Fall Guide

Central Illinois filmmaker Ash Hamilton had written a script and was ready to begin shooting in 2020 when everything was turned upside down by the pandemic. He realized that his plans needed to be altered, and he had to learn how to pivot. “With the script I had written, complications occurred and basically, my idea […]

Travel experts traditionally tout New England as the place for seeing fall’s color explosion, but you can experience the joys of autumn much closer to home. Just head north for a long weekend to the tip of Wisconsin’s thumb, Door County. The county topped USA Today’s list of 10 best places to see fall foliage […]

Fall is the perfect season to take in the great outdoors.  If the crisp kiss of autumn has you dreaming of a campfire and s’mores, you won’t have to go far or break the bank to get your wish. Carey Smith outlined many of the closest campground options in a recent issue of IT (“Camping […]

Terror on the Square is a long-standing tradition that returns to the Petersburg square this year, 119 S. Seventh St. Set in a 1930s funeral home, this haunted experience in Petersburg features old-school ghouls as well as creative illusions in this 12-13-minute event. The scare level is considered medium and is recommended for ages 10 […]

There’s lots of anticipation for pumpkin spice, cool autumn days and Oktoberfest, and that’s great, but let’s not rush summer – let’s savor it. It’s perfect beer garden weather, so celebrate with some fine, local craft brews. Here are just a couple of breweries to wet your whistle. Across the street from the Lincoln Home […]

Ongoing Carillon concerts Sundays, 2pm and 4pm. Wednesdays, 12pm. Spend an afternoon in the park and listen to master carillonneur, Carlo van Ulft, and assistant carillonneurs play a variety of music, from original carillon compositions to arrangements of popular classics and pop music. Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 217-306-1838. Rochester Farmers Market Second […]

What could be more American than apple pie? Loading up family and friends on a crisp fall day and heading to an orchard to pick the apples for that pie, that’s what. Central Illinois offers plenty of places to go for apples and other fall fun. Plus, orchards are good spots for enjoying the outdoors […]

Feeling the need to explore the world around you after working from home since last year? Quench that thirst for adventure with a glass of wine or a cold craft beer at local establishments that have a wide variety of options. Barely 13 miles southwest of Springfield, in the middle of what seems to be […]

Fall is a lovely time of year to be outside, moving our bodies and settling our minds. Immersing ourselves in nature is like a balm to the soul. Time spent in the great outdoors can disconnect us from the hurried and harried pace of life, giving us time to reflect on our status as biological […]

When it comes to family friendly activities, parents sometimes have a hard time coming up with ideas that will please everyone. Oftentimes, we end up with the same activities in heavy rotation and that can leave everyone feeling a little underwhelmed. Recently, when I was given the opportunity to try out two new family activities […]