The temperature may be dropping, but the cold doesn’t stop Illinois adventures. Bundle up to enjoy all of the wonderful experiences that Illinois has to offer this month.

Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition
Visit Rockford for a chance to see snow sculpting teams from across the state in action competing to represent Illinois in the U.S. National Snow Competition in 2025. The competition will be held Jan. 24-27 and the sculptures will be on display in the park for as long as weather conditions allow.

Sledding Hill at Soldier Field
One of the best places for sledding in Chicago is at Soldier Field’s 220-foot sledding hill. Sledding on the hill is permitted during daylight hours based on weather conditions.

Morton Arboretum Pine Pacer
The Pine Pacer hosted by the Morton Arboretum in Lisle is a virtual running event that challenges participants to complete a goal of running or walking 25, 50 or 100 miles by the end of January. Individuals can reach their goal by running or walking through the beautiful winter scenery at the Arboretum, around their neighborhood, or anywhere else they enjoy running or walking. Registration for the event is now open.

Stay warm!

Catch a glimpse of the majestic American bald eagles that represent our country’s spirit, freedom and strength in Illinois this winter season!

More than 3,100 wintering bald eagles call Illinois home during the coldest months of the year, which is more than any other state outside of Alaska. Bald eagle watching in Illinois is a tradition for many people across the state. This year, Illinois Eagle Day is celebrated Saturday Jan. 27, but eagle watching events occur all winter long.

Here are two eagle watching events to check out in January:

Rock Island Clock Tower Eagle Watch
Eagle watching from the Clock Tower building on the Rock Island Arsenal is the perfect opportunity to view bald eagles in their natural habitat along the Mississippi River. Eagle watching will be available Saturday, Jan. 13 and Saturday, Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Starved Rock Eagle Watch Weekend
Visit Starved Rock State Park Saturday, Jan. 27 and Sunday, Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to learn more about bald eagles, experience the breath-taking sights of the park and witness bald eagles in the wild. Activities will be taking place at various locations across the Starved Rock area.

For more winter eagle watching events, visit the state website.

Happy watching!

Although the days are short and nights are cold, light up the night and warm up your spirits by attending a local light show. Lightshows during the winter months are a long-standing tradition in townships and major cities across the state. Lightshows can be enjoyed throughout the holiday season and even past the new year.

Here are a few notable displays to check out:

Northern Illinois

Lincoln Park Zoo Lights

Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago are back for the 29^th year. Tickets are $7 to $10 per person and admission is free on Mondays. Enjoy the lights from now until Jan. 7.

Freeport Festival of Trees

From now until Dec. 27, enjoy holiday trees decorated by local organizations and vote for your favorite.

Rockford Festival of Lights

Visit this free drive-thru event at Sinnissippi Park from now until New Year’s Eve. This will be Rockford’s grandest light show since the tradition started back in 1989.

Western Illinois

Winter Lights at Quad City Botanical Gardens

Visit the Winter Lights at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island to witness over 225,000 glowing lights illuminating the gardens. This experience will be open until New Year’s Day and tickets are available for purchase on their website.

Quincy Festival of Lights

Visit the Quincy Festival of Lights from now until New Year’s Eve. Catch Santa and Mrs. Clause on Dec. 22 for a special treat.

For 32 years, the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival has been a beloved tradition for Chicagoans and people across the nation that visit the Windy City for the holidays. The Magnificent Mile Light Festival is located along the heart of Michigan Avenue. The festival is hosted annually on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This year it will be held on Nov. 18.

The history of holiday celebrations on Michigan Avenue date back to 1949 when members of the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association displayed a 50 foot tall Christmas tree in Water Tower Park. The grand tree was adorned in 1,500 lights and a six foot star topper. However, the Magnificent Mile Light Festival as we know it developed after the Saks Fifth Avenue shop decided to decorate the trees outside of the their shop with white lights instead of their traditional ornaments. Soon after, other shops along Michigan Avenue began to adopt the tradition and displayed their own lights. This trend evolved into the festival which now displays 200 trees in sparkling lights with one million lights scattered along the mile.

This year, the holiday festivities that will be available include pictures with Santa, musical performances, a tree lighting ceremony and a fireworks show at the conclusion of the event. Shops along the Magnificent Mile will also be participating in the holiday activities and booths will be located in Pioneer Court. Activities will be held throughout the day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information about the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, visit their website here.

Happy holidays!

Every year, the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival takes place in downtown Sycamore near the corners of Main and State Street. This year’s festival will take place from Oct. 25-29.

The festival is Sycamore’s biggest citywide event. It begins with an opening ceremony and cake cutting, and ends with a parade. The festival has over 1,000 entries in the Lions Club Decorated Pumpkin Display, two different carnivals, non-profit vendors, indoor craft shows, entertainment and other various activities.

Back in 1956, Wally Thurow began what would become the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival by displaying decorated pumpkins on his front lawn. In 1962, Thurow and the Sycamore Lions Club created the Festival, which became an official celebration in Sycamore.

Each year, more than 30 non-profit groups from DeKalb County are united under the Pumpkin Festival. They display thousands of decorated pumpkins, do a house walk, a pie eating contest, a fun fair, a race and more.

The mission of the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival is to showcase local non-profit organizations.

Be sure to check out the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival this week!