Riverfront Amphitheater
Watch nationally-known country band Sawyer Brown at the beautiful Alton Riverfront Amphitheater. Borderline will also be performing. Gates open at 7 p.m. with music starting at 8 p.m. Admission is $20. To order tickets, go to http://www.tacopresents.ticketfly.com/.
CITY: Alton
1
Binny's Taste at the Track
The Biggest and Best Wine Event of the Spring Season is Back! You’re invited to join us to watch and wager on the heart pounding sport of Thoroughbred horse racing while enjoying a sampling of over 400 domestic and international wines from Binny’s. Plus, top Chicagoland restaurants will be providing a sampling of signature dishes to pair with your favorite wine. This ticketed event includes general admission to Arlington Park, entrance into the exclusive Taste at the Track event in the Park, a Govino wine glass and wine tastings, and three food sample tickets. In addition to your sample tasting options, you’ll also enjoy chef demonstrations and delicious small plate offerings available for purchase. You MUST be 21+ to enter the exclusive Taste at the Track event. Be sure to get your tickets early as they will sell out! For more information visit the Binny's Taste at the Track ticket page.
CITY: Arlington Heights
5 - 7
Atlanta Fall Festival
Atlanta Fall Festival includes food, a carnival, a parade, children's activities and local royalty.
CITY: Atlanta
8
Atlanta, IL Electric Vehicle Cruise-in
A free, public Electric Vehicle Cruise-In will take place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. along the original Mother Road in historic downtown Atlanta. The cruise-in is sponsored by the Atlanta Betterment Fund. Enjoy cool EV cars and a chance to learn more about how the Mother Road is working to give birth to a new travel infrastructure. All electric and hybrid cars are invited to participate in the cruise-in. The event will also feature vintage music, great food, a 50/50 drawing and hourly drawings.
CITY: Atlanta
8
Fall Farm Day
Fall Farm Days in Logan County means a trip to Gail's Pumpkin Patch for pick-your-own pumpkins, farm tours, cider, homegrown honey and other fall treats.
CITY: Beason
America's Best Value Inn - Belvidere
Welcome to the Americas Best Value Inn of Belvidere, IL. We are located in north central Illinois, approximately 75 miles northwest of downtown Chicago and 12 miles east of Rockford. Our newly renovated exterior access facility offers 44 guest rooms and 2 efficiencies. All guest rooms and efficiencies are furnished with complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access, cable TV, complimentary local calls, and wake-up service. Our efficiencies also feature a kitchenette with a stove. For your convenience, we offer fax and copy service at our 24-hour front desk and complimentary wireless Internet access in our 24-hour lobby. Take a moment to enjoy our complimentary continental breakfast served every morning and our picnic area. Come experience the value of staying at Americas Best Value Inn Belvidere/Rockford.
CITY: Belvidere
Boone County Conservation District
The enchanting charm of Boone County’s Buffalo Creek creates a picturesque scene of nature at its finest. With a mission of preserving nature for generations to come, the area offers numerous educational events and festivals.
CITY: Belvidere
Riddles Comedy Club - Berwyn
Located at 6910 Windsor Ave in Berwyn, we are just 20 minutes from the Chicago loop. Lots of free parking, a full service bar offering both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages,and friendly staff all add up to a great night out!
CITY: Berwyn
13
Country Antique Market, Bishop Hill
Join in the gathering of 60 exceptional proprietors showing and selling their wares on the Colony School lawn. Look and peruse through a vast variety of hard to find specialty collectibles and antiques from early country, primitives, folk art, pottery and textiles. This market is the the place you are longing to explore.
CITY: Bishop Hill
The Chateau Hotel & Conference Center
Recreational options are plentiful at the Chateau Hotel & Conference Center. Guests can swim in the indoor pool, relax in the sauna or whirlpool, workout in the exercise room, jog on the twelve mile Constitution Trail that connects to the property, or visit the nearby Shoppes at College Hills outdoor mall. The property offers complimentary wireless high speed internet access, 7am-10pm complimentary transportation service, 24-hour airport shuttles, coffee makers, irons, ironing boards, hair dryers, electronic keyless entry door locks, banquet and conference facilities for up to 500 people and free parking.
CITY: Bloomington
AmericInn Bolingbrook
An upscale limited service property. Free high speed internet in all rooms, free enhanced continental breakfast, lobby business center and a variety of room types including whirlpool & fireplace suites.
