The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is sharing the following upcoming events and noteworthy items for October. State parks, historic sites, and museums have events throughout the month, and the fall is a great time to explore the outdoors and the start of hunting season. October is National Hunting and Fishing Month.
Oct. 1
Fall archery deer and turkey hunting opens
Statewide
Fall archery hunting for deer and turkey opens statewide. Learn more about season regulations and dates on the Hunt Illinois website.
Oct. 1
Creepy Crawlies
Volo Bog State Natural Area
McHenry | McHenry County
Learn about, observe, and meet live snakes, spiders and insects. Follow Volo Bog State Natural Area on Facebook for additional details.
Oct. 1 and 15
Art Nights
Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site
Springfield | Sangamon County
Enjoy artist-led classes at the Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site. Springfield’s state historic sites are also partnering with Studio on Sixth for art nights at their location on Oct. 22 and 29. Reservations are required on the Art Night Eventbrite.
Oct. 2-4, Oct. 9-11, and Oct. 16-18
Candlelight Walks
Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site
Petersburg | Menard County
Visitors can explore the historic village at night as more than 200 candle lanterns illuminate pathways throughout the site. Site staff and volunteer interpreters dressed in period clothing will be stationed in many of the log homes and shops to discuss life in the original village and 19th-century Illinois. Visit the Lincoln’s New Salem Facebook page for additional information on this and other events.
Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23
Date Nights and Evening Tours
Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site
Springfield | Sangamon County
Bring your favorite board game and some of your favorite people and enjoy a fun night in the historic home. Guests are welcome to bring light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Visit the State Historic Sites of Springfield on Facebook for additional information.
Oct. 3
Brew Your Own Bliss workshop
Starved Rock State Park
Oglesby | LaSalle County
Learn about wild herbal teas, how to turn them into kombucha, root coffees like dandelion and chicory, and roast some green coffee beans. Taste testing will be available. For additional information, email DNR.StarvedRock@illinois.gov.
Oct. 3, 10, 16, 23, 30
Capitol Creations Art Classes and History Nights
Old State Capitol State Historic Site
Springfield | Sangamon County
Enjoy a morning of painting at the Old State Capitol State Historic Site. Then return in the evening for historical presentations with Halloween-related themes. Visit the State Historic Sites of Springfield on Facebook for additional information.
Oct. 4
Fall guided hike
Pere Marquette State Park
Grafton | Jersey County
Enjoy the scenic fall colors of Pere Marquette State Park. This guided hike will take participants along the trails while learning about plants, wildlife, and natural history. Learn more on the Pere Marquette State Park Facebook page.
Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26
Read, Reflect and Create Nights
Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site
Springfield | Sangamon County
Enjoy a relaxing evening in the peaceful atmosphere of the Dana-Thomas House. Bring a book to read, a journal or a craft project and create. Guests are welcome to bring their own light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Reservations are suggested on Eventbrite.
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28
Game Nights
Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site
Springfield | Sangamon County
Bring your favorite board game and some of your favorite people and enjoy a fun night in the historic home. Guests are welcome to bring light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Visit the State Historic Sites of Springfield on Facebook for additional information.
Oct. 8
Holey Stumpkins
Black Hawk State Historic Site
Rock Island | Rock Island County
Join the fun of pumpkin carving and taking an illuminated night hike at Black Hawk State Historic Site. Follow Black Hawk Historic Site on Facebook for additional information.
Oct. 10
Wayne Fitzgerrell Trick-or-Treat at the Campground
Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area
Benton | Franklin County
Trick-or-treat at the Wayne Fitzgerrell campgrounds. Join nearly 10,000 visitors in this annual tradition of costumes, camping, and candy. For more information, call the park office at 618-629-2320.
Oct. 10
Kid’s Crafter-noon
Illinois State Museum at Dickson Mounds
Lewistown | Fulton County
Spend an afternoon making arts and crafts. Supplies will be available for children. Learn more at illinoisstatemuseum.org.
Oct. 10-12
Youth firearm deer season
Statewide
Youth firearm deer hunting season is Oct. 10-12. Learn more about regulations and requirements on IDNR’s youth firearm deer hunting page.
