The Northwest Illinois Calendar
What’s Happening
154 upcoming festivals, concerts, markets and main-street traditions across all four counties.
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Festivals, fundraisers, live music, farmers markets — if it happens in Carroll, Lee, Ogle or Whiteside County, we want it here. It’s free.
Arts & TheaterMusic at the Square Summer Series5:30 PM – 7:00 PMJohn Dixon Park · DixonSpend Friday evenings enjoying live music in the heart of Dixon during the 2026 Music at the Square Summer Series at John Dixon Park. These free outdoor concerts take place from 5:30–7 p.m. and feature a variety of local and regional performers throughout the summer. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, rel…
- Live MusicMusic at the Square: Steve Catron5:30 PM – 7:00 PMJohn Dixon Park · DixonA free outdoor concert on the Rock River in Dixon’s John Dixon Park, part of the weekly Friday evening series that runs through August. Bring a chair.
- Festivals & FairsFeaturedAmboy Depot DaysAug 27 – Aug 30Amboy Depot Museum & downtown Amboy · AmboyAmboy’s signature festival, centered on its 1876 railroad depot: a carnival, the Miss Amboy pageant, a tractor show, a parade, live music, and one of northern Illinois’s largest car, truck and motorcycle shows.
Arts & TheaterAll the World's a Stage Art Exhibition10:00 AM – 4:00 PMThe Next Picture Show Community Fine Arts Center · DixonAugust 26 – Sept. 19, 2026 Opening Reception & Awards Presentation: August 28, 2026
Food & DrinkAmboy Depot Days5:00 PM – 9:30 PMDowntown Amboy, IL · AmboySince 1982, Amboy Depot Days has been one of the biggest small-town festivals in Northwest Illinois, drawing visitors from across the region for four days of live entertainment, family fun, food, and community tradition in downtown Amboy. The 2026 celebration takes place Aug. 27–30 and is expected to once again fill…
Arts & TheaterOpening Reception: All the World's A Stage6:00 PM – 8:00 PMThe Next Picture Show Community Fine Arts Center · DixonPresented in partnership with The Dixon: Historic Theatre, All the World’s A Stage opening reception invites artists to explore the people, places, and experiences that deserve the spotlight in their lives.
FamilyNachusa Grasslands August Nature Tours10:00 AM – 12:00 PMNachusa Grasslands · Franklin Grove(Event Photo by Dee Hudson)