CITY: Bolingbrook
Comfort Inn & Suites
Luxury at a moderate price, the Comfort Inn is conveniently located in Bourbonnais off I-57, near Olivet Nazarene University, Legends Sportsplex and Northfield Mall. With 114 new guest rooms, complimentary hot breakfast, free WiFi and onsite meeting room facilities, this property is ideal for business guests and leisure travelers.
CITY: Bourbonnais
25
Chicago Bears Training Camp
Whether you're a hardcore football nut, or you just want to give the family a Bears experience they'll never forget, Bears training camp in Bourbonnais is the place to be! Every summer the Chicago Bears descend on Olivet Nazarene University for training camp, where fans can attend free family events and meet the players. Please visit the website for dates and times.
CITY: Bourbonnais
26 - 30
Bourbonnais Friendship Festival 2013
During the five days of fun, rides, games, shows, beer garden, parades, teen Idol, baby contest and more. You are bound to see astronauts, Martians, the Jetsons, Buzz Lightyear, Luke Skywalker and more as you orbit the festival grounds.
CITY: Bourbonnais
Legends Sportsplex
This year-round facility offers five basketball courts, eight volleyball courts, two soccer fields, a video game arcade, bumper cars, two mini-golf courses, softball batting cages, a go-kart track, climbing wall and paintball field.
CITY: Bourbonnais
5 - 7
Thee Old Time Farm Show
Stroll down the rows of old tractors and equipment, visit the operating exhibits of old gas engines, steam engines, the sawmill, threshing and corn shelling. Ask the operators to explain their exhibits and learn about the agricultural equipment that is "Part of America's Heritage". On July 7 come and cheer on the second annual antique tractor pull after the Parade of Power.
CITY: Bradley
18 - 19
Calhoun County Quilt & Church Tour
Over 200 quilts, old to new, more hand stitched than machine stitched, are displayed in historic churches across Calhoun County. Visitors can also take part in quilt demonstrations, quilt appraisals, supplies, sales & raffels.
CITY: Brussels
America's Best Value Inn
Located in the heart of Carbondale. Minutes away from Southern Illinois University Campus, Carbondale City Hall/Civic Center, John A. Logan College, shopping and restaurants. 10 minutes from the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.
CITY: Carbondale
Boondock's Seafood Co.
Known for its delicious dishes and vibrant atmosphere, Boondock's is Carbondale's first seafood restaurant and cocktail lounge. Their menu encompasses a wide range of foods, all prepared with the freshest ingredients, and the bar offers a selection of cocktails, wine, and beer, including several craft brews.
CITY: Carbondale
Aug 13
McLeod Summer Playhouse
Enjoy your favorite plays right here in Carbondale with the McLeod Summer Playhouse series. In the past classic performances such as Chicago, Cinderella and Steel Magnolias have graced the stage, and this year's line-up is just as a impressive. Don't miss Hair, Guys & Dolls, and Annie, three incredible shows.
CITY: Carbondale
Harbaugh's Cafe'
Known for its bottomless coffee, mouth-watering foods, and welcoming atmosphere, Harbaugh's Cafe' is one of Carbondale's most popular breakfast joints. While the menu includes unique dishes such as ranch potatoes, it encompasses all of the classic breakfast dishes too. Salads and sandwiches are also available after 11 a.m. If you're in a rush, no sweat! Harbaugh's will have you in-and-out faster than you can say "ranch potatoes"!
CITY: Carbondale
Jun 28
Carbondale Community Friday Night Fair
Enjoy some of the best of what Carbondale has to offer every Friday during the summer, when the arts & entertainment scene unites with local farmers and craftsmen to create a fun, family-friendly festival. Hosted in Carbondale's historic Town Square Pavillion, the fair includes kids activities, a farmer's market, craft vendors, live music and more, all free of charge.
CITY: Carbondale
Jul 25
35th Annual Sunset Concert Series
The weekend begins on Thursday evening in Carbondale during the summer, as hundreds gather to attend the welcoming, relaxing and fun tradition that is the Sunset Concert series. Attendees bring everything from beer-pong tables and barbecue grills to pop-up tents and couches. The concerts rotate between two beautiful venues, with the more contemporary acts on the Steps of Shryock Auditorium and the mellower, more traditional bands playing under the Lenus Turley Park gazebo.
