Aurora
• Through March 29
The Secret of My Success
The Secret of My Success is a hilarious, heartfelt new musical based on a Universal Pictures film. Brantley Foster, a young ambitious midwesterner, moves to New York City to start his dream job at a major corporation, only to be laid off on the very first day. In his relentless enthusiasm to succeed, Brantley finds himself tangled up in a sidesplitting scheme in which he assumes the identity of a rising executive named Carlton Whitfield. Paramount Theatre, 23 East Galena Boulevard.
For more information call 630.896.6666 or visit paramountaurora.com.
• Friday, March 6 • 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Downtown Aurora First Fridays
First Fridays will celebrate women during Women’s History Month in March. This year will mark the 100th anniversary of the suffrage movement and Aurora Downtown will honor the milestone with a Woman Up! theme Friday.
For more information, visit www.auroradowntown.org.
• Friday, March 6 • 6 p.m.
Rosary’s Irish Pub Night
St. Patrick’s Day at Pub Night will feature the Irish music of Switchback at Rosary High School, 901 N. Edgelawn Drive. The evening will include entertainment, snacks, and beverages. Beer and wine will be available. Entertainment will begin at 7 p.m.. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students, and can be purchased at www.rosaryhs.com/switchback.
For more information call Sister Geraldine Kemper, OP, at 630.896.0831 x 233.
• Saturday, March 7 • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
A-Z Craft Supplies Garage Sale
An “A-Z Craft Supplies Garage Sale” will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church, 14 N. May Street. The public is invited. Admission and parking are free. Sellers may rent a display table and two chairs for $15.
For more information, send to Vicki Martin at vickimartin2@comcast.net.
• Saturday, March 14 • 7 a.m. – noon
Kiwanis Pancake Day
The annual event will be at Aurora Central Catholic High School, 1255 N. Edgelawn Drive northeast of Edgelawn and Indian Trail. Kiwanis is an advocate for supporting youth and children. Tickets are $8 in advance from members and $10 at the door.
Batavia
• Multiple Days
Water Street Studios classes
High-quality courses and workshops are led by experienced teaching artists. Become a pARTner and receive 15% off of your future registrations. Many classes from which to choose. Water Street Studios, 160 S. Water Street.
For more information call 630.761.9977, send to info@waterstreetstudios.org, or visit water-street-studios.coursestorm.com.
• Friday, March 13 • 8 p.m.
Fabrics: The New Software lecture
Recent breakthroughs in fiber material and fabric processing allow us to design and produce fibers and fabrics that see, hear, sense, communicate, store, and convert energy, regulate temperature, monitor health, and change color. In the talk Dr. Yoel Fink, MIT, will discuss the use of diode fibers for creating fabric communications systems allowing the exchange of information between people and platforms using line of sight fabric based optical communications. For more information and tickets visit events.fnal.gov.
Elgin
• Tuesday, March 10 • 7 p.m. – 9:45 p.m.
TalentFest 2019
The top two talents from each of the Elgin area high schools will get the opportunity to show their best on The Hemmens Main Stage, 45 Symphony Way. There will be a unique array of entertainment. Audience members can vote for the best act at intermission. Admission is only $5.
For more information and to buy tickets visit www.cityofelgin.org/calendar.aspx or call 847-931-5900.
Geneva
• Saturday, March 7 • 6 p.m. – 8 p.m..
Mom & Son Night
Moms can have a special night with their favorite little guy at Mom & Son Night at Geneva High School Gymnasium, 416 McKinley Avenue. There will be fabulous entertainment, dancing, and kids can burn off some energy with dodgeball and scooters, make Lego robots, and enjoy some delicious snacks. If a mother cannot attend, a grandmother, aunt, big sister, is welcome. Moms with more than one son are welcome to bring them all. Mothers & sons must register separately. Online registration is available at geneveparks.org Cost is $10 per resident and $15 per non-resident.
• Thursday, March 12 • 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Forest Preserve District of Kane County Volunteers
Details of volunteer opportunities will be available with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County at an upcoming Volunteer Orientation. Volunteers are needed in the following areas: Natural resources, environmental education, public safety, trails and recreation, and cultural and historic preservation. Additional orientation dates will be March 12, May 6, July 16, September 9, and November 12. Sessions are held at Forest Preserve District Administrative Headquarters, 1996 S. Kirk Road, Suite 320.
