What’s going on
Out&about
Through October
Country Memory Trails
10568 Caledonia Road, Belvidere. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Wagon rides along the Haunted Trail, maze at night; daytime activities as well. For more information, visit www.countrymemorytrail.com on the Web.
Through Oct. 25
Real Pirates
At the Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Learn the true story of the Whydah, from slave ship to pirate ship to final resting place on the ocean floor. Explore more than 200 artifacts recovered off the coast of Cape Cod. Advance tickets suggested; phone 312-922-9410.
Through Oct. 31
Selmi’s Pumpkin Patch
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at 1206 Dixon Ave., Rock Falls. Petting zoo, corn maze, weekend wagon rides. On Fridays and Saturdays starting Oct. 9, from 7 p.m. to midnight is the Sterling/Rock Falls Jaycees haunted house. www.selmi.com
Through Oct. 31
Fright Night
7:30 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays in Forest City. (Turn at the post office.) Not recommended for small children. Children younger than 8 must be with an adult. Armbands are $15 on Oct. 31. Admission is $15 a person. Attractions: The Church, Trail of Bloody Beasts, House of Blood and Museum of Horror. For more information, visit www.hauntedillinois.com or call 309-597-2922.
Through Oct. 31
Haunted Barns of Lena
6:30-9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 609 N. Schuyler St., Lena. Seven levels of darkness in two large old barns. Self-guided. Cost: $9. Call 800-369-2955.
Through Oct. 31
Old Haunted Mill
Fridays and Saturdays on High Street, Orangeville. Seven levels of fright, starting at the fire station. For more information, visit www.oldhauntedmill.org on the Web.
Through Oct. 31
QC Haunted Forest
7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 3501 207th St. North, Port Byron. $12 admission. For more information, visit www.qchauntedforest.com online.
Through Nov. 1
Great Pumpkin Patch
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at 16470 Black Road, Lyndon. Fresh baked pie, hayrides, train ride through wooded area, haunted house. For more information, visit http://thegreatpumpkinpatchfestival.com/ on the Web.
Oct. 9
Artist’s Little Secret
7-9 p.m. at The Next Picture Show, Dixon. See if you can identify the artist. For more information, call 815-285-4924.
Oct. 9
Petunia City Quilters show
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Loveland Community Building, Dixon. Display of more than 150 quilts. Vendors, quilt appraisals and scissor sharpening.
Oct. 9-31
Terror on the Railroad
7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays 7000 Olson Road, Union. Abandoned Train of Chills, antique streetcar ride through a haunted cemetery. For more information, visit www.terrorontherailroad.com on the Web.
Oct. 10 and 17
Train of Terror
6-9 p.m. at 2954 S. Walnut Road, Freeport, 4 miles of train ride with spooky action on both sides of the track. Cost: $7. www.thefreeportshow.com
Oct. 10
Trivia Night
5 p.m. Fundraiser at Westwood Sports and Expo Center. Entry fee of $80 a team of four to eight people. Concessions available. Proceeds will help support parks and recreation within Sterling Township.
Oct. 10
St. Jude Carnival
1-5 p.m. at the Coliseum, downtown Oregon on state Route 2. Each child will receive 5 game tickets and can sign up for a door prize. Additional tickets are 25 cents each or 5 for $1. For more information, call 815-440-0142.
Oct. 10-11
Heritage Canyon comes alive
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Spinners, broom makers, rope makers, seed collecting and canning demonstrations. You may find a person demonstrating the apple press.
Oct. 11
Bowl-4-Shelter
1 p.m. and 5 p.m. 9-Pin No Tap Bowl-A-Thon at Rock River Lanes, Rock Falls. Cost is $25 for three games and shoe rental; $30 games, shoes, sandwich, fries and drink; children 12 and younger $10/$15. Prizes awarded to top three teams; prizes awarded to all kids. Raffle drawings and silent auctions. For more information, call 815-626-2210.
Oct. 11
Poker Run and benefit
10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Poker Run at Nick’s Tavern, 1300 Prophet Road, Rock Falls. Cost is $12 first person, $6 for additional people. 4-9 p.m. benefit for Happy Tails Animal Shelter at Kapp’s Banquet Hall, 201 W. First St., Rock Falls.
Oct. 11
Pork ’n’ Pie
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dinner (drive-in or fly-in) with Bid ’n’ Buy Auction starting at 1 p.m. at Ogle County Airport, state Route 64 east of Mount Morris. For dinner details, call 815-732-7268; for auction details, call 815-734-6335.
Oct. 14
Book reading, signing
7 p.m. The works of two local authors will be the featured presentations at Ashford University in Room A342 of St Clare Hall. Ashford University Professor Gary Heath will read from “Long Dark River Casino,” while Misty Evans will read from her 2008 book “Operation Sheba.” Both authors will also sign copies of their books during the event.