CITY: Carbondale
Sep 25
Brown Bag Concert Series
Grab a lawn chair, pick up lunch from a local eatery and head to the Town Square Pavillion for Carbondale Main Street's Brown Bag Concert! Every Wednesday local musicians come together to put on a free show in the heart of downtown Carbondale. Everyone is welcome, but the event emphasizes a family-friendly atmosphere.
CITY: Carbondale
America's Best Inn & Suites
83 room hotel that is handicap accessible, credit cards accepted, cable television, outdoor pool, pets accepted, restaurant within walking distance, complimentary breakfast.
CITY: Caseyville
Cedarville Historical Museum
This museum is located in an 1889 school building and features a permanent exhibit honoring Jane Addams, who was born and raised in Cedarville. Miss Addams was an internationally famous humanitarian and social work pioneer who founded Chicago's Hull House and won the Nobel Peace Prize. Museum exhibits include personal items and memorabilia from her life and the life of her family. There are also changing exhibits on topics of local historical interest and a research center and a research center.
CITY: Cedarville
Baymont Inn & Suites
At the Baymont Inn & Suites you'll enjoy a relaxing stay with our luxurious pillow-top mattresses, hot breakfast, and complimentary amenities. Our friendly staff is waiting to show you what Baymont's signature brand of Hometown Hospitality is all about.
CITY: Champaign
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham welcomes you to C-U! Featuring 198 suites, ample parking, complimentary hot breakfast buffet & convenient location to the University of Illinois Campus & downtown Champaign, Hawthorn Suites is the perfect spot for your leisure or business visit.
CITY: Champaign
I Hotel & Conference Center
At the I Hotel, you will experience superb amenities, upscale essentials and daring cuisine.
CITY: Champaign
21 - 23
Taste of Champaign-Urbana
Find your new favorite restaurant. The one that would make you willingly wait in a long line, travel miles and miles, and create special occasions just to visit. The Taste of Champaign-Urbana will aid you on your adventure to culinary discovery with 25 food vendors to tempt your taste buds. More than that, “Taste of C-U” will entertain you with free live music. It will expand your knowledge of hidden artistry within the Champaign-Urbana community. All this in one whirlwind of a weekend, June 21-23 at West Side Park in Champaign, IL. Come out and join in on the fun!
CITY: Champaign
Champaign Courtyard by Marriott
Our staff at the Courtyard by Marriott is 100% focused on providing you with an exceptional level of customer service! Conveniently located near the University of Illinois and many great local attractions such as Market Place Mall, Memorial Stadium, Staerkel Planetarium and much more!
CITY: Champaign
28 - 30
Bloomington Gold Corvette Show
Bloomington Gold is not only the longest running national Corvette event, but also is noted for innovations that have been commonly copied by many other automotive events. Corvette auctions, swap meets, certification, SURVIVOR®, educational seminars and special museum-type displays all began at Bloomington Gold. Over 4,000 Corvettes will descend on Champaign County for the first time and over 1,00 0 are expected to take part in the Gold Tour, showcasing the open roads.
CITY: Champaign
Wingate Inn by Wyndham
Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, the Wingate by Wyndham makes your trip easier! Centrally located off Interstate 74. Complimentary hot continental breakfast!
CITY: Champaign
Ohio House Motel
Affordable rates, comfort, privacy and clean rooms. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago.
CITY: Chicago
Howard Johnson Inn
Affordable comfort in the heart of downtown Chicago. 71 rooms, two floors, interior corridor, 13 suites with wet bar, refrigerator, microwave, electronic locks, safety deposit boxes. Walking distance to shopping, cultural events, and business centers.
CITY: Chicago
Amber Inn
110 rooms. 2 suites. 25 non-smoking rooms. Room service. Luxury hotel accommodations. Hotel located near the Hyatt and downtown hotels.
CITY: Chicago
Best Western Inn and Suites Midway
86 rooms. Indoor pool. On-site health club. Hotel located one mile from Ford City Shopping Center, 11 miles from McCormick Place, close to local restaurants.
CITY: Chicago
Chicago South Loop Hotel
232 rooms. One restaurant. Valet/Laundry service. Business center. Exercise facilities. Room service. Amenities include wireless internet, flat screen TVs, full service business center, brand new facility, award winning staff and customer service. Located four blocks from McCormick Place, four blocks from Chinatown. Ten minutes from Millennium Park. Five minutes to Soldier Field, Field Museum, U.S. Cellular Field.
