Featured
Events
Calendar of Events
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1 event,
Step aboard Route 66 SUBMERGED, a 45-minute interpretive boat tour on Lake Springfield that reveals a hidden chapter of America’s most iconic highway. Beneath the surface lies a stretch of Springfield’s original Route 66 alignment, submerged when Sugar Creek was dammed in 1933. Guided by local storytellers this immersive journey blends history, nature, and narrative—offering… |
2 events,
Fun for the whole family and a wide variety of daily events. Music Night Concert, Fair Queen Pageant and all of your favorite Grandstand events! 2026 Music Night Presents: LAUREN ALAINA with Opening Act: Josh Ross. Sat Aug 8th, 7:30pm 2026 Logan County Fair Queen Pageant. This year's pageant will be held on Tuesday, August… |
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3 events,
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Ok, Red Raccooners.....can you BELIEVE we have been open for 20 years?!? WOW! Ken started Gryfalia's Aerie and built this beast for eight years! Jamie has taken the helm for the last twelve...and now we get to come together to celebrate TWENTY years! You KNOW we love to put on a celebratory party....plan on some… |
3 events,
Two days. Three bands. One seriously heady weekend. DeadHead Daze is DESTIHL's celebration of the DeadHead IPA Series, our award-winning lineup of hop-forward beers, and the music that inspired them. Join us August 7-8 on the Beer Hall lawn for free live music, local vendors, and food worth sticking around for. Free Live Music by… |
4 events,
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The Illinois State Historical Society, in partnership with the Paul A. Funk Foundation and McLean County Museum of History, will dedicate a new historic marker on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 10 a.m. The marker is located a quarter mile south of the Funk Prairie Home and Gem & Mineral Museum in Shirley, Illinois. It… |
4 events,
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The 2026 Litchfield Pickers Market returns on the second Sunday of each month, May to October, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. This popular regional market features a juried antique sale with live music all day and plenty of street food. You'll also enjoy the adjoining Monroe Street market area with talented artisan and farmers market vendors. Plus,…
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Arts & crafts activities will be provided by Inside Out Accessible Art (IOAA) and other community organizations. Face painting, temporary tattoos, a family scavenger hunt and hula hooping will also be provided. This is a free event held at the Miller Park Pavilion, Bloomington, main level.
Free
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2 events,
The Illinois State Fair returns for 2026, August 13 - 23, with an all star concert lineup and with the theme of "Miles of Smiles". Grandstand Events (Gates open 1 hour prior to the show) - The 2026 Illinois State Fair features a diverse lineup of evening performances, with tickets available for purchase: Aug 14:… |
3 events,
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Starved Rock Nationals is Lighting Up The Night In Joliet! 100 Spectacular and jaw dropping Vehicles Will light the way on Route from The Dirt oval 66 through Downtown Joliet in a Night Parade like never seen before! A fun Night parade to celebrate Rt 66 100th anniversary and a unique opportunity for family and…
Free for Parade
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4 events,
Step into a sea of summer color at Sunflower Days Festival at Rader Family Farms. This daytime celebration invites guests to wander through acres of blooming sunflowers and a vibrant zinnia field, soak in the beauty of the season, and enjoy a relaxed, joy-filled farm experience designed for all ages. This is the perfect time… 
Get ready for another unforgettable season of Downtown Pontiac Cruise Nights 2026! Join us as we celebrate the Route 66 & Pontiac Car Centennial with a full lineup of special…
Free
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5 events,
Step into a sea of summer color at Sunflower Days Festival at Rader Family Farms. This daytime celebration invites guests to wander through acres of blooming sunflowers and a vibrant zinnia field, soak in the beauty of the season, and enjoy a relaxed, joy-filled farm experience designed for all ages. This is the perfect time…
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Main Street Mingle season is officially ready for vendor sign-ups — and trust us, this year is going to be BIG. With themed events, our Renaissance edition, and the massive Route 66 Centennial Celebration closing out the season, you’re going to want in on this one. Location: Old Route 66 – Virden Town Square 9…
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BLOOMINGTON, IL – The 48th Annual Cultural Fest returns to Miller Park in Bloomington on Saturday, August 22, from noon to 6:00 p.m. The free community festival will bring together music, dance, food, community organizations and family activities for an afternoon celebrating the cultural diversity of Bloomington-Normal. With the theme “A Celebration of Diversity,” Cultural Fest features a… |
4 events,