Oct. 16
Ladies Night Out
4-8 p.m. at Sauk Valley Community College. Vendors, samples, fashion show and more.
Oct. 17
“Tales From Beyond the Grave” Cemetery Walk
2-5 p.m. Stories about “late” local citizens buried at historic Oakwood Cemetery in Dixon. Rain date: Oct. 18. $5 donation a person. For more information, call the Dixon-Lee County Genealogical Society at 815-652-3775 or 815-284-3496.
Festivals
Spooktacular Festival
Through Oct. 30
Fridays and Saturdays at Lockwood Park Trailside Equestrian Centre, 4201 Safford Road, Rockford. Halloween-themed fun, including a Glow-in-the-Dark Pony Ring, Goblin Gameyard and Spooktacular Hayrides. Country band Smokin’ Gunz will perform free concerts 6:30-10:30 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 10 and 17, with line-dancing lessons 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 17. Fees vary. For more information, visit www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/spooktacular or call 815-987-8809.
Oct. 10-11
Fall Festival in Fulton
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Fulton. Pumpkin painting, wagon rides, scavenger hunt downtown, and a look at pioneer life at Heritage Canyon. For more information, visit www.cityoffulton.us/ on the Web.
Oct. 10-11
Scarecrow Harvest Festival
Noon to 5 p.m. at Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford. Build a scarecrow with provided straw, then dress your scarecrow with old clothes from home or other scarecrow accessories available for purchase. 12:30-4:30 p.m. Corn shelling; 1 p.m. History of Midwest Agriculture; 2-4 p.m. Apple pressing; 2:30 p.m. Apple snapping.
Cost: $6 for adults; $4 for students and children 3-17. For more information, visit www.midwayvillage.com or call 815-397-9112.
Oct. 10
31st Turkey Testicle Festival
Union Street Station in Byron. The event started in 1979 when Frank Maragi Sr. bought about 25 pounds of frozen turkey testicles and raised $130 for charity. Last year saw more than 5,000 attendees and $25,000 was raised for charity. For more information, visit www.2camels.com/turkey-testicle-festival.php or call 815-234-9910.
Stage events
Oct. 9-11
California Suite
Comedy at the Prairie Arts Center in Princeton. For tickets or information, call 815-875-2787.
Oct. 11
Celtic Woman
7:30 p.m. at the iWireless Center in Moline. The 2009 “Isle of Hope” tour will dazzle the eye, enchant the ear and stimulate both the mind and the heart. Tickets start at $32.50. For more information, visit celticwoman.com on the Web.
Oct. 16
Bonnie Koloc in Concert
7 p.m. At The Next Picture Show, Dixon. $25 Ticket. Limited seating. For reservations, call 815-285-4924.
Oct. 17
HapHazzard
8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ’60s Music & Beyond: Beatles, Doors, Motown Show Band from Bettendorf, Iowa. $5 cover charge at Starlight’s Theatre & Lounge, 314 First Ave., Sterling. For more information, visit www.starlightstheatre.com or call 815-564-9430.
Oct. 23-24
Ballet Quad Cities performance of Dracula
7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Capitol Theatre, 330 West 3rd St., Davenport, Iowa. Bold music, edgy choreography, eerie lighting, creative costumes and dynamic dancing all adding up to unforgettable performances. Come for a drink with Dracula at 6:30 p.m. each evening before the performance. Halloween costumes encouraged.
Oct. 24
Night Ranger
4-6:30 p.m. in the iWireless Center parking lot before the Mallards game. Hockey Hall of Fame games, beer garden showing football games, and first 2,500 fans receive a T-shirt. Concert is free with game ticket. For tickets and information, visit www.iWirelesscenter.com or call 800-345-7000.
Oct. 25
QC wind ensemble’s “British Invasion”
3 p.m. at Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Admission for adults is $5, $4 for seniors over 65, and free for students.
Oct. 25
Point of Grace and Mark Schultz
6 p.m. at the Adler Theatre in Davenport, Iowa. Tickets ($17, $22 and $32) are on sale at the box office, online at Ticketmaster.com, or 800-745-3000.
Oct. 30
KSO Presents a Halloween Concert
5:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Boutell Memorial Concert Hall at the Northern Illinois University Music Building, DeKalb. Costume event. Trick-or-treaters will be greeted throughout the faculty wing of the building before the first concert.
Nov. 1
Chamber Music
Clinton Symphony Orchestra, 3 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Clinton, Iowa. The music of friendships. For more information, visit www.clintonsymphony.org online.
Nov. 5
Jerry Seinfeld
7 p.m. at the Coronado Theatre, Rockford. Tickets: $47-77. Tickets available online at www.coronadopac.org, the Coronado Box Office, or by calling 815-968-0595.