CITY: Chicago
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
Argyle Lake State Park
Find serenity at this beautiful 1700-acre wooded park situated along an old stagecoach route between Galena and Beardstown. Featuring 95-acre Argyle Lake, the park is home to countless beaver dams and more than 200 bird species and 5 miles of hiking and biking trails.
CITY: Colchester
Holiday Inn Crystal Lake Conference Center
Situated in resort-like setting, the Holiday Inn is minutes from the historic Downtown Crystal Lake Main Street filled with shopes and restaurants for every taste. McHenry County's premier conference facility.
CITY: Crystal Lake
22 - 23
Danville Arts In The Park
Featuring over 75 regional artists and performing art groups set up under the oaks. Continuous on-site entertainment with food and drinks are also available.
CITY: Danville
Aug 3
Danville Dans Baseball
The Danville Dans are a collegiate summer league baseball team which hosts players from around the country! Don't miss one of their 30 home games this year (late May through early August) which are played at historic Danville Stadium. Check their webpage for information on special events happening throughout the season!
CITY: Danville
13 - 14
25th Annual Open Horseshoe Tournament
The Danville Horseshoe Club hosts its 25th Annual Open Horseshoe Tournament at Douglas Park with competitors from across the country participating. Registration is $25.00 per person and can be completed by visiting http://www.active.com/miscellaneous-tournament/danville-il/danville-il-25th-annual-open-horseshoe-tournament-2013. Registration must be received no later than Friday, June 29. Prizes will be awarded in multiple categories.
CITY: Danville
1 - 31
31st Annual Midwest Heritage Quilt Show
Beautiful quilts, some nearly 100 years old, will be on display at the Vermilion County Museum throughout the month of July. Awards will be given in 9 categories including bed quilts, purses and clothing, and wall hangings.
CITY: Danville
America's Best Value Inn - Decatur
60 rooms, restaurant nearby, small meeting rooms, free movie channel, newly remodeled.
CITY: Decatur
Sep 1
DeKalb Corn Fest
Corn Fest is one of the last, free, summer, music festivals among Illinois music and summer festivals in Illinois. Well over 100,000 people from around Illinois and the Midwest attend the music festival over a three day weekend. This festival features a carnival complete with rides and games, food booths, free live music, kiddie korner with large inflatables, family entertainment and much more. Friday night is carnival wristband nights for the kids with unlimited rides from 6-10pm. Festival areas feature food and business vendor booths, and a beer garden The festival hours are: Friday, August 30th, 3pm-11pm, Saturday, August 31st, 11am-11pm, Sunday, September 1st, 11am-6pm.
CITY: DeKalb
Oct 27
Blacksmith Demonstrations and Tours
Live blacksmith demonstrations and tours at the Joseph F. Glidden Homestead June 9th and 23rd from Noon to 4:00 pm. and on the second and fourth Sunday of each month.
CITY: DeKalb
The Magnuson Hotel of Dixon
At the Magnuson Hotel of Dixon, we have some of the best rates in the area. We're located close to both Dixon and the Sterling/Rock Falls area and are a 5-minute drive to Ronald Reagan's Boyhood Home. Located next to the Brandywine Banquet Facility.
CITY: Dixon
3 - 7
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
Marriott Suites Downers Grove
Distinctive boutique-like setting with 254 suites, each featuring two unique living areas. With over 5,700 square feet of meeting space and a convenient location at I-88 and I-355, this hotel offers the perfect setting for both business and pleasure.
CITY: Downers Grove
Sculpture on the Avenue
Come explore the sculptures that have transformed the City of Effingham's avenues into an art gallery! Over 40 sculptures created by some of the Midwest's best known and unknown sculptors bring life to the streets of Effingham through this outdoor exhibition. The Sculpture on the Avenues program is a self-guided walking tour that begins at City Hall in downtown Effingham. From there, the exhibition winds in and out of downtown Effingham. An informative guide, which facilitates a walking tour, is available at Effingham hotels, downtown businesses, the Effingham Visitor Center (Tourism Office) and City Hall.
CITY: Effingham
31
VW Welcomefest Downtown Party
Join us for in Downtown Effingham on the Courthouse Lawn for VW Welcomefest, where the night begins with a road tour from Mid America Motorworks. The VWs will make their way through town and come down the parade route about 5 p.m. Food by the Gabby Goat, ice cream, tropical snow and great music will await everyone at the Courthouse lawn from 5-8:00 p.m. Don't forget to sign up to win a Ipad Mini, along with other great giveaways. We've added some cool new things this year you won't want to miss, like "Big Red," a 10,000 pound VW Beetle and a fortune teller! This event is sure to be fun for the whole family!
