Look: The month of May in photos
May brought events and stories of interest of every size and Daily Herald photographers recorded it all. Look at our gallery to see when we were in your town.
Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis stops for a moment in front of the Gold Star Families Memorial at Veterans Park during Memorial Day ceremonies Monday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Cyclists of all ages start the Swing Into Spring & Community Bike Ride Saturday, May 9, 2026 in Arlington Heights.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
The new Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue will be opening its Midwest debut at EXP, the immersive entertainment venue in Rosemont May 8th.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Naperville resident Charles Wilcox has been either running or walking nearly daily since April 1966 when he was in the navy. He often walks past the "Veterans’ Valor" sculpture downtown, which he enjoys viewing.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
People gather in Bartlett for May Day on Friday, May 1, 2026.
Eric Peterson/epeterson@dailyherald.com
Grace Mary Perez raises her fist in solidarity as speakers address about 200 people in attendance for a May Day rally in Aurora.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Rutland-Dundee Fire Protection District firefighter Dylan Baribeau helps Stella Zaccaro, 4, of Gilberts try on a kid sized firefighter outfit during the Gilberts Community Days on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at Town Square Park in Gilberts. The four day event featured multiple daily events including live music, carnival and a kids zone with face painting and a petting zoo.
Ryan Rayburn / for the Daily Herald
An outdoor warning siren operates on the west end of Emerald Road in the Ponds of Stony Creek in Elgin.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Camila Ruiz, 9, of Mundelein helps bag leaves during the annual A-May-Zing Mundelein volunteer event, which was hosted by the Mundelein Police Department Saturday. A-May-Zing Mundelein helps residents with home maintenance projects, such as yard work and spring cleaning.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Grayslake artist Phil Schorn completes a work in colored pencil during the Deer Park Art Show at Deer Park Town Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026. Asked what he most enjoys about working in colored pencil, Schorn said, “Because you don’t erase, there are no mistakes.”
Patrick Kunzer/ for the Daily Herald
Firefighters were called to the three-story, 12-unit apartment complex on the 1200 block of Harding Avenue for a report of an explosion Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in Des Plaines.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Mark Rysavy, Schaumburg Support Services Manager, leads a tour of the new Schaumburg Village Hall Tuesday, May 5, 2026 in Schaumburg.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Big Hollow Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Kristina Lancaster, left, is congratulated by friend Dana Bundy after being honored with a Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching at the Ingleside school Thursday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Kane County authorities performed a “forensic excavation” on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at a South Elgin home on the 800 block of Revere Road in an attempt to find a teenage girl who has been missing for a decade.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Katie Kenoe of Mount Prospect has a condition, Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, that affects her ability to walk or stand up. She needs special surgery in Spain and is reaching out on GoFundMe both for financial help and to raise awareness.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Downers Grove North High School Senior Dashiell Speir poses Tuesday, May 5, 2026 in Downers Grove. Speir was tops among seniors receiving scholarship offers with more than $500,000 worth in an arts contest this spring.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Mom Joy Helga Nassuuna of Palatine, with her newborn, Amreen Zara Bogere talks about how Cook County Department of Public Health's Healthy Beginnings helped care for her and other moms at risk during and after pregnancy.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Danuta Kupiec hugs her daughter Weronika Kupiec, both of Addison, before the Barrington Mother's Day 5K on Sunday, May 10, 2026 in downtown Barrington.
Karie Angell Luc/for the Daily Herald
Naperville’s Fredenhagen Park has sprung back to life this week after repairs to the Exchange Club Memories Fountain was Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in Naperville.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Dr. John Sullivan examines Daniel Benito of Hoffman Estates during the Ascension Illinois flagship Medical Mission at Home event Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Willow Creek Care Center in Barrington. The event offered free medical, pharmacy, podiatry, foot-washing, specialty, dental and wellness services to residents of Illinois. Medical Mission at Home provides compassionate care to those facing barriers to traditional healthcare access. No insurance, payment or appointment is required for most services. Hundreds of healthcare professionals, volunteers and community partners participated in this year’s effort. Started in 2007, Medical Mission at Home is a day dedicated to providing access to healthcare for those who may not otherwise receive it.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Once the home of Giuseppe’s, the long-vacant restaurant building at 1062 Lee St. in Des Plaines, now owned by the city, is being demolished. City officials plan to turn the parcel into open space.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Matthew White wipes away a tear during a surprise ceremony honoring him with a Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Lombard Historical Society Volunteer Kim White leads a guided tour of Lilacia Park Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in Lombard. Lilacia Park is world-renowned horticultural showcase that features over 700 lilacs and 35,000 tulips annually.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Alma Nunez has opened Rose’s Room, a small event space intended to serve as a professional development and learning hub in downtown Elgin.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Dr. Mark Gomez talks with one of his patients, Ryan Kibacki of Naperville, Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at his office in Naperville. Gomez was in traditional practice until he went the concierge route about six or so years ago. He has about 300 patients.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Paula Aiello of Lockport (formerly of Palatine) and her daughter Rebecca enjoy chocolate-covered strawberries during Chocolate Fest in Long Grove.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Art teacher Nicole Pappanduros works with fourth-grader Emerson Musatto during class at Grace McWayne Elementary School in Batavia. Pappanduros was recently named a recipient of Artsonia's 2026 Art Education Leadership Award.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Artist Judith Mayer, of Chicago works on “Walking With Giants" Thursday, May 21, 2026 at The MAC, on the Campus of College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Army Veteran Jim Sychowski, of Chicago takes his last pass before being relieved as "vigil guard" during the Streamwood Memorial Day Observance at the Veterans Memorial on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
A U.S. Army M60 tank is displayed within the Veterans Honor Section at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Arlington Heights recently. Featuring a prominent monument, the memorial pays tribute to soldiers from all conflicts, and acknowledges victims of 9/11. A Memorial Day service hosted by the Merle Guild American Legion Post 208 will be held at the cemetery at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 24.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Scarlett Carbajal, (6) reaches unsuccessfully to grab the flag from Mariel Gutierrez’s (9) belt during flag football practice Thursday, May 14, 2026 at Keith Mione Community Park in Mundelein.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Coach Natalie O’Brien, center with hat, works with her girls during flag football practice Thursday, May 14, 2026 at Keith Mione Community Park in Mundelein.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Clarke Gauthier (7) scoots past a host of players on her way to a touchdown during flag football practice Thursday, May 14, 2026 at Keith Mione Community Park in Mundelein.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
A six flags character tries to catch confetti during a ribbon cutting ceremony on the 50th anniversary date when the park opened as Marriott's Great America Friday, May 29, 2026 at Six Flags, Great America, in Gurnee.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
A person stops to look at images of Italy by Igor Menaker during the Barrington Art Festival Saturday, May 23, 2026.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Children raise their hands for a chance to pet Taz, a white-throated monitor during the JG Reptile Road Show during Family Day at Lake Park Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Des Plaines.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
The Streamwood Memorial Day Observance was held Sunday, May 24, 2026 at the Veterans Memorial along Irving Park Road.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Tom Zasadil, of American Legion Post 1983, and other attendees salute the flag during Schaumburg’s Memorial Day ceremony.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
As the sun sets, a roofer finishes up his day on one of the new apartment buildings being constructed in the Parkway Crossing development in Crystal Lake, Ill. on Friday, May 15, 2026. The project includes 11 two-story buildings offering 220 units on a 24-acre site with lots of amenities.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com