2024 Regional History Conference
2024-04-20 09:00 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | BARSEMA ALUMNI AND VISITORS CENTER, NIU, 231 N Annie Glidden Rd, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
The Regional History Center at NIU Libraries presents the second annual Northern Illinois Regional History Conference Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday April 20, 2024, at NIU’s Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center. The conference will feature presentations from area historians and scholars on a variety of topics related to northern Illinois’ history, heritage, and culture in local and global contexts. The conference keynote will be delivered by Professor Erik S. McDuffie from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. The conference is free and open to the public, but attendees are encouraged to RSVP. For program details and to RSVP, please scan the QR code, email us at rhcua@niu.edu or call at 815-753-9392.

Nature Fest
2024-04-20 10:00 - 14:00 | Russell Woods Forest Preserve, 11750 IL-72, Genoa, 60135, United States
NatureFest focuses on families with elementary-aged children, but everyone is welcome! Extension staff and Master Naturalist volunteers work together to present multiple hands-on learning activities throughout the forest. Visitors register under the open shelter or at the Natural Resource Education Center (NREC). Guests will get a map of the activities and a passport to track their experience. Arrive by 1 p.m. to try to complete all activities offered.

NIU Men’s Baseball vs Kent State
2024-04-20 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-04-21 12:00 - 14:00 | Ralph McKinzie Field at Walt and Janice Owens Park, Stadium Dr N, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
NIU Men’s Baseball plays Kent State at home.

NIU Women’s Softball vs Buffalo
2024-04-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Mary M. Bell Field
NIU Women’s Softball plays the University of Buffalo at home.

Lisa Thomen at Warehouse on Park
2024-04-21 12:00 - 15:00 | Warehouse on Park, 662 Park Ave, Genoa, IL, 60135, United States
Warehouse on Park will be opening the Lloyd landscaping garden center and Lisa Thomen will be performing on April 21st from 12:00pm-3:00pm. More information is available on the Warehouse on Park website.

NIU Men’s Baseball vs Valparaiso
2024-04-23 15:00 - 17:00 | Ralph McKinzie Field at Walt and Janice Owens Park, Stadium Dr N, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
NIU Men’s Baseball plays Valparaiso University at home.

Cornhole Tuesday
2024-04-23 17:00 - 23:00, 2024-04-30 17:00 - 23:00 | Midwest Sportsplex, 212 W Woodlawn Street, Hinckley, IL, 60520, United States
Join Midwest Sportsplex for Cornhole Tuesday’s every Tuesday from 5:00pm-11:00pm.

Outdoor Adventures: Lagoon Fest – Full Moon Paddle
2024-04-23 20:00 - 22:00 | NIU East Lagoon
Lagoon Fest: A Spectacular Spring Kickoff Celebration!

Join us for a special opportunity to kayak on a full moonlight night on the East Lagoon. Included in registration is boat rental, PFD, paddle, and instruction.

🚣‍♀️ BOATING: Head out for a night paddle, canoeing or kayaking with your friends.

🏈 SPORT GAMES: Get your game face on! Play some tailgate games like bags, laddergolf, connect four, slackline, and giant jenga.

🔥 CAMPFIRE AND S’MORES: Gather around the crackling campfire, toasting marshmallows and creating ooey-gooey s’mores that will delight your taste buds.

✨ GOOD VIBES: Immerse yourself in an atmosphere filled with positive energy, where laughter, joy, and happiness resonate throughout the event. Connect with like-minded individuals and forge new friendships amidst the enchanting setting.

Don’t miss out on this extraordinary celebration! Let the Super Blue Moon night enhance the already incredible experience at the NIU East Lagoon.

NIU students: $10; non-students: $15

Angela Hoover Live Show
2024-04-27 17:00 - 18:00 | Sandwich Opera House, 140 E Railroad St, Sandwich, IL, 60548
Angela Hoover is a mother, actress and stand-up comedian and has been entertaining audiences for the better part of her adult life. Hoover was a semi-finalist on Season 8 of America’s Got Talent where Howie Mandel was quoted as saying: “You are the best celebrity impressionist working today.” Her impressions include: The Celebrity Housewives, Penelope Cruz, Drew Barrymore, Melania Trump, Celine Dion and many more. Angela has been seen on tv shows like Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer”, Netflix’s “Lucifer”, HBO’s ”Insecure” and Disney XD’s “Walk the Prank”. She was also a host of Fandango’s “Mom’s Movie Minute” and written and performed 2 sold-out one woman shows in Los Angeles. Hoover currently plays the role of Alejandra on Nickolodeon’s “Dangerforce”. To learn moreAngela, visit her website Angela Hoover

You can purchase tickets through the Sandwich Opera House website. Tickets range from $25-$30.

Ethan Larson at The Warehouse on Park
2024-04-28 12:00 - 15:00 | Warehouse on Park, 662 Park Ave, Genoa, IL, 60135, United States
Sunday-Funday featuring Local solo artist Ethan Larson, Big Jon’s Dogs & famous Bloody Mary’s!