CITY: Effingham
Courtyard by Marriott Elmhurst
Courtyard hotel located in Elmhurst, IL with 140 newly renovated guestrooms including 13 suites. Million dollar renovation recently completed. Meeting space of 2,400 square feet available
CITY: Elmhurst
Oct 25
Wieners & Wine
Sleepy Creek Vineyards will provide a fire, hot dogs, and the fixings! Guests are welcome to bring additional food, but all alcoholic beverages must be purchased through the Vineyard. Drink options include wine, slushies, sangria, beer, soda and bottled water. Seating and service is first come, first serve with no reservations beginnging at 5:00 p.m. Guests may bring their own lawn chairs, and last call is 7:45 p.m. as Sleepy Creek will close at promptly 8:00 p.m.
CITY: Fairmount
3 - 4
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
Ferguson Fine Arts Theatre
Located on the campus of Highland Community College - features a variety of fine arts programming including vocal and music concerts, live theater, special performances, and the popular Summerset Theater Program, a community performing arts theater.
CITY: Freeport
Read Park
Read Park offers many recreational opportunities and is highlighted by the Read Park Family Aquatic Center, which includes a zero depth pool, water slides and play area, and by a state of the art 11,000 square foot skate park, SK8 Park. This scenic park also features baseball and softball diamonds, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, an outdoor lighted hockey and ice staking rink, concession stand, picnic areas, shelters, and playgrounds. The Morgan Memorial, a charming statue of two children surrounded by fountains, is a serene spot to enjoy. Park attractions are open seasonally; please call ahead to confirm availability of specific attractions and costs.
CITY: Freeport
9 - 10
Jewelry, Gem, Fossil and Mineral Show
Midwest dealers will showcase a variety of beautiful gemstones, minerals, fossils, jewelry, beads and gifts for holiday shopping. In addition, there will be lapidary demonstrations, a fun-filled children's fish pond and games, speakers and displays.
CITY: Freeport
2 - 4
44th Annual Threshing Show and Antique Display
This show features over 300 gas tractors, steam engines and horse-powered equipment, antique tractor pulls, and horse pulls, along with exhibitors showing threshing, sawmills, blacksmithing, weaving, spinning and chair caning. The shows special features this year will be Massy Tractors and Equipment, Gasoline Alley will feature Odd Ball & Out of the Ordinary engines. Browse the huge flea market and ride the steam train at the depot.
CITY: Freeport
Fever River Railroad
For model railroad aficionados -- and everyone else who ever enjoyed model trains -- this model railroad is something to see. The Fever River Railroad is a 120X24-foot HO scale model of a hypothetical railroad running from Duluth, Minnesota to St. Louis, Missouri. This fully operational model railroad has detailed scenery, rail yards, factories, and interchanges with many other railroads. The model railroad allows for the operation of multiple trains along railroad right-of-way that portrays typical towns along the Duluth to St. Louis route. The Fever River Railroad is an ongoing project with upgrades to the layout and scenery that provides an exciting model railroad experience. A collection of railroad memorabilia and pictures, many from the surrounding area, are on display throughout the facility. The Stephenson Society of Model Trainmen, who operate the railroad, host an open house twice a year, and visitors are welcome at other times by appointment.
CITY: Freeport
Lindo Theater
This historic movie theater, built in 1922, features first-run movies presented in the latest 4K digital projection and sound on nine screens. Stadium seating, digital 3D and party room.
CITY: Freeport
Jane Addams Recreation Trail
This multi-use 15 mile recreational trail offers beautiful scenery and is highlighted by 21 decked bridges passing over and through wetlands, creeks, woods, prairies, geologic formations and farmland. The trail is part of the Grand Illinois Trail that traverses Northern Illinois. Its crushed limestone surface may be used by hikers, bicyclist, snowmobilers, and cross-country skiers. An additional two miles of paved trail to Highway 26 has been constructed at the southern end. The final two mile connection into historic downtown Freeport will soon be under construction. The Jane Addams Trail connects at the Wisconsin state-line with Badger Trail which extends to Madison, Wisconsin. It will also connect, in downtown Freeport, with the Pecatonica Prairie path currently under development between Freeport and Rockford. Access to the trail is available at the Wes Block Access, Freeport (exit off Highway 26 1/4 miles south of the Highway 20 intersection).
