Illinois lights up the night sky in July with unforgettable fireworks displays and daylong festivities. One of the state’s largest events takes place in Peoria, where the beloved Red, White, and Boom! celebration attracts around 200,000 people along the riverfront. Thousands gather to enjoy live music, food vendors, family fun, and spectacular fireworks launched from barges on the Illinois River—making it one of the top shows in the nation.

For city residents and tourists alike, Navy Pier in Chicago offers a stellar fireworks experience. Though the pier won’t be hosting a firework display on July 4 this year, its summer schedule includes a dazzling fireworks show every Wednesday at 9 p.m. and Saturday at 10 p.m., including an exceptional performance on July 5. The pier’s backdrop of Lake Michigan and downtown Chicago makes it a stunning place to catch an evening of sparkle.

In the northern suburbs, the Mundelein Community Days Festival takes place from July 3-6 and features a whole weekend of celebrations. Alongside a car show, pet parade, face painting, carnival attractions, and live music, the festival features dusk fireworks over the lake, bringing out families and friends for a festive experience.

Planning to attend a small-town celebration? The town of Sandwich is hosting Freedom Days on July 5 in their park district, offering an opportunity to get out and enjoy the sun. After a morning parade at the fairgrounds, live music, food trucks and games keeping families entertained throughout the day, culminating in a bright and cheerful fireworks display.

Near Springfield, the Chatham Rock the Dock event on Lake Springfield presents one of Central Illinois’s finest fireworks displays on July 4. It’s a perfect choice for a more relaxed evening by the lake, with music, boat watching, and a glowing sky to enjoy.

From riverfront spectacles and lakeside charm to bustling pier shows and small-town parades, Illinois delivers fireworks and festivities that capture the spirit of Independence Day. Wherever you are, arrive early, grab a good seat, enjoy the concert or carnival, and prepare for a truly memorable night under the stars.

On March 14, communities and nature enthusiasts come together to celebrate National Learn about Butterflies Day.

This special day is dedicated to exploring and appreciating butterflies, the delicate creatures that add beauty and color to our world.

In our great state, the monarch butterfly is the official state insect. There are four main stages in the life cycle of a monarch butterfly: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The entire process usually takes one to two months, although it can vary depending on the species. Adult butterflies typically live for about two to four weeks, although some species can live for up to a year.

Additionally, this butterfly has a wingspan of three and one-fourth to four and seven-eighths inches. The male has bright orange wings with black veins and black edging. The black border contains two rows of white spots. The female is dull orange with scales along the black veins. The body and antennae are black. The front legs are small and not used for walking. The caterpillar has rings of yellow, black and ivory on each segment and black and white stripes on the head.

They spend winters in central Mexico or the Gulf of Mexico. The monarchs that return in the spring are not the ones that migrated south but are their offspring. The larva eats milkweeds, which is our state wildflower, and adult monarchs visit flowers for nectar.

To learn more about the monarch butterfly, visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ website.

Veterans Day is a significant day in the United States dedicated to honoring all military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It was established as a federal holiday on Nov. 11, 1938. This date was chosen to commemorate the end of World War I. Along with the rest of the United States, Illinois has many celebrations and ceremonies to bring the community together to honor our troops. Additionally, there are monuments across Illinois that serve as symbols to remember our heroes. Visiting a monument on Veterans Day provides the opportunity to remember and never forget those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Here are ten monuments across the state to visit on Veterans Day:

1. World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial
Oak Ridge Cemetery – 1441 Monument Ave., Springfield, Illinois
The World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial was constructed on Dec. 4, 2004 to honor the 987,000 men and women from the state who served our country during World War II. 22,000 Illinois citizens gave their lives in pursuit of liberty.

2. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
1500 Monument Ave., Springfield, Illinois
The Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in May 1988. The memorial incorporates five black granite walls inscribed with the 2,970 names of Illinoisans who died or are still missing. Each branch of service is also listed.