Indian Valley Community Band Concert
2024-04-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Sandwich Opera House, 140 E Railroad St, Sandwich, IL, 60548
The Indian Valley Community Band is a group of local music loving musicians from many neighboring communities that get together to play because they love it! The band is always looking for more members so dust off your favorite instrument and join the fun. Band is directed by: Jeff Ford.

No Advanced ticket sales needed.

NIU Women’s Softball vs Ball State
2024-04-30 13:00 - 15:00 | Mary M. Bell Field
NIU Women’s Softball plays Ball State University at home.

Give DeKalb County
2024-05-02 00:00 - 23:59 | IL
Get ready for Give DeKalb County on May 2, 2024! This annual fundraising event celebrates 11 years of generosity in 2024 and features multiple ways to support nonprofit organizations. Plus, the Bonus Pool boosts every donation made.

From midnight to midnight on May 2, visit GiveDeKalbCounty.org to unleash your generosity. Whether searching for a specific organization, browsing by cause, or supporting multiple nonprofits, it’s all at your fingertips.

Beginning in April, donors who prefer to give by check can print a mail-in donation form from the website, indicate the organization(s) and donation amount(s), then write a single check for the total amount payable to “DCCF.” Mail the check and completed donation form to the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Avenue, Sycamore, IL 60178 – postmarked April 18 – May 2. Donations from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) follow the mail-in guidelines.

Hosted by the DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership, a program of the Community Foundation, the past ten giving days accumulated over $8.7 million. Follow the excitement on Facebook and Instagram, mark your calendar, and be part of this extraordinary giving event!

Putt Fore a Purpose
2024-05-02 16:00 - 20:00 | 1600 E Lincoln Hwy, 1600 E Lincoln Hwy, Dekalb, Illinois, 60115
Assemble your team of four, put your game face on, and support the DeKalb Chamber Leadership Academy

Foursome cost is $100 which includes 18 holes of one-of-a-kind putt putt, raffles, drinks, and appetizers!. Registration: https://bit.ly/Putt

Space is limited, you don’t want to miss this!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

GAME LENGTH: 60-90 minutes

CASH only

RAFFLES: Do not have to be present to win

Recommend if children are playing they be aged 8+ play as it can be challenging for younger players

All proceeds benefit the DeKalb Chamber Leadership Academy.

Mother’s Day Flower Arrangements
2024-05-02 18:00 - 19:30 | DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
Join Mary Grace McCauley, co-owner of Willrett Flower Company, to learn how to make a flower arrangement for Mother’s Day! Mary Grace will demonstrate how to use seasonal flowers to create a Mother’s Day centerpiece.

This program is intended for adults. No registration is required.

For additional information, please contact Susan at susang@dkpl.org or (815) 756-9568 ext. 2114.

Blossoms & Bubbles
2024-05-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Blumen Gardens, 403 Edward St, Sycamore, IL, 60178, United States
Grab your favorite girlfriends and ladies in your life and create a beautiful floral arrangement with a cocktail influence at Blumen Gardens! 🌸🍹 Immerse yourself in an evening of fun 6-8 PM on Thursday, May 2nd. Bring your besties or make new connections while guided through crafting a delightful cocktail and creating beautiful flower arrangements. Plus, indulge in a delectable grazing table filled with snacks – it’s all included! It’s the perfect blend of creativity, laughter, and the joy of sharing the moment with amazing women.

Author Visit: Melissa Blake
2024-05-02 18:30 - 19:30 | DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
Paris Hilton claims to have invented the selfie, but Melissa Blake – freelance writer, activist, influencer, pop culture maven, and child of the 90s – certainly re-invented it as a tool for affirming human dignity with her #MyBestSelfie campaign for disability representation and pride. Melissa joins us to discuss her book Beautiful People: My Thirteen Truths About Disability.

In Beautiful People: My Thirteen Truths About Disability Melissa shares her story, highlights other activists in the movement, and issues a clarion call for the disabled community and allies to fight against ableism in our culture and our physical spaces.

Melissa has written for The Washington Post, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and many other outlets about celebrities, fashion, and pop culture. But it was a political piece she wrote for CNN Opinion that changed her life. When internet trolls disagreed with the views she expressed, they attacked her viciously: not her argument, but her physical appearance.

Melissa was born with Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, a genetic condition that causes muscle contractions throughout her body, including her face. The trolls were merciless and when they told Blake never to post her photo on social media, she decided to do just the opposite: She posted one selfie a day for 365 days, earning fans worldwide and getting a book deal.

