The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has released its list of November events and programs at state parks, museums and historic sites across Illinois.

Several of the programs are in west-central and northwestern Illinois, including events in McDonough, Knox, Henry and Fulton counties. Here is the full schedule as provided by IDNR.

November events

  • Nov. 1 – Day of the Dead, Illinois State Museum, Springfield (Sangamon County). The event runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ISM is partnering with the Hispanic Women of Springfield and the University of Illinois Springfield Diversity Center.
  • Nov. 1 – Howl-oween Family Fun, Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby (LaSalle County). Visitors and their pets can wear costumes and visit for treats, with a pet costume contest and prizes. Register on the Starved Rock Eventbrite page.
  • Nov. 5 – Tot Time: Marvelous Mussels, Dickson Mounds Museum, Lewistown (Fulton County). Visitors learn about aquatic mussels from Therkildsen Field Station staff, with hands-on activities and crafts.
  • Nov. 6 – Owl Prowl, Giant City State Park, Makanda (Jackson County). Learn about local owls, then search for them in the park.
  • Nov. 6 – Trick or Treat by Candlelight, Fort de Chartres State Historic Site, Prairie du Rocher (Randolph County). A free public event for youth to trick-or-treat. Arrive at dusk and follow the lanterns along the path.
  • Nov. 7 – Woodland Wonders Nature Hike, Argyle Lake State Park, Colchester (McDonough County). The afternoon hike begins at 10 a.m. at the visitor center. For more information, call 309-776-3422 or email Bridget.Hinchee@illinois.gov.
  • Nov. 7-8 – Fort de Chartres Winter Rendezvous, Fort de Chartres State Historic Site, Prairie du Rocher (Randolph County). Features 18th- and early 19th-century camp life, a muzzleloader woods walk shooting competition, re-enactors, hand-made crafts, period music and food.
  • Nov. 8 – Nature's Beat Drum Circle, Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby (LaSalle County). Learn about Native American traditions of the Spirit Circle. Instruments are available, or bring your own.
  • Nov. 8 – Best of Illinois Nature 2026, Giant City State Park, Makanda (Jackson County). Botanist Chris Benda presents photographs from his nature encounters of 2026.
  • Nov. 8 – Sandburg Song Bag, Carl Sandburg State Historic Site, Galesburg (Knox County). The final Songbag Concert of the year, a listening-room style concert by Feral Anthem of Spokane, Washington.
  • Nov. 8 – Hike to Glaciers End, Giant City State Park, Makanda (Jackson County). A hike exploring the Ice Age glacier that crested in the park area.
  • Nov. 14 – Thanksgiving on Goosenet, Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, Lerna (Coles County). A family-friendly program on how President Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863.
  • Nov. 15 – Christmas Bird Count, Giant City State Park, Makanda (Jackson County). A workshop on local count circles and how to count birds, with an Illinois Extension horticulture educator.
  • Nov. 20-22 – First firearm deer hunting season, statewide. County-specific firearm and muzzleloader permits remaining after the third lottery drawing will be available over the counter at license vendors on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn about open counties and regulations at HuntIllinois.org. The second firearm deer season runs Dec. 3-6.
  • Nov. 27-29 – Native American Holiday Market, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville (Madison County). Native American artists sell Indigenous arts and crafts, and visitors can learn about the mounds from an archaeologist.
  • Nov. 27-29 – Julmarknad, Bishop Hill State Historic Site, Bishop Hill (Henry County). Explore the historic village with seasonal Swedish foods, music, gifts and traditions. The Colony Church will be open for self-guided tours, and the Bjorklund Hotel kitchen will feature cookie-baking demonstrations on a historic cast-iron stove.

The IDNR says the public can find more information through its online calendar of events and its Facebook page.

Source: the original release