Things to Do

Fall colors are at their peak in Starved Rock State Park! Horticulturalist Morgan Wilson gives insight into why this botanical marvel happens, and how long we can except to see these beautiful leaves.(Photos by Scott Anderson - Shaw Media)"The green in the leaf is called chloroph…

As dusk falls, come out and hear about the ghostly tales of the I&M Canal on the haunted boat tour this weekend from October 25-27. This Halloween adventure is filled with legends, mystery and horror. Let their talented tour guides divulge the many secrets, spirits, and scandals …

An Outdoor Literary Festival will grace Ottawa's Washington Square Park on Saturday, Oct. 17. Prairie Fox Books has invited more than 20 authors, including New York Times best-selling writers Kate Hannigan and Liesl Shurtliff, to showcase their works at this social distance-frien…

Starved Rock State Park made Governor JB Pritzker's list of the Top Five 'Exciting Places' To Go In Illinois! To celebrate, we've put together a list of our own, featuring five more exciting Fall activities you can do inside the park!1. Admire The Fall Colors 2. Explore The Canyo…

Illinois' resident alt-country troubadour Chicago Farmer returns to Ottawa's Dockside Bar and Grill, for a socially distant outdoor concert!

The LaSalle County Historical Society is hosting their final open-air canal market for the season, over 100 socially-distanced vendors will be on site for this oversized artisan show. Come celebrate all things antique, collectible, homemade and home grown, right in the heart of h…

August Hill Winery returns with another amazing social distance friendly event at their sprawling vineyard lawn, an al fresco screening of the Halloween classic 'Hocus Pocus'.With a capped capacity for attendees, and a wide-open hill to stake your own space, these al fresco film …

Just in time for Fall Colors to arrive at Starved Rock State Park, a major trail and convenient new parking lot have reopened to the public. Here's an inside look at the new developments!Looking for an even easier trip? The IDNR are offering FREE guided tours at Starved Rock ever…

Alt-country troubadours Miles Nielsen, Kelly Steward and Edward David Anderson set to play at socially distant outdoor concert at Heritage Harbor's floating concert pavilion!Bundle up in your favorite flannel, live music fans! On Sunday, October 11th, Heritage Harbor's floating c…

Although COVID-19 maybe have waylaid plans for hosting a traditional Liberty Arts Festival, Morris' long running celebration of the arts, a special "Liberty Arts Festival Stroll" has been planned for this weekend. This special event will allow guests to enjoy the works of many ta…

It's no small secret that Starved Rock State Park is one of our state's great natural resources, between seasonal waterfalls, ice-age era canyons and a bird’s eye view of the Illinois River, it's truly something worth preserving for future generations. Now you can do your part to…