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The Lawndale Route 66 Festival is led by Chicago’s Historic Route 66 Classic Car Show. After 12 successful years, this beloved tradition has grown into something even bigger: the second…
Free
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3 events,
The Balloons Over 66 Weekend in Lincoln, Illinois, is August 28–29, 2026, including hot air balloon flights and night glows for this year's 100th Route 66 anniversary celebration. The festival spans multiple locations in Lincoln, combining aerial entertainment with community traditions. The Balloon Glow & Flights: on Illinois Route 10. The weekend features localized balloon…
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Bring your family and friends for a night out in town at the Cottage Core Street Fair, part of Gillespie's Fourth Fridays series. Enjoy local artisans, restaurant specials, and local shopping along East Chestnut St between Main St and Montgomery St, plus garden activities and a movie night at the Colonial Giving Garden (co-presenting this…
Free
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5 events,
ROUTE 66 CENTENNIAL UFO FESTIVAL Saturday, August 29th 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Sunday, August 30th 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Rain or shine. The truth is out there… and it’s landing in Livingston, IL! Join us for our 5th Annual UFO Festival & 5K Alien Chase, a two-day celebration of all things extraterrestrial, featuring… 
The Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival a free annual event held at the Postville Courthouse State Historic Site and the VFW on 5th Street in Lincoln, Illinois. The next festival takes place on Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30, 2026, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm daily, as a major part of the Balloons…
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The WeatherTech Berwyn Rt. 66 Car Show returns on August 29, 2026. Sponsored by Paisans Pizzeria and Bar. We look forward to having everyone back on the mother road and in their favorite cars! Join us for another great show. Enjoy live music, food, and drinks from local establishments along the road. The Berwyn Rt.… |
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3 events,
Take your sweet time savoring the smells, reveling in the flavors and immersing yourself in the rich and vibrant coffee culture of the Great Rivers & Routes region during Javapalooza 2026, coming Sept. 1-Nov. 30, 2026! Javapalooza celebrates the bean, the baristas and the people who create the beautiful, delicious coffee experiences that make our… 
Route 66: The Main Street of America will premiere as a moving celebration: a cross-country film screening tour down Historic Route 66. Partnering with local entities along the historic highway (Main Street programs, downtown associations, tourism bureaus and chambers of commerce), we’ll screen the film at 40+ events at select drive-ins and historic theaters from Chicago to… |
5 events,
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Route 66 Centennial Celebration & Drone Show at Rader Family Farms, presented by VisitBN and Sponsored by Rivian. Get your kicks on Route 66 and experience: - 12-acre Route 66 themed Corn Maze- 10am-6pm ($)- Diner-style eats and drinks ($)- Over 50 fun-filled activities- 10am-6pm ($)- Cruise-In Classic Cars & Donuts Show - 4pm -…
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CALLING ALL ROUTE 66 FANS.... Tickets are on sale... Will we see you at the Old Joliet Prison on September 4th for the Route 66: The Main Street of America documentary screening? Enjoy a self-guided tour of the prison before hand and settle in for the screening and Q&A that follow. See the link below… |
6 events,
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A bit of Renaissance on Route 66 at Historic Route 66 Flea Market: Returning to the Renaissance for our second year! FREE ENTRY! Come see the Fairy Queen and follow the clues of her Quest to earn your place as a Knight of the Court! The Kingdom of the Broken Crown will also be there…
Free
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Celebrate the centennial of a truly legendary highway with a special screening of ROUTE 66: THE MAIN STREET OF AMERICA—a powerfully moving new feature-length documentary that follows the road, sharing…
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You are invited to Ryburn Place at Sprague's Super Service, 305 Pine Street in Normal (now rescheduled after the previous rain out date)! Join us 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5 for a Route 66 Centennial Parking Lot Party featuring the rockabilly stylings of Union Avenue. Ryburn Place Gifts and Gab will be open for… |
5 events,
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Pontiac, IL: You've never heard violin like this! The world's premier visionary violinist, Dixon's life mission is to inspire people - and he has done so across North America, including giving four TED talks/performances, over ten years at Burning Man, plus radio, TV, and film appearances. Dixon’s Violin continues his HUMANKINDness tour on Sunday, September…
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One hundred years after Route 66 first connected communities across America, a new feature-length documentary invites audiences to discover the people and places keeping its story alive – including Bloomington-Normal… |