For more information or to RSVP for an orientation session, contact volunteer coordinator at CleaveRobb@kaneforest.com or 630-232-5980.
Montgomery
• First and third Thursdays • 7 a.m. – 8 a.m.
Rotary Club of Montgomery
The Rotary Club of Montgomery will meet on the first and third Thursday mornings. Meetings will be held at the Riverview Diner at the corner of River and Montgomery Roads. The group will meet 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. the fourth Thursday. These meetings are held at the Montgomery Village Hall, 200 North River Street, Montgomery.
For more information contact Theresa Sperling, membership chair at 630.430.2181, or theresa_sperling@yahoo.com.
• Tuesday, March 10 • 10 a.m.
Tap into Maple Tapping at Village Hall
A free community program entitled “Maple Tapping” will be featured at Montgomery Village Hall, 200 N. River Street. Naturalist Chris Camp from Red Oak Nature Center will explain why early Spring is the only time of the year when we can collect the sugar-rich sap from maple trees and boil it down into delicious maple syrup. Tools of the trade will be explained along with a bit of history on how humans through the years have tapped maple trees and collected the sweet treat. The program will end with a sampling of real maple syrup.
Naperville
• Fridays in March • 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Pottery: Parents’ Night Out
Parents can enjoy a night out while the kids can have fun learning basic pottery hand-building techniques. Program may be repeated. All materials will be provided. Please wear old clothes. For those aged seven to 12 years. Studio One, 604 Sindt Court.
For more information visit napervilleparks.org, call 630-848-5000, or info@napervilleparks.org.
• March 6-22
Steel Magnolias
Guilty pleasure movie, Steel Magnolias, is based on this play of a classic story of family, strength in women, and big southern hair, is the perfect way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Steel Magnolias. Within the walls of Truvy’s beauty shop, the lives of six strong women increasingly hinge on the existence of one another. Together, they absorb the passing seasons, just like the weathered wooden structure of the salon “home” that they share. Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth. Tickets $25-$30.
For more information visit brightsidetheatre.com.
• Sundays, March 8, 22 • 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Free Nature Discovery Days: Wild Weather
Fun hands-on activities, games, crafts, experiments, and nature books. Designed for children and adults to explore nature topics together. No registration is required, but children most be accompanied by at least one adult. Knoch Knolls Nature Center River Room, 320 Knoch Knolls Road.
For more information visit napervilleparks.org, call 630-848-5000, or info@napervilleparks.org.
• Friday, March 13 • 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
5th Grade TNT
TNT (Totally Naperville Tweens) is a program that offers various activities for 5th Grade students. TNT is a fun, safe, supervised program filled with music, dancing, open gym time, and snacks for sale. Pre-register for each date you would like to attend and pay $15 per event at the time of registration. Those who don’t pre-register are charged $20 per event at the door. Participants need to wear or bring gym shoes in order to use the gym. Do not bring food, drinks, electronics, cameras, or other valuables. Madison Junior High Multipurpose Room, 1000 River Oak Drive.
For more information call 630.848.5000, send to info@napervilleparks.org or visit napervilleparks.org.
• Saturday, March 14 • Starts at 8 a.m.
St. Patrick’s Day 5K and parade
The St. Paddy’s Day 5K will a family-friendly event for racers, runners, and walkers. The 5K will be from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and start at Mill Street and Jackson Avenue. After the 5K, from 10 a.m. to noon, the St. Patrick’s Day parade will step off at Mill Street and Jefferson Avenue.
For more information visit www.naperville.il.us.
North Aurora
• Saturday, March 21 • 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Maple Fest at Red Oak
The sweet taste of Spring can be tapped at the annual Red Oak Maple Fest. Naturalists from Red Oak will lead visitors to various stations in the woods to view demonstrations of how maple sap is harvested and turned into delicious maple syrup. Each group will tap a maple tree, then be a witness to the process of how sap is boiled and converted into syrup. Group taste-tests will follow. Red Oak Nature Center, Route 25, one mile north of Route 56.
For more information call 630.897.1808 or visit foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.
• Saturday, March 28 • 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Susan B. Anthony, You Can’t Vote
Historical reenactor Lynn Rymarz will return as Susan Brownell Anthony who spent her lifetime fighting for equality for women and the right for women to vote. Messenger Public Library of North Aurora, 113 Oak Street.
