What’s going on
Out&about
Through Oct. 31
Art Exhibit: CCAQ No. 5: From Lead to Gold
Paintings by Sydni Reubin at The Crystal Cork Wine Shoppe, 219 W. First St., Dixon. For more information, visit www.distinctivegardensinc.com/ccaq.html or call 815-285-3496.
Through Oct. 31
Nightmare on Fairgrounds Road haunted house
6-9:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at the Bureau County Fairgrounds in Princeton. Admission is $7 for adults, no charge for children 6 years and younger. Visitors may go through with the “lights on” 6-7 p.m. Also available are a kid’s fun fair, food booths, hayrack rides, a small corn maze and bonfire.
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. 2 and 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 Oct. 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.
Through Oct. 31
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 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. 16
Ladies Night Out
4-8 p.m. at Sauk Valley Community College. Vendors, samples, fashion show and more.
Oct. 17
Train of Terror
6-9 p.m. at 2954 S. Walnut Road, Freeport. Four miles of train ride with spooky action on both sides of the track. Cost: $7. www.thefreeportshow.com
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: Sunday, Oct. 18. $5 donation a person. For more information, call the Dixon-Lee County Genealogical Society at 815-652-3775 or 815-284-3496.
Oct. 17-31
Haunted Forest Festival
Sunset to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 1030 Viaduct Road, Savanna. Wagon ride through tunnel of terror. Cost: $8 for adults, $4 for children. 815-273-3292
Oct. 17
Pancake breakfast and activities
7-10 a.m. at the YWCA of the Sauk Valley, 412 First Ave., Sterling, to kick off “Week Without Violence” festivities. There will be activities for kids (face painting, coloring, balloon animals, etc.) They are also in the process of gathering area talent to perform. They will also showcase artwork completed by many of their clients.
Oct. 17
Annual auction
5 p.m. St. Mary School, Sterling. Silent and live auction, tailgate food, beverages, games and more. Tickets $25; $40 couple; $15 seniors. Advance purchase appreciated. For tickets or more information, call 815-625-2253.
Oct. 17
Tender Loving Crafts
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 4509 Highcrest Road, Rockford. Vendors, bake sale, quilts and more.
Oct. 17
The Haunted Barn
7-10 p.m. at O’Connell’s Jellystone Park, Amboy. The newest feature is Frank’s Place, a haunted pub where ghouls gather. The barn also includes a “Carnevil” circus room, swamp room, morgue, rotating walks and tunnels, and a cemetery walk. Cost is $5. O’Connell’s is located at 970 Green Wing Road, (Just off U.S. Route 30). Call 815-857-3860 for more information.
Oct. 17-18, 24-25
Boo! at the zoo
Starts at 11 a.m. at Brookfield Zoo, Chicago. Included in general admission, which is $12 for adults and $8 for children 3-11 and seniors. Children 2 and younger are admitted free. Parking is $8. For tickets and more information, visit www.CZS.org online.
Oct. 18
Bridal Fair
Noon to 4 p.m. at The Brandywine. The fair includes vendors, gifts, hors d’oeuvres and a fashion show. Cost is $5; brides get in free.
Oct. 18
Farm toy show
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Prophetstown High School. Admission is $2, children younger than 12 are admitted free. Pedal tractor kids parade at noon. Door prizes and food stands.
Oct. 23-25
Flashback Weekend Horror Convention
At the Wyndham O’Hare, 6810 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Meet horror film stars such as Robert Englund at the Flashback Weekend Halloween Party and Svengoolie. Vendors will sell items to thrill you, chill you and more. For a complete weekend schedule, pricing and hotel accommodations, visit www.flashbackweekend.com on the Web.
Oct. 23
Burpee Haunted Museum
7-10 p.m. at Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main St., Rockford. This event is suitable for ages 10 and older. Park for free at Riverfront Museum Park, adjacent to Burpee at 711 N. Main St., and take the sidewalk to Burpee’s front entrance. Cost: $6 a person. For more information, visit www.burpee.org or call 815-965-3433.
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 give a free concert 6:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday. Line dancing lessons are 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday. Fees vary. For more information, visit www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/spooktacular or call 815-987-8809.
Oct. 21-25
Pumpkin Festival in Sycamore
5-9 p.m. Wednesday and Oct. 21, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 23-24, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 25: youth costume contest, pie-eating contest, carnival and display of carved pumpkins. For more information, visit www.sycamorepumpkinfestival.com on the Web.
Oct. 23-24
Mount Carroll OktoberFest
6-11 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. Downtown. Cemetery tours, wagon rides, thrilling Halloween stories and a magic show. Farmers Market, the antique tractor show, and craft fair. Food and beer tents, music ranging from polka to country. For more information, visit www.mtcarrollil.org on the Web.
Stage events
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. 16
Tony Oros
Tribute concert at Tipsy’s in Dixon.
Oct. 17
Groove Walk
9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in downtown Rockford. Admission is $7 in advance or $10 at the door. One ticket admits patrons to all 14 locations. Country, blues, rock, Latino, classic rock, pop, and R&B music are all featured. For a full schedule, visit www.onthewaterfront.com on the Web. Also, the IceHogs are offering game and Groove Walk tickets for $15, which gets you into the game at the Rockford MetroCentre, and then stay for the live local music at 14 downtown bars. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. Buy these tickets at www.icehogs.com online.
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 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 W. Third Street, Davenport, Iowa. Bold music, edgy choreography, eerie lighting, creative costumes and dynamic dancing all add 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 2500 fans receive a T-shirt. Concert is free with game ticket. For tickets and information, visit www.iWirelesscenter.com or call 800-345-7000.
