DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Afternoon Concert with Chris Prola
2025-09-27 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
Enjoy modern variations on classical composers as pianist Chris Prola plays pieces by Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt, Paganini, and more! To help transport us to a more classical time, Chris will perform dressed in traditional 18th century attire.
This free performance requires no registration, and all ages are welcome.
For additional information, please contact Chelsea at chelsear@dkpl.org or (815) 756-9568 ext. 1700.

Saturday Night at Glidden (SNAG)
2025-09-27 16:00 - 19:00 | Glidden Historical Center, 921 W Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
This unique fundraiser dinner will be held Saturday, Sept. 27 from 4-7 pm at the historic Glidden Homestead. Parking is available onsite.

This event features a catered buffet, tours of the historic house and barn, music by Bend in the Road, raffle items, games and more — all with the unique Glidden Homestead as a beautiful and unforgettable backdrop! You don’t want to miss it!

All proceeds from this evening will support continued operations and preservation of the historic Glidden Homestead, where Joseph F. Glidden created and initially manufactured “The Winner” barbed wire!

2025 Taste of DeKalb
2025-09-28 09:00 - 15:00 | Van Buer Plaza, 148-198 N 2nd St, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
The 2025 Taste of DeKalb is a food and entertainment event hosted by the Kishwaukee Sunrise Rotary Club in conjunction with the Corn Classic 10K race held on September 28, 2025. The event will run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in Frank Van Buer Plaza in downtown DeKalb. The event is open and free to the public. This year they are also welcoming back InFunktious as the 9:00am band and The PriSSillas to the Taste of DeKalb!

NIU Wind Ensemble Concert
2025-09-30 19:00 - 21:00 | NIU Music Building, 550 Lucinda Ave, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
The NIU Wind Ensemble will present the collegiate world premiere of a piece commissioned by the US Marine Band to commemorate a significant anniversary.

Join this special performance by the NIU Wind Ensemble featuring the collegiate premiere of Symphony No. 2, “The Sacred Cloth”, a piece written by Dr. Onsby Rose.

NIU Homecoming Block Party: Down Home in Downtown DeKalb
2025-10-02 17:00 - 20:00 | Downtown DeKalb, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
NIU students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community are invited to join the Huskies for a free down home celebration in Downtown DeKalb on Lincoln Highway (between 1st and 4th Streets) on Thurs., Oct. 2 from 5-8 p.m.

The Huskie Homecoming Block Party has something for everyone—kidzone, classic car show, March of the Huskies, pep rally, food trucks, live music, discounts at local businesses and much more!

Celebrate NIU Homecoming not only during the Block Party, but all week! Visit niu.edu/homecoming for a full calendar of NIU Homecoming activities.

Food Truck Fest 2025
2025-10-03 17:00 - 22:00 | Midwest Sportsplex, 212 W Woodlawn Street, Hinckley, IL, 60520, United States
Enjoy this family-friendly event with bar service available! 7 different food trucks and live music will take over the Midwest Sportsplex parking lot on Friday, October 3 from 5-10PM.

A Performance of Music from the Middle East
2025-10-11 18:30 - 19:30 | DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
The DeKalb Public Library is delighted to host an evening of cultural songs, both traditional and new compositions, after-hours in the library’s main lobby!
Aboud Agha was born in Syria and immigrated to Boston Mass at the age of twelve. He is an accomplished performer and composer of Arabic and Middle Eastern music. Aboud is a master of the Oud (Middle Eastern lute) and of many vocal styles from this part of the world. He has a master’s degree in musical performance from Northern Illinois University and a doctorate in ethnomusicology from UCLA in California. He now teaches at the American University in Dubai.
Aboud has performed his music solo, in ensembles and with orchestras in America, Europe and the Middle East. He returns to visit the Midwest this summer after a concert at the library of congress in Washington D.C. Click here to see Aboud’s many Instagram posts.
Aboud will be accompanied on percussion by DeKalb native Sven Oscar Hansen. Sven was born to Norwegian immigrants in the American Midwest, where he raised four children and owned a greenhouse and florist shop. Sven has lived and studied in Norway and India and is a certified yoga teacher and sound healer. He creates and performs events incorporating music, poems, and sound healing. Sven has studied Vedic science and holds a degree in world literature from Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa. He lives in DeKalb Illinois.
The evening also includes a brief discussion of this ethnic music and their interpretation of it. There will be an opportunity after the show to meet and chat with the artists.
This concert is free and open to all. Doors will open at 6:00 and music will begin at 6:30 p.m. No registration is required.
For additional information, please contact Samantha at samanthah@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1701.