For more information visit messengerpl.org, or call 630.896.0240.
Plainfield
• Sunday, March 15 • 1 p.m.
Plainfield Hometown Irish Parade
The Plainfield Hometown Irish Parade will step off at 1 p.m. from the Plainfield High School Central Campus, on W. Commercial Drive. Each year, more after-parade events and family-friendly activities are added to the lineup. The parade has become one of Plainfield’s most cherished yearly traditions.
For more information visit plainfieldirishparade.org.
St. Charles
• March 7-8 • noon – 3 p.m.
Maple Sugaring Days
Participants can discover the sweet secret of how to turn tree sap into syrup and enjoy samples in the Maple Café when the Forest Preserve District of Kane County presents Maple Sugaring Days. Forest Preserve Naturalists will show how to tap a maple tree, and show the opportunity to try drilling and setting a tap. Creek Bend Nature Center will be open where visitors can enjoy the interactive exhibits available, and make a craft to take home. No registration is required for this family-friendly program. LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve at 37W700 Dean Street.
For more information call 630.444.3190, visit kaneforest.com, or on social by searching @forestpreserve.
• Monday, March 9 • 6:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
The Worm Moon Hike
The Worm Moon Hike will be at the LeRoy Oaks Forest Preserve, 37W700 Dean Street. These programs are for all-ages. The registration fee is $2 per person. Advance registration is required. Call 630-444-3190, or send to programs@kaneforest.com to register.
• Saturday, March 14 • 2 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Parade
The St. Patrick’s Parade will step off at 2 p.m. from Main Street/Route 64 and 6th Street. The route will continue east on Main Street and conclude at 4th Avenue. Features include Irish dancers, Celtic pipe bands, and dazzling floats.
For more information visit www.downtownstcharles.org/dscp_events/st-patricks-parade.
Sandwich
• March 20-22
IVT Presents ’Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs’
‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ is a famous fairy tale play based on the story written by The Brothers Grimm and adapted by Jessie Braham White. It is not the Disney version, or a musical. Performances are Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m. at the historic Sandwich Opera House, 140 E. Railroad Street.
For more information send to info@indianvalleytheatre.com or call 815-786-4878. Tickets available online at indianvalleytheatre.com.
Wheaton
• Saturday, March 14 • noon – 3 p.m.
Second Saturday Family Program: 19th Amendment
The Cantigny Museum will open its 2020 Second Saturday series for families with a celebration of the 19th Amendment, ratified 100 years ago and giving women the right to vote. Those attending can earn all about it and make a suffragette sash. No registration is necessary. Free program; parking $5. Cantigny, Visitors Center, 1S151 South Winfield Road, McCormick House Gold Theatre.
For more information call 630.260.8162 or visit Cantigny.org.
• Monday, March 16 • 6:30 p.m.
First for the Vote: How Chicago Women Won Suffrage for the Nation
Chicago women made Illinois the first state east of the Mississippi to grant limited voting rights to women in 1913. The women, including Ruth Hanna McCormick, greatly influenced the tactics and achievements of suffragists in other states and helped Illinois become the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment in 1920. This program tells their story with vintage photographs and quotes from the women. Program and parking are free, but registration is required. Cantigny, Visitors Center, 1S151 South Winfield Road.
For more information call 630.260.8162 or visit Cantigny.org.
• Thursday, March 19 • 7 p.m.
Civic Awareness Series
Rebecca Sive, author of “Vote Her In: Your Guide to Electing Our First Woman President,” will speak. This event will continue a series sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Wheaton. Program and parking are free, but advance registration is required due to limited seating. Cantigny, Visitors Center, 1S151 South Winfield Road. Register at cantigny.org.
For more information call 630.260.8162 or visit Cantigny.org.
Yorkville
• Saturday, March 14
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
The annual Yorkville St. Patrick’s Day Festival all-day festival will start with a 5K run at 9 a.m., a parade to start at Riverfront Park, 131 E. Hydraulic Avenue at 11 a.m., kids activities and more than a dozen musical acts throughout the day at various downtown Yorkville establishments. 129 E. Hydraulic Street.
For more information call 630.385.2477.
Send event details, name, date, time, and a paragraph description plus the event contact number and/or Web site address to neighborhoodactivities@comcast.net. Please send minimum two weeks prior to the event date.