Things to Do

This holiday season, give the gift of a one-of-a-kind item, made right here in Starved Rock Country! We've assembled a collection of eight amazing artisans, creating excellent last-minute presents and stocking stuffers.A Piece Of Fine Field Pottery A Hand Blown Ornament From Star…

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 …

LaSalle's Celebration of Lights, held at Rotary Park, boasts more than 300 themed holiday-themed displays! This year, a new 1/4 mile addition was built to feature more lights than ever before. The "Celebration of Lights" is open from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 5…

The Illinois Office of Tourism announced today that 31 new small businesses, or ‘makers,’ have been added to the popular Illinois Made list! This program inspires locals and visitors to discover hidden gems, like locally sourced honey producers, tattoo art galleries, candlemakers…

2020 has seen a boom in popularity for drive-in theaters across the country, with fans old and new flocking to these throwback open-air cinemas for an evenings of socially distant entertainment! The Route 34 Drive-In, one of just a handful of true drive-in theaters left in the Un…

Where are the best places to see fall colors in Starved Rock Country? Take your pick. From walking and biking paths, to horseback or a good old-fashioned roadtrip, there are plenty of places and ways to find the color. Here are some of our suggestions for the best views in Starve…

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…

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…