KSO Opening Fall Concert: Petrushka and “Moor”
2025-10-11 19:30 | Music Building, Boutell Memorial Concert Hall, 550 Lucinda Ave, DeKalb, IL, 60115
The season opens with the Fall Concert: Petrushka and “Moor” on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 7:30 pm. A pre-concert talk with Linc Smelser, KSO music director, begins at 6:30 pm. This concert is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council and is sponsored in part by Ann and James Tucker.

The concert features:

Petrushka by Igor Stravinsky, the colorful ballet suite, a four-part musical rollercoaster

Symphony No. 25 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart—familiar to many from the film Amadeus

Viola Concerto by Béla Bartók, with special guest soloist Teng Li, newly appointed principal violist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

After-hours Concert: Mariachi Ensemble
2025-10-18 18:30 - 19:30 | DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
NIU Mariachi is part of the World Music Ensembles at the NIU School of Music. The ensemble was founded during the 1970’s with its first official concert in 1975 with Dr. Kuo-Huang Han as the first director of the program and Dr. Jui-Ching Wang from 2004. Last Spring of 2025, the NIU World Music Program celebrated its 50th year anniversary.
NIU Mariachi started as a student club under the guidance of the then trumpet Professor Christopher Scanlon and students Jair Nuñez and Axel Solorzano. On Fall 2024 they welcomed Mr. Antonio “Tony” Ozuna as the new musical director. Members are full-time students at the School of Music and from other schools. NIU Mariachi specializes in traditional and contemporary repertoire on the Mariachi tradition.
This concert is free and open to all. Doors will open at 6:00 and music will begin at 6:30 p.m. No registration is required.
This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
For additional information, please contact Samantha at samanthah@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1701.

Three Times A Lady (with Woody James)
2025-10-18 19:00 - 22:00 | Sandwich Opera House, 140 E Railroad St, Sandwich, IL, 60548
Three incredible female solo artists together called “Three Times A Lady” present the most timeless show in country music with unmatched three-part harmonies to boot. Initially starting out as a just-for-fun tribute to their all-time favorite “Trio” albums (Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris), the combo grew artistically as the girls started playing their own original songs and adding in their own trio-inspired covers. Between them they have toured nationwide with the best in the business such as Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lady A, Alabama and Blake Shelton as well as performing on the Opry 20+ times.

Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute
2025-10-18 19:30 | Egyptian Theatre, 135 North 2nd Street, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute is the ultimate tribute to the music of ABBA – sure to capture the hearts of fans and audiences of all ages! This live show is full of musical prowess, fabulous flair and fashion, and promises a mesmerizing ABBA experience for every Chiquitita, Super Trouper, Fernando, and Dancing Queen around!

Lyyra-Women's Vocal Ensemble
2025-10-23 19:00 | Music Building, Boutell Memorial Concert Hall, 550 Lucinda Ave, DeKalb, IL, 60115
“Lyyra is redefining the role of upper-voice ensembles in the choral landscape, highlighting the astonishing capabilities of women’s vocal artistry.”

NIU School of Music is thrilled to welcome Lyyra — the all-women vocal ensemble from the VOCES8 Foundation — to campus on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at Boutell Memorial Concert Hall!

Beatles vs Stones - A Musical Showdown
2025-10-24 19:30 | Egyptian Theatre, 135 North 2nd Street, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
The two greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands of all time face off as Yoshis hosts Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown. Taking the side of the Fab Four is Abbey Road, one of the country’s top Beatles tribute bands. With brilliant musicianship and authentic costumes and gear, Abbey Road plays beloved songs spanning the Beatles’ career. They engage in a musical “showdown” of the hits against premier Stones tribute band Satisfaction – The International Rolling Stones Show, who offer a faithful rendition of the music and style of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the bad boys of the British Invasion.

