Illinois statewide events

At this annual charity event, casual cyclists can choose from 30k, 55k, or 100k routes that wind around eight beautiful lakes in the Syracuse area within Kosciusko County. Starting at the Syracuse Community Center, participants can enjoy scenic pathways with snacks along the way and a lunch upon their return.

This celebration features extra cruises on the historic Dixie Sternwheeler, a 5K race, and arts and crafts fair. Visitors can browse the open-air market, enjoy antique displays, sample food court offerings, and explore the boat dealer show.

High-speed go-kart racing takes over downtown Elkhart for this adrenaline-filled weekend event. The festivities include a dedicated kids' zone, food and merchandise vendors, cornhole contests, live music, and Saturday night fireworks.

Step back in time to experience rural life with the largest collection of antique tractors, cars, and gas engines in western Illinois. Demonstrations include tractor plowing, steam power threshing, corn shelling, and blacksmithing among historic log cabins and a working windmill.

This free community celebration features live music, vendor booths, carnival games, rides, and a delightful petting zoo. The parade runs from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by festival activities from 2 to 7 p.m.

Downtown Goshen celebrates all things pickle with specialized food vendors and restaurants offering pickle-based dishes. The event features live music, a pickleball tournament, mechanical bull rides, and activities for all ages.

More than 65,000 rubber ducks race down the Chicago River to raise funds for Special Olympics Illinois. Participants can adopt ducks for various donation levels and gather at Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue to watch this unique charitable event.

The state's premier summer celebration offers eleven days of family-friendly fun, live entertainment, and classic attractions like the iconic Butter Cow and Conservation World.

This DeKalb County tradition brings together agricultural exhibits, carnival rides, live entertainment, and classic fair food. Families can experience small-town hospitality while enjoying livestock shows, craft demonstrations, and traditional county fair activities.

This unique community celebration combines festival food, entertainment, and competitions with local heritage honoring the town's broom-making history. Featuring a parade with the town’s famous precision lawn-mowing team, the “Lawn Rangers,” the event is also known for its 5K and 10K races as well as a 5K recreational walk.

This charming small-town celebration offers home-cooked favorites, wholesome entertainment, and exciting children's activities including bounce houses and games. The festival concludes with spectacular fireworks on Friday night.

Home to the world's largest apple pie weighing 600 pounds, this four-day festival celebrates autumn's harvest. Visitors enjoy apple-themed artwork, local crafters and artists, pie-eating contests, live music, and apple treats in every imaginable form.

More than 40 artists across northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan open their studios for this annual weekend tour. Pottery enthusiasts can explore multiple locations, meet talented artists, and discover unique handcrafted ceramic pieces during this regional artistic celebration.

Celebrating the “Fluorspar Capital” legacy, this Ohio River festival features mineral displays, quilt exhibitions, and a pet parade. The weekend concludes with fireworks over the river after carnival rides and championship barbecue competitions.

The Illinois Amish Heritage Center demonstrates traditional horse-powered oat threshing during this immersive agricultural experience. Families can participate in hands-on harvest activities and learn about 19th-century farming techniques in America’s third-largest Amish community.

One of northern Illinois’ largest craft fairs features 375 vendors along historic village streets. Sunday highlights include serving burgoo stew – a regional specialty simmered with three meats and vegetables – following a weekend of folk music and flea market discoveries.

Over 40,000 runners traverse 29 diverse neighborhoods in this World Marathon Major event. Spectators line the over 20-mile route cheering participants while enjoying live music and cultural performances across the city’s iconic districts.