9 Towns In Illinois With Unique Traditions
The Midwestern state of Illinois is brimming with beautiful attractions and popular tourist spots. With the great Lake Michigan and Mississippi River in its borders, having urban cities like Chicago and Springfield, and renowned as Abraham Lincoln’s home for 31 years—thus, the Land of Lincoln nickname—there is so much to see in Illinois.
But beyond its must-see sites, the small towns in Illinois also have many must-experience traditions. These fascinating ceremonies and iconic celebrations can turn your Midwest stay into something exceptional and uniquely Illinois. From Fulton’s Dutch heritage to Lombard’s lilac parade, explore what makes the Prairie State truly special!
Fulton
It has never been properly explained why many Dutch settlers decided to put down roots in this small Midwestern region, but one thing is for sure: Fulton knows how to celebrate and honor its Dutch heritage! Every first weekend of May, the entirety of Fulton becomes a Dutch wonderland to celebrate Dutch Days. Expect Dutch dancing, traditional clothes, a tour of its authentic windmill, Dutch cuisine, and more!
The windmill, called the De Immigrant Windmill, is not just for show. This majestic structure was built and pre-assembled in the Netherlands, brought to Fulton, and fully assembled by Dutch craftsmen. Best of all, it’s actually operational! Some of its millers have been trained in the Netherlands and are eager to share Fulton’s heritage. You can bring home a piece of Fulton with you by getting a sweet treat from Krumpets Bakery.
Burr Ridge
Route 66 was a treasured highway in the United States and passed many states, including Illinois. Burr Ridge might not have existed when The Mother Road was created back then, but the historical highway did pass by it. Today, this tiny Illinois village pays homage to Route 66 in its own unique way: through a Route 66-themed playground and an annual car show!
A hit not just with kids but with adults and Mother Road voyagers, the Route 66 park has play equipment based on iconic Route 66 landmarks. The First Hundred Miles, the Meramec Caverns, and the Blue Hole are just some of its Route 66 references. Continue your highway fascination at the Annual Burr Ridge Car Show, happening every August at the Village Center car park. You’ll see hundreds of vintage car collections on display!
Galena
With its roots as the Mississippi River’s largest steamboat hub and home of Ulysses S. Grant, Galena is now a popular tourist destination in Illinois for its history and love for festivals. One of the best times to visit it is during fall, as the town gears up for festivities like its Galena Cellars Annual Fall Harvest and the Galena Annual Halloween Parade and Festival.
The fall harvest festival is full of grape-stomping fun, as kids and adults are encouraged to make wine the old-fashioned way. Meanwhile, Galena’s Halloween parade is the biggest, longest, and the most spook-tastic in the Tri-State Area. Come on down to Galena’s North Main Street and bring a costume to join the party!
Niles
Did you know that a piece of Italy can be seen and experienced in the quaint village of Niles? Amusingly called the Leaning Tower of Niles, this iconic Illinois structure was created in the 1930s to keep the town park picturesque while hiding its water tower. This eventually led Niles to form a sister pact with the city of Pisa in 1991, and the Italian city was more than happy to aid Niles with restoring its tower.
Today, the tower’s bells ring every three hours from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and people who want to hear its chimes visit the park during those hours. To complete your Niles visit, cross the road to Papa Chris’ Place to get some Italian beef sandwich—an appropriate and thematic snack for the Italian-themed tower.
Woodstock
Woodstock got its time in the limelight when it was featured in the movie Groundhog Day, and many of its locations and buildings were included in the movie. The Woodstock Opera House, the Woodstock Square Park, and the Woodstock Theatre on Main Street are just some of the town’s iconic spots that had scenes with Bill Murray! Of course, the town is quite happy with this legacy, which is why it celebrates its own Groundhog Days every late January to early February.
Join Woodstock folks in this fun event that is chock-full of activities referencing the movie—from playing the movie in the town’s cinema to having a trivia contest and showing a musical version of the movie at the opera house. If you can’t attend the festivities, you can always do your own Groundhog Days Walking Tour using the handy-dandy map provided by the town. Don’t worry, you won’t be trapped in a time loop in Woodstock!
Morton Grove
Among the many small towns in Illinois, Morton Grove stands out for having one of the best Fourth of July celebrations in the state, which happens along the town’s Morton Grove Days jamboree. This event is not just a one-day festivity—it is a multi-day party commemorating the country’s history and Morton Grove’s close-knit community.
Parades, carnival rides, and local cuisine are aplenty on this holiday, with a spectacular ending of fireworks in Morton Grove’s night sky. While here, check out the Morton Grove Historical Museum to get to know the town and its past, and chow on some burgers from Boba Burger, a Morton Grove establishment since the 1970s.
Casey
Big things happen in the small city of Casey, as seen by its collection of “World’s Largest” items! It started in 2012 when resident Jim Bolin made the world’s biggest wind chime and got recognized by Guinness World Records. Since then, he has not stopped building big things, and the town has now won a total of 14 “largest” records!
To experience this unique Illinois tradition, visit Casey and take snapshots of the town’s towering achievements, such as the World's Largest Wind Chime, the World's Largest Rocking Chair, and the World's Largest Mailbox. Before leaving, drop by the ice cream of The Big Dipper—the scoops aren’t giant-sized, but their ice cream packs quite the flavor!
Highwood
If you love fall, pumpkins, and Halloween, hightail it to the charming city of Highwood! Every first week of October, Highwood celebrates The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival, which transforms the town into a magical haven full of spooky costumes and decor, sweet treats, and of course, pumpkins. For 2024, the town will have superhero-themed skeletons and aim to get the Guinness World Record for the longest line of pumpkin pies.
What makes this tradition extra sweet is its purpose. Not only does it provide a fun and unique yearly celebration for the locals, but it also raises money for organizations. 2024’s beneficiary is Kids Rank, a non-profit group for military children. If you are on board with this tradition-with-a-heart, pencil in Highwood for your next Illinois trip.
Lombard
If there is one thing you should know about this tiny Illinois village, it’s that Lombard loves lilacs. The town loves flowers so much that it has celebrated the Lombard Lilac Time Festival every May since 1930. This tradition started when the town turned Colonel William Plum’s estate into a library and a garden. With over 200 varieties of lilacs, the garden achieved renown and became known as Lilacia Park.
This flower-filled fair isn’t a simple celebration—nope, it’s a 16-day event with a formal ball, wine-tasting, craft fair, pageant, and a grand parade for its finale! Outside its floral interests, Lombard locals are also fond of doing Civil War reenactments, complete with costumes, prop weapons, and other period-appropriate activities. One thing is for sure—Life in Lombard is quite colorful!
Final Thoughts
There is so much to see and experience in the Prairie State of Illinois. Most travelers only really think about Chicago when hearing about the state, but exploring the small towns in Illinois will open your horizon to many unique Midwestern traditions and celebrations.
You can visit during springtime to enjoy Lombard’s lilacs. Turn your fall into a heartfelt vacation with Highwood’s pumpkin-fest-with-a-cause. Make summer a party to remember with Morton Grove Days. Whichever you pick, these unique revelries will leave you longing to travel to Illinois again.