CITY: Freeport
Baymont Inn and Suites - Freeport
This hotel, where you feel like home, is conveniently located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Illinois Highway 26 north of Freeport. This is a 63 room hotel with eleven whirlpool suites. Handicapped and non-smoking rooms; heated indoor pool; whirlpool; exercise facilities; cable TV; free wireless high speed internet access; computer and printer in lobby business center; microwave; mini fridge; hair dryers; irons and ironing boards; coffee makers; safes; desks; pets allowed with a $35 fee; on site coin laundry; dry cleaning available; complimentary enhanced breakfast; AARP, senior citizen and group discounts. Hotel is located adjacent to the Jane Addams Recreational Trail for biking, hiking or snowmobiling; ask about special packages with trail use. Hunting packages also available. One meeting room with a maximum capacity of 25. American Express, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa. Rates: $94.00 to $159.00.
CITY: Freeport
22
Stephenson County Ag Breakfast
A farm breakfast showcasing Stephenson County agriculture producers with a menu of orange juice, coffee cake, scrambled eggs, whole hog sausage, beef bacon, cheese, milk, coffee and ice cream. Additional activities include entertainment, a petting zoo, craft show, games and more as we salute and share the story of Stephenson County agriculture. Adults: $4; Children 5 and under: Free
CITY: Freeport
Silver Creek and Stephenson Railroad and Silvercreek Museum
All aboard, as a 36-ton, 1912 Heisler steam locomotive pulls three cabooses, including an antique red caboose reported to be the oldest in the state, for a four-mile ride through farmlands. Purchase your ticket at the Silver Creek Depot, a turn-of-the-century replica filled with railroad artifacts, and browse the Freight House Gift Shop and Silvercreek Museum that's filled with early Americana.
CITY: Freeport
19 - 20
Silver Creek & Stephenson Railroad and Silvercreek Museum Fall Harvest Demonstrations
All aboard as a 36-ton 1912 Heisler steam locomotive pulls three cabooses for a four-mile ride through farmlands. Purchase your ticket at the Silver Creek Depot, a turn-of-the-century replica filled with railroad artifacts, and browse the Freight House Gift Shop and Silvercreek Museum. Weather permitting, there will be fall harvest demonstrations with horses and tractors. The museum will feature sauerkraut, brats, hot dogs, chili and dessert.
CITY: Freeport
13
Stephenson County Barn Tour
Spend a leisurely fall afternoon in the country exploring five of Stephenson County's unique barns and learn the stories behind their distinctive charm.
CITY: Freeport
Aug 9
Music On Chicago
Enjoy Freeport's historic downtown with this music fest featuring two bands, great food and a beer garden. The June concert features 70s music. The July concert features the Blues; and the August concert features Rock n' Roll. Adults: $5; Children 5 and under: Free.
CITY: Freeport
9 - 14
Stephenson County Fair
Old fashioned county fair, with livestock shows, home-ec and commercial exhibits, food vendors, and grandstand events including youth night, tractor pulls, FMX Freestyle Motocross, demo derby, musical entertainment. Free on-grounds entertainment including an animal show, wood carver, and other children oriented performers and exhibits. Country Music Entertainer Kellie Pickler will be the headliner on Saturday, July 13 with one show on the Grandstand's main stage. Tickets are $20 for reserved seating, and $12 for Grandstand seating. Tickets go on sale June 10 at 9 am.
CITY: Freeport
29
Pretzel City 5K Run
This is a great run whether you are a novice looking to run your first 5K, or a seasoned competitior looking to beat your personal best time. Part of the Rockford Runners Circuit. Krape Park: Registration begins at 7 am, race begins at 8 am. Registration Fee: $30 for all ages.
CITY: Freeport
20
Say Cheese Tour
Enjoy a leisurely drive through the rolling hills of Stephenson County and stop at local cheese stores, cheese plants and a winery. Participants include the Cheese Market, Freeport; Miller's Country Cheese, Inc. and Wengers Springbrook Cheese in Davis; Torkelson Cheese Co. in Lena and Famous Fossil Winery in Cedarville. Visit all five locations for a chance to win some great prizes (drawing will be held at 4 pm at Famous Fossil). Stop in at the Freeport/Stephenson County Visitors Center for your map.
CITY: Freeport
