Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and the state education board joined school leaders, teachers, and students Friday to launch the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools program and celebrate the 2025 recipients of the discontinued National Blue Ribbon School Award.

Hainesville’s annual Civil War Encampment and Battle re-enactment featuring military and civilian participants in period costume returns on Oct. 18-19.

There are plenty of opportunities in the suburbs to support breast cancer charities while enjoying food and drink in October. We’ve also got some new fall menu offerings, a burger collab with chef Bill Kim at The Graceful Ordinary and more.

Mark your calendar for Glass Pumpkin Patch at The Morton Arboretum, St. Charles Scarecrow Fest, Lumenaura in Aurora, “Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience” in Ingleside, Fall Festival at Danada, Boo at the Zoo at Brookfield Zoo Chicago and more.

Hunger Resource Network is serving over half of the 500 food-insecure students in Northbrook public schools through its Student Food Pack program. On Oct. 12, a team of high school students will hosting a “Students Helping Students” event at Cabo Mexican Cocina in Northbrook.

Grab your spookiest costumes and come have fun with the whole family, pets included, at the Northbrook Park District’s Halloween events.

Premieres of the punk/metal/hip-hop tuner “Revolution(s)” at Goodman and Sandra Delgado’s “Hundreds and Hundreds of Stars” at TimeLine open this week. Plus, Morton Arboretum’s Walking Hikes series salutes Edgar Allan Poe and “The Lion King” returns to Chicago for a brief run.

Mark your calendar for the Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival, Harmony Fest Featuring the Taste of Arlington Heights, the Morton Arboretum’s Cider and Ale Festival, Oktoberfests, Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns at Chicago Botanic Garden and more.

Guest opinion: The state visit of President Donald and First Lady Melania Trump to Britain earlier this month was undeniably a success.

Depression is more than feeling sad or having a bad day. It can be a symptom of an undiagnosed mental illness or even a physical disorder. October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month, a good time to understand what it means to be screened for depression or another emerging mental illness.