Streator rang in the Christmas season on Saturday, Nov.15, 2025, with the Mistletoe Market. Visitors enjoyed local shops and holiday displays.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources held a press conference and announcement on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 at Starved Rock State Park. Starved Rock State park will receive a total of 37 million upgrade to trail improvement and facilities. The project is expected to get underway this winter and continue through 2026.

Hundreds of people waited in line for free gift bags during the grand-opening of Aldi on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025 at the corner of Backbone Road and North Main Street in Princeton. The 12,000 square feet store began construction in May of this year. The first 100 people in line were given a chance to win a golden ticket to win a $100 gift card. The store hours are 9a.m.-8p.m. daily.

La Salle's Celebration of Lights runs from early November through New Year's Day at Rotary Park. The free drive-through display is open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Donations are welcome. With over 400 unique and original displays, the Celebration of Lights at Rotary Park is one of the biggest and brightest Christmas light celebrations in North Central Illinois.

The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) dazzled the sky throughout the Illinois Valley on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. Two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) created sparking geomagnetic storm conditions, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Space weather forecasters anticipate that geomagnetic activity may intensify to strong (G3) conditions overnight and could be around again tomorrow night.