Heartache Tonight - A Tribute To The Eagles
2025-10-25 20:00 | Sandwich Opera House, 140 E Railroad St, Sandwich, IL, 60548
Chicagoland’s premier tribute to The Eagles, Heartache Tonight, is coming to The Sandwich Opera House in Sandwich, IL on Saturday October 25, 2025, for an evening of the Eagles hits you know and love.

Doors Open at 7pm – Show Starts at 8pm – This is an All-Ages Event

The Texas Tenors
2025-10-26 17:00 | Egyptian Theatre, 135 North 2nd Street, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
The Texas Tenors are the most successful music group and third highest selling artist in the history of America’s Got Talent! Since appearing on the series in 2009, JC, Marcus and John have released 5 studio albums, 3 PBS Specials, 5 DVDs, multiple singles and 2 children’s books that have earned them impressive recognition including 3 Emmy Awards, The Gelett Burgess Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature and the distinction of being Billboard Magazine’s #10 Classical Artist in the World.

The tenors’ most recent albums “Outside the Lines”, “Rise” and “A Collection of Broadway and American Classics” all debuted at #1 on the Billboard Charts. These classically trained, versatile tenors have performed more than 2500 concerts around the world including headline shows in Las Vegas, China and a 24-city tour of the United Kingdom. Recently they were honored to be included among the top 50 acts in the world and the only vocal group from the United States invited to appear on NBC’s America’s Got Talent: The Champions, All-stars edition.

KSO Free Halloween Concert
2025-10-30 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-10-30 19:30 - 20:30 | Music Building, Boutell Memorial Concert Hall, 550 Lucinda Ave, DeKalb, IL, 60115
Join the KSO and guest conductor Kirk Lundbeck in Boo-tell Hall for a performance of Halloween favorites and enjoy seeing your favorite orchestra musicians in costume. No tickets are required for these free, family-friendly concerts. This concert is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

After-hours Concert: Mariachi Ensemble
2025-11-01 17:30 - 18:30 | DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
NIU Mariachi performs an after-hours concert to conclude the Day of the Dead Celebration!
NIU Mariachi is part of the World Music Ensembles at the NIU School of Music. The ensemble was founded during the1970’s with its first official concert in 1975 with Dr. Kuo-Huang Han as the first director of the program and Dr. Jui-Ching Wang from 2004. Last Spring of 2025, the NIU World Music Program celebrated its 50th year anniversary.
NIU Mariachi started as a student club under the guidance of the then trumpet Professor Christopher Scanlon and students Jair Nuñez and Axel Solorzano. On Fall 2024 they welcomed Mr. Antonio “Tony” Ozuna as the new musical director. Members are full-time students at the School of Music and from other schools. NIU Mariachi specializes in traditional and contemporary repertoire on the Mariachi tradition.
This concert is free and open to all. Doors will open at 5:00 and music will begin at 5:30 p.m. No registration is required.
For additional information, please contact Samantha at samanthah@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1701.

Think Floyd USA
2025-11-01 19:30 | Egyptian Theatre, 135 North 2nd Street, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
Three full albums | One show! Think Floyd USA celebrates the music of Pink Floyd with a full-production tribute performance that showcases an energetic and phenomenally gifted cast alongside mesmerizing lights and video. Featuring nine passionate musicians and vocalists, Think Floyd USA includes several dedicated founding members who began the journey together in 2004.

Deemed “absolutely amazing…the best Pink Floyd tribute anywhere” by Full Throttle Magazine and Best Tribute Band by Chicago’s Metromix fans, Think Floyd USA has been featured in Singers & Musicians Magazine, which said, “You don’t have to close your eyes to believe TFUSA is the real thing!” All Ages Show.

