Festivals and Fairs
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Tickets on sale for Downtown Batavia’s inaugural Step into Spring: Wine WalkJan 14, 2026 5:59 pm - Batavia MainStreet's new spring event, Step into Spring: Wine Walk, offers a self-guided wine tasting tour through downtown shops and businesses on March 21.
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Things to do Jan. 16-22: Winterfest, MLK Day events, Chicagoland Fishing Expo and moreJan 13, 2026 9:14 am - Make plans for Palatine Winterfest, Martin Luther King Jr. Day events, the Chicagoland Fishing Expo and more.
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‘Winter Lights at Central Park’ concludes a record-breaking seasonJan 09, 2026 5:25 pm - The "Winter Lights at Central Park" event welcomed over 70,500 visitors for its inclusive and accessible holiday light display. It raised over $7,500 in donations for the People's Resource Center and the Oak Brook Park District Foundation.
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Live music, tours and more highlight WinterFest at Volo Bog State Natural AreaJan 08, 2026 9:55 am - Live music and more will be featured at WinterFest from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11 at Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside.
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Free fun at Frosty Fest at Viking Park in GurneeJan 08, 2026 9:51 am - Frosty Fest will held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at Viking Park, 4374 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee.
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Things to do Jan. 9-15: Free days at Shedd, Women’s Jazz Fest, Chicago RV Show and moreJan 06, 2026 6:37 am - Make plans to take advantage of free days at Shedd Aquarium, plus Erica Rhodes’ stand-up comedy at Zanies in Rosemont, the Women’s Jazz Festival at Hey Nonny, the Chicago RV Show in Schaumburg, ice skating and Cocoa Cabanas at Cantigny in Wheaton and more.
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Skate in the Park in Grayslake features professional skaters and other activitiesJan 02, 2026 2:26 pm - The fourth annual Skate in the Park will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at Gelatin Park in Grayslake.
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Algonquin launching new summer festival in 2026Dec 29, 2025 4:30 pm - At the end of July, area residents and visitors will be able to gather in Algonquin’s Ted Spella Community Park for a new festival.
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Best bets: Local live music to warm up cold winter nightsDec 29, 2025 11:39 am - Guitarist Scott Tipping celebrates the release of his second album at The Venue in Aurora, the annual Women’s Jazz Festival returns to Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, and Brookfield Zoo offers free admission through Feb. 28.
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Things to do Jan. 2-8: Light shows, Women’s Jazz Festival and moreDec 29, 2025 11:27 am - Make plans for the final days of suburban and Chicago holiday light shows, the last stagings of Marriott Theatre’s “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas,“ the Illinois Bridal and Wedding Expo in Rosemont and more.