The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has released its November calendar of events at state parks, museums, nature sites and historic sites across the state, including several in the WKEI coverage area.

The department announced the schedule Friday. Highlights range from Day of the Dead and Halloween-themed family programs to the first firearm deer hunting season and holiday markets.

Local and regional events

  • 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. More information at sandburg.org.
  • Nov. 27-29 — Julmarknad, Bishop Hill State Historic Site, Bishop Hill (Henry County). Visitors can explore the historic village and enjoy 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. More information at visitbishophill.com.
  • 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 details, call 309-776-3422.

Statewide firearm deer season

The first firearm deer hunting season runs Nov. 20-22 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. Open counties and regulations are posted at HuntIllinois.org. The second firearm deer season will take place Dec. 3-6.

Other November events

  • Nov. 1 — Day of the Dead, Illinois State Museum, Springfield (Sangamon County), 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum 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 for fun and treats, with a pet costume contest. Register through the Starved Rock Eventbrite page.
  • Nov. 5 — Tot Time: Marvelous Mussels, Dickson Mounds Museum, Lewistown (Fulton County), with hands-on activities and crafts about aquatic mussels.
  • Nov. 6 — Owl Prowl, Giant City State Park, Makanda (Jackson County).
  • Nov. 6 — Trick or Treat by Candlelight, Fort de Chartres State Historic Site, Prairie du Rocher (Randolph County). The free event begins at dusk along a lantern-lit path.
  • Nov. 7-8 — Fort de Chartres Winter Rendezvous, Fort de Chartres State Historic Site, featuring 18th- and early 19th-century camp life, re-enactors, a muzzleloader woods walk shooting competition, hand-made crafts, period music and food.
  • Nov. 8 — Nature's Beat Drum Circle, Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby (LaSalle County).
  • Nov. 8 — Best of Illinois Nature 2026, Giant City State Park, Makanda, with botanist Chris Benda presenting his best nature encounters of the year.
  • Nov. 8 — Hike to Glaciers End, Giant City State Park, Makanda.
  • Nov. 14 — Thanksgiving on Goosenet, Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, Lerna (Coles County), exploring the holiday's history from its Civil War origins.
  • Nov. 15 — Christmas Bird Count, Giant City State Park, Makanda, a workshop on local count circles and bird-counting.
  • Nov. 27-29 — Native American Holiday Market, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville (Madison County), with Indigenous arts and crafts for sale.

More information is available on the IDNR online calendar at dnr.illinois.gov/calendar.html.

Source: the original release