Holiday Open House Evening Soirée at Blumen Gardens
2025-11-06 16:00 - 20:00 | Blumen Gardens, 403 Edward St, Sycamore, IL, 60178, United States
📅 Thursday, November 6, 2025🕓 4 – 8 PM✨ Join Blumen Gardens for a magical evening as they kick off the holiday season in true Blumen style!Enjoy a night of:🎶 Live music🍸 Signature holiday cocktails🍽 Delicious hors d’oeuvres & desserts🛍 Exclusive holiday discounts in-store
Your ticket includes a welcome drink, food, dessert, live music, and exclusive promotions throughout the evening.A portion of proceeds from this event will benefit local charities.
🚫 Tickets are non-refundable✅ Limited availability—reserve early!
🎫 Purchase tickets:In-store, by phone at (815) 895-3737, or online
💌 For more info, contact us at eventrentals@blumengardens.com or (815) 895-3737

Barrelhouse Blend Live at Whiskey Acres
2025-11-07 17:00 - 20:00 | Whiskey Acres, 11504 Keslinger Rd, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
Whiskey Acres Patio

Join Barrelhouse Blend to hear your favorite tunes while sipping on some of the finest cocktails made with the award-winning spirits from the Whiskey Acres Distilling Co.

The Barrelhouse Blend Trio is a request-driven combo that covers tunes from the 50’s to today and genres from classic rock-n-roll to the blues to yacht rock. Don’t miss out!

Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks Tribute
2025-11-07 20:00 - 21:00 | Sandwich Opera House, 140 E Railroad St, Sandwich, IL, 60548
The Midwest’s premier tribute to the music of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac, Stevie McVie, is making their Sandwich Opera House debut on Friday November 7, 2025.

Stevie McVie is the premier tribute to the music of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac, and they are performing live in Sandwich, IL at the historic Sandwich Opera House on Friday November 7, 2025. Come out for a night of beloved hits such as Dreams, Gypsy, The Chain, Rhiannon, Landslide, Little Lies and more, this is a must see show for any fan of Stevie Nicks or Fleetwood Mac.

Doors Open at 7:00pm – Show Begins at 8:00pm – This is an All-Ages Event

Mariachi Herencia de Mexico
2025-11-08 19:30 | Egyptian Theatre, 135 North 2nd Street, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
The historic tradition of mariachi music has its roots of origin in cities such as Guadalajara and Mexico City. As the ever-evolving genre’s influence spread, it reached Chicago and birthed Mariachi Herencia de México. The 2x Latin GRAMMY®-nominated band has issued five chart-topping albums and has performed all across the North American continent paving the way for a new generation of mariachi musicians. Nuestra Herencia, their 2017 debut album, topped the Latin streaming charts and earned the band their first Latin GRAMMY®-nomination for Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album. 2018’s Herencia de la Tierra Mía and the two-volume series, Esencia and Esencia, Vol. 2 issued in 2019 and 2020, respectively, charted atop all major streaming platforms and industry charts. In 2022, Herederos appeared as the band were performing a wildly successful North American tour. Herederos received a 2023 Latin GRAMMY® nomination for Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album. The young, virtuosic band is composed of 14 musicians, ages 18-32, representing a new bicultural generation in the U.S.

An Evening of Encores with Kara Eubanks
2025-11-14 18:30 - 19:30 | DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
As a classical performer, Kara has performed solo and chamber music across North America and Europe. Her orchestral career includes membership in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Paris’s Fontainebleau Chamber Orchestra, and NYC’s DiCapo Opera. She is a member of the Sycamore Music Hall of Fame in her hometown of Sycamore, Illinois.
This hour-long performance, with an intermission, will feature popular and crowd-pleasing classical and romantic pieces for the violin and piano.
Kara has been featured on MTV, NPR, and Daytrotter, and has recorded on Eenie Meenie and Lookout! Records. Her discography includes collaborations with Troubled Hubble, The Gunshy, Inspector Owl, Future Monarchs, Minova, and Andrew Jackson Jihad. In 2023, she released her solo debut, an EP called “Something Might Otherwise Have Profitably Happened.”
Kara has been on the violin faculty at Northern Illinois University, CUNY Brooklyn Conservatory, and has taught music theory at the University of Oregon. Her greatest passion is mentoring young artists at Japan-Seattle Suzuki Institute, Oregon Suzuki Institute, and the Willamette Violin Academy.
This concert is free and open to all. Doors will open at 6:00 and music will begin at 6:30 p.m. No registration is required.
For additional information, please contact Samantha at samanthah@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1701.