3. Korean War Memorial
1500 Monument Ave., Springfield, Illinois
The Illinois Korean War Memorial was dedicated on June 16, 1996. The monument's centerpiece is a 12-foot bronze bell surrounded by four larger-than-life warriors representing the five branches of the armed forces - Army, Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force and Marines. The names of over 1,700 Illinoisans killed in Korea are inscribed along eight walls of the memorial's granite base.

4. Middle East Conflicts Memorial Wall
229 Main St., Marseilles, Illinois
On June 19, 2004, a granite memorial wall was dedicated commemorating the servicemen and women who have lost their lives in worldwide conflicts since 1979. The names on the wall represent our fallen heroes from locations including Panama, Lebanon, the Balkans, Grenada, Somalia, Haiti, USS Cole, USS Stark, terrorist attacks in Italy, Greece, Scotland, and the current conflicts in the Middle East.

The Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com recently released the updated Housing Market Ranking with Rockford claiming the top spot as the number one real-estate market in the U.S. With a population of about 147,000 residents and a metro area of about 339,000, Rockford is a vibrant city sitting along the Rock River, featuring countless museum attractions, spaces to enjoy nature, iconic eateries and much more.

Rockford is among Illinois’ growing economies with various developing industries including health care, aerospace and logistics. Additionally, it is home to the Chicago Rockford International Airport, which is among the fastest growing cargo airports in the world and flies over 100,000 passengers to popular destinations each year.

Sitting 90 miles from Chicago and Milwaukee, Rockford has been a popular area to settle for new homebuyers searching for affordable homes while still being connected to large city life and active neighborhoods.

The Housing Market Ranking is based on the status of the real-estate market, economic health and quality of life in metro areas across the U.S. This ranking is a testament to Rockford’s thriving communities and progress.

To see a full list of the Housing Market Ranking, click here.

According to NASA, the winter solstice will be taking place this year at 9:27 p.m. on Dec. 21, making that the shortest day of the year in terms of daylight.

So, what does the winter solstice represent? Not only does it mean that Illinois will be seeing just under nine hours and eight minutes of daylight on Dec. 21, it also means that the Earth’s axis is currently furthest away from the sun.

Because of this, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere also represents the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. During the summer solstice in Illinois, the Earth’s axis will be at its closest point to the sun in its yearly rotation.

You might be wondering if that means that the winter solstice is also the earliest sunset and latest sunrise of the year? Good question, but no. Since the calendar is not a perfect reflection of the Earth’s movements through space and time, the earliest sunset of the year occurred earlier this month.

However, the days are still becoming shorter, because the sunrise is occurring later and later, and will do so until early January, when the sunrise will occur at about 7:18 a.m.

In Cahokia, which is near the Mississippi River across from St. Louis, indigenous people built multiple temple mounds or pyramids, much like the Aztecs built. Among these stood an interesting structure known today as “Woodhenge,” which had large wooden posts, positioned in a circle.

On the winter solstice, the sun aligns with the Woodhenge and a temple mound in the distance.

This as well as other archeological evidence has led researchers to make the assumption that the Cahokia people, like many indigenous people, revered the sun and considered it a deity. It is also thought that they made careful observations of the solar system and held rituals honoring the sun for the upcoming agricultural year.

In Cahokia, the Winter Solstice will be observed at Cahokia Mounds on Sunday, Dec. 23 at 7 a.m. Visitors should gather at the reconstructed Woodhenge, which is approximately one-half mile west of Monks Mound (the largest mound), on Collinsville Road. While waiting for the sunrise, an archaeologist will explain the discovery of the Woodhenges, their function, and the Mississippian culture that built them. Out of respect to indigenous culture, there will be no rituals or ceremonies performed. The present Woodhenge was built in its original location in 1985, following years of excavations that led to the locations being revealed of the large posts.

The Winter Solstice is a mysterious event due to many people not knowing about its history or significance, and we may never truly know what it meant to the indigenous people.