Oct. 11
Ho-Chunk History
Starved Rock State Park
Oglesby | LaSalle County
Gerald Savage will describe the origins of the Ho-Chunk Tribe, the removal of the tribe, relocations, current reservations and settlements, and his family's relocation to Starved Rock. For additional information, email DNR.StarvedRock@illinois.gov.
Oct. 14
Gardening for Bats
Giant City State Park
Makanda | Jackson County
Discover how to create a bat-friendly garden by supporting dark skies, planting native species, preserving trees and snags, and removing invasive plants. This program includes a bat box review and explores how citizen science can help monitor and protect local bat populations. Call 618-457-4836 to register and follow Giant City State Park on Facebook for more information.
Oct. 16
Rhythm on Route 66
Illinois State Museum
Springfield | Sangamon County
Join the Illinois State Museum for a night of live blues music and check out the U.S. Route 66-themed exhibit afterward. Visit the Illinois State Museum website for additional information.
Oct. 17
Relive the True Mother Road
Lewis and Clark State Historic Site
Hartford | Madison County
This presentation takes audience members on a journey back in time to an era when Illinois was not yet a state but rather a vast landscape of prairie grass and fertile soil known as Edwards Trace. Learn more at campdubois.com.
Oct. 17-18
Fort Massac Encampment
Fort Massac State Park
Metropolis | Massac County
The popular Fort Massac Encampment, which has drawn thousands of visitors to southern Illinois every fall for more than 50 years , will return to Fort Massac State Park in Metropolis Oct. 18 and 19. Event times are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18.
Oct. 23
Creatures of the Night Trick-or-Treat
Beall Woods State Park
Mount Carmel | Wabash County
Trick-or-treat at Beall Woods State Park and learn about the creatures of the night. Bring a flashlight for a walk along Tulip Tree trail. Learn more on the Beall Woods State Park Facebook.
Oct. 24
Fall shotgun turkey hunting
Statewide
Fall shotgun turkey hunting season opens statewide. Learn more about hunting seasons, regulations and dates on the Hunt Illinois website.
Oct. 24
Trick-or-Treat the Old State Capitol
Old State Capitol State Historic Site
Springfield | Sangamon County
Stop by the Old State Capitol before the Halloween parade for some special treats from the Old State Capitol Foundation and other community partners. Costumes are encouraged. Visit the State Historic Sites of Springfield on Facebook for additional information.
Oct. 24
Ghosts of Starved Rock
Starved Rock State Park
Oglesby | LaSalle County
Join a guided night hike at Starved Rock to encounter its haunting spirits of historical figures from the park’s past. For additional information email DNR.StarvedRock@illinois.gov.
Oct. 24
Torchlight hike and wiener roast
Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site
Charleston | Coles County
Stroll the paths of the historic farms by torchlight. Enjoy music, storytelling, food and a bonfire. Follow Lincoln Log Cabin on Facebook for additional details.
Oct. 24
Behind the Scenes Tour
David Davis Mansion State Historic Site
Bloomington | McLean County
See what’s behind the employees-only doors at the historic mansion. Explore the residence from the basement to the attic at this special evening tour from 7-9 p.m. Learn more online.
Oct. 31
Trek-N-Treat
Giant City State Park
Makanda | Jackson County
Take a self-guided hike through the park and encounter costumed creatures that will provide candy to little ones. Follow Giant City State Park on Facebook for additional details.
Oct. 31
Haunted Bog Tour
Volo Bog State Natural Area
McHenry | McHenry County
Take a guided Halloween tour of one of Illinois’ most unique natural areas. Follow Volo Bog State Natural Area on Facebook for additional details.
Follow IDNR on Facebook and its online calendar of events for further information. View the full list of IDNR seasonal events online.
About IDNR
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was established in 1925 as the Illinois Department of Conservation, bringing under one umbrella oversight of fish and game, forestry, public works, and lakes. Today, IDNR’s work encompasses management of about 400 sites across Illinois, including state parks and historic sites; wildlife, fisheries, forestry, and natural heritage; Lake Michigan water allocation and coastal management; conservation police; mines and minerals; oil and gas; issuance of licenses, permits, and numerous grants; the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta; and the Illinois State Museum. Visit https://dnr.illinois.gov and follow us on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