The Hair Band Experience
2025-11-14 19:30 - 20:30 | Egyptian Theatre, 135 North 2nd Street, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
Bring on the Aqua Net & tight pants, it’s time for an exciting night to relive the era that ROCKED! Rock out with three fantastic tribute acts bringing you the music of Poison, Def Leppard, and Bon Jovi. Wear your best 80s attire and join The Hair Band Experience!

After-hours Concert: Jazz in Progress
2025-11-15 18:30 - 19:30 | DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
Jazz in Progress presents an after-hours concert that will feature different styles of big band and modern jazz music in the DeKalb Public Library’s main lobby!
Jazz in Progress (JIP) organized in 2012 to encourage local musicians to play jazz in support of its mission of musical, charitable, and educational purposes to advance the appreciation, performance, and history of jazz music and its related genres. Its membership includes a variety of talented musicians from the DeKalb County area. The ensemble also honors the practice of inviting local high school and college jazz musicians to sit in with the band, giving young musicians an opportunity to gain more experience in playing jazz music.
JIP is an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that puts funds raised back into local community music programs. Past recipients of JIP donations include the DeKalb, Genoa-Kingston, Hinckley-Big Rock, Indian Creek and Sycamore music booster organizations, as well as St. Mary’s-DeKalb and the DeKalb County Community Foundation.
JIP has performed at benefit and fund raising events and venues around the area including the St. Mary’s Lancer Legacy Ball, Sycamore Natural History Museum’s Rockin’ for the Reptiles, Stage Coach Theatre, Sycamore Farmers Market, Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital, Artigras, The House Café, and Oak Crest Senior Proms. The band also has performed with the Celebration Chorale and at many other community and charity events.
This concert is free and open to all. No registration is required. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and music will begin at 6:30 p.m.
For additional information, please contact Chelsea at chelsear@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1700.

Dueling Pianos
2025-11-15 20:00 - 22:00 | Genoa Vets Club, 311 S Washington St, Genoa, IL, 60135, United States
Enjoy a Dueling Pianos show at Genoa Vets on Saturday, November 15! Doors open at 7pm, music begins at 8pm.

The Drummer Boy of Shiloh
2025-11-22 14:00 - 15:00 | DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
Award-winning singer/songwriter Barry Cloyd portrays Joseph Henry Monroe, one of the only drummer boys who actually survived the Civil War. Monroe was the first one to enlist in the war from his small town in Iowa (he was 12 years old) and went on to fight in more than 27 major battles including Shiloh, Corinth, Sherman’s “March to the Sea” and others. As there were more than 2,000 songs written about the war during that period, the arc of the war is presented through the music, most of it penned by the soldiers themselves.
Barry has performed this piece many times at a variety of venues including many libraries, several Chatauquas, and The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield. Also included are two original songs that tell the story of The Drummer Boy as a set up to the rest of the story.
This event is free and open to all. No registration is required.
For additional information, please contact Samantha at samanthah@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1701.

Authentic Unlimited Band
2025-11-22 19:30 | Sandwich Opera House, 140 E Railroad St, Sandwich, IL, 60548
﻿Authentic Unlimited is a dynamic bluegrass band that blends rich harmonies with skillful instrumentation to create a timeless and innovative sound.

Comprised of seasoned musicians, including former members of the legendary Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the band brings a deep-rooted passion for traditional bluegrass, infused with fresh energy.

2025 DAWC Annual Local Holiday Shopping Fair
2025-12-05 18:00 - 21:00 | DeKalb Area Women’s, 1021 State St, DeKalb, IL, 60115
The annual, local, DAWC Holiday Shopping Fair will be 6-9pm Friday, December 5 and 9am-4pm Saturday, December 6. The wares are wonderful, the music is magnificent, the people are pleasant, friends are fine, prices are pinpointed for DeKalb area, facilities are festive, refreshments are rich, shopping is superior, festivities are fabulous. All is waiting for you!