In Beautiful People readers will discover:

Blake’s powerful journey from internalized ableism to claiming self-love and activismHow Blake was impacted by her father’s untimely death; how siblings and parents are impacted by disabilityWhy Blake has been called “a down-home Carrie Bradshaw” – why she advocates for adaptive fashion and how she came to star in her first fashion show during the depths of the pandemicImportant insights from the disability community, incorporating the work of disabled activists and creatives like Carly Findlay, Imani Barbarin, Alyssa Higgins, Jillian Mercado, Nic Novicki (Founder of the Disability Film Challenge), and many moreWhy disabilities are not the problem – the problem is a world designed as if no one has a disability (though 1 in 4 people do)

This program 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.

NIU Men's Baseball vs Ball State
2024-05-03 00:00 - 23:59, 2024-05-04 00:00 - 23:59, 2024-05-05 00:00 - 23:59 | Ralph McKinzie Field at Walt and Janice Owens Park, Stadium Dr N, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
NIU Men’s Baseball plays Ball State at home.

Cinco De Mayo Spring Carnival
2024-05-03 17:00 - 20:00, 2024-05-04 13:00 - 20:00 | Los Rancheros, 2000 2350 Sycamore Rd, DeKalb, Illinois, 60115, United States
Don’t miss the Cinco de Mayo Spring Carnival! Rides, games, food, and fun for the whole family. May 3-5 & 10-12.

Spring Pet Photo Mini Session
2024-05-04 11:00 - 15:00 | Blumen Gardens, 403 Edward St, Sycamore, IL, 60178, United States
Get a memorable Spring Pet Mini Photo Sessions with Sarah from Loyal Friends Pet Photography. Sarah’s goal for each session is to capture your pet’s unique qualities and bring those to life through pet portraiture. Each Spring Pet Mini Photo Session will be 15 minutes long and take place outside with Spring Décor as the backdrop. You will receive an online photo gallery, two high resolution digital images for download as well as one printed (5×7 or 8×10) image with the purchase price of $55.

NIU Women's Softball vs Miami
2024-05-04 13:00 | Mary M. Bell Field
NIU Women’s Softball plays Miami University at home.

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
2024-05-04 14:00 - 23:00 | IL
Celebrate Cinco de mayo at Nina’s Tacos in Sycamore with live music, dance groups, food, and more!

Adult Ballroom Series~Cha Cha Night
2024-05-04 19:00 - 20:30 | Dimensions Dance Academy, 134 E Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
Dimensions Adult Ballroom Series~Cha Cha Night May 4th!Participants will learn moves that they can build on and perfect. There will be time for social dancing after instruction by Becca Steger of Ballroom Blitz.

Your ticket will include a complimentary appetizer or dessert with your paid for meal when you dine at Tapa La Luna on May 4th. Must show server proof of Ballroom Night purchase.

This event is BYOB. Participants must be able to climb a flight of stairs.

Purchase your tickets here: www.dimensionsdanceacademy.com

KSO Instrument Donation Project
2024-05-04 19:30 | Boutell Memorial Concert Hall at Northern Illinois University, 400 Lucinda Ave, DeKalb, IL
The KSO Instrument Donation Project (KID Project) collects unwanted or unused band or orchestra instruments from the community. These instruments will be inspected, cleaned, and repaired, then donated to DeKalb County school music departments to loan to students in need.

How to donate:

Bring your instrument to the May 4th KSO concert at NIU’s Boutell Memorial Concert Hall.

Drive-Through Community Drop off Day on April 6th from 10:00am-1:00pm at the Ellwood House Museum.

DeKalb Hamfest
2024-05-05 08:00 - 13:30 | Sandwich Fair Grounds, 15730 Pratt Road, Sandwich, IL
Calling amateur radio enthusiasts! Are you ready to take your hobby to the next level and connect with like-minded people? Then you’re in luck because the DeKalb Hamfest, brought to you by the Kishwaukee Amateur Radio Club, is coming soon, and it’s going to be a blast!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 5th, 2024, and head to the Sandwich Fairgrounds from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. You’ll get the chance to explore two large buildings filled with unique items that will enhance your collection like never before! And if that wasn’t enough, there will be free tailgating and delicious food vending by Hy-Vee!

But wait, there’s more! You can win cash and door prizes every half hour, and you can even camp overnight on the fairgrounds for only $25 per night, including electricity and sewer. Imagine staying up all night, chatting with fellow enthusiasts under the stars, and waking up to the sound of your favorite radio channels in the morning. Sounds amazing, right?

If you want to be a vendor, secure a table for demonstrations, or tailgate, contact Bob Hamfest Chairman, Bub Yurs, is also available to address any questions you may have at 815-757-3219 or via email at w9icu@arrl.net. Also, don’t forget that the setup is on Saturday, May 4th, from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Rain or shine, the DeKalb Hamfest promises to be an incredible day full of excitement, learning, and one-of-a-kind opportunities. And the best part? Advanced tickets are only $8.00, so purchase them now and save money! You can also buy them at the gate for $10.00, but why wait? For mail-in advanced ticket purchases, door prize donations, vendor, and table registration, please send them to KARC P.O. Box 371 DeKalb, IL 60115!
