Good morning, Joliet.

Since late July, visitors to Choo Choo Farms in Oglesby have picked aronia berries among more than 2,000 bushes spread over 37 lanes near Matthiessen State Park.

Co-owners Steven and Kylie Bakken said the farm offered locally made jams, baked goods, eggs, and honey — and groups enjoyed the unique pick-your-own agritourism experience through early October.

Four local artists including Joliet's Jay Anderson and Carole St. Clair will show work at the Park Forest Art Fair on Sept.

20—Sept. 21 on the Village Green, sponsored by the Tall Grass Arts Association. The fair will offer art, music and food with scheduled performances and a Kids’ Art Alley for young visitors.

Joliet City Council voted 5-4 on Tuesday to approve $197,000 for the Dome of Unity sculpture that will be installed in the new City Square near Rialto Square Theatre—Mayor D’Arcy cast the decisive tie-breaking vote amid criticism that funds might better serve infrastructure improvements. The sculpture will be unveiled on May 16, 2026, as part of the theater’s 100th anniversary celebration.

Volunteers of America Illinois celebrated the start of construction on a new 48-unit housing project for women recovering from opioid addiction on the old Silver Cross Hospital campus yesterday—Mayor Terry D’Arcy said the revived plan was why he ran for mayor after City Hall had blocked it before.

Despite missing three key players, Lincoln-Way East volleyball swept Bradley-Bourbonnais with scores of 25 to 15 and 25 to 21 on Tuesday—spearheaded by sophomore Kolby Ross’s 12 kills and lifting the team record to 7 to 5.

Coach Sean Burns said the team will be even stronger when injured players return.

Friday Night Drive announced its Team of the Week for Week 3 of the 2025 high school football season — 22 Illinois players earned honors after 3,474 voters cast 5,682 votes with La Salle-Peru quarterback Marion Persich named MVP.

Weekly prep football games saw Bradley-Bourbonnais improve to 3-0 with a 35-6 win against Waubonsie Valley—Kankakee set a scoring record with 82 points as local teams gear up for more exciting matchups in upcoming weeks.

Andrew Calderon scored two goals in the first half as Minooka won 3-0 over Bolingbrook on Tuesday — the unbeaten team improved to 9-0 as Calderon earned his eighth goal and a solid defense kept Bolingbrook scoreless.

Coach Nate Springs said the win shows the team's stronger play and sets the tone for upcoming games.

In the first three weeks of the season, three new area coaches earned their first wins with La Salle-Peru’s JJ Raffelson beating Ottawa 41—24 and Hall-Putnam County’s Nick Sterling winning 18—6 over Mendota last Friday.

Princeton did not play because Sherrard forfeited due to an illness outbreak, leading coaches to scout other games for more insights.

Rhapsody Of Fire Concert

6:00-8:30 p.m. — The Forge — Check for ticket details — Experience the epic sounds of Rhapsody Of Fire with a thrilling live performance.

Concerts in the Park 2025

6:30-8:30 p.m. — Preservation Park — Free entry — Enjoy an evening of live music in the beautiful setting of Joliet's Preservation Park.

Scorey Live Performance

8:00-9:30 p.m. — The Forge — Ticketed event — Enjoy a vibrant show with reserved seating that offers the best views from the balcony.

Annual Fur Ball Fundraising Event

6 p.m. — Harrah's Joliet — Ticket purchase required — An evening of fun, food, and entertainment to support the local shelter for homeless pets.

Classic Seger: Travelin' Man 2025 World Tour

7:30-9 p.m. — Rialto Square Theatre — Tickets from $41.50 — Experience the legendary sounds of Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band with a thrilling live performance.

Stone & Steel Spooky 5K

8 a.m. — Joliet Downtown Property — Registration fee applicable — Dress in your best Halloween costume and run through historic Joliet.

The Fab Four - The Ultimate Beatles Tribute

7:30-9 p.m. — Rialto Square Theatre — Tickets from $32.50 — Experience the timeless music of The Beatles with spot-on renditions by an award-winning tribute band.

Tenth Annual Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference

5 PM - 4 PM — Joliet Area Historical Museum — Registration open — Explore the significance of Route 66 with insightful talks and activities.

Camping 101 Workshop

5:30-7 p.m. — Camp Bullfrog Lake — Free entry — Learn essential camping skills in a fun, informative workshop for all ages.