Tourism in Illinois has a $88 billion impact on the state's economy. Not only does it generate money. but it also provides tax relief, jobs and municipal revenue. VisitBN has now secured nearly $500K through three State of Illinois grant programs for fiscal year 2027 to invest in McLean County's tourism industry.

Candace Summers' new book "Mourning in McLean" will be available for purchase at several events this week in the Twin Cities, including a presenatation hosted at the Bloomington Public Library.

The summer tour had announced a break and rebooked its date at Grossinger Motors Arena. City officials say the Oct. 9 show is now also canceled.

Trick-or-treating in Bloomington and Normal is the last bite of the apple this Halloween. But the whole month is packed with a pumpkin-spiced blend of cozy and spooky activities around McLean County.

More than 100 artist/vendors are participating in this year's juried art fair, which takes over Uptown Normal one weekend a year.

Mayor Chris Koos honored Terri Ryburn as the Town of Normal's Citizen of the Year at a reception on Tuesday. Ryburn is retiring in December as caretaker of the historic Sprague's Super Service on Pine Street.

Amy Erdman Farrell will discuss her award-winning book Oct. 5 at Illinois Wesleyan University.

October is LGBTQ+ History Month. To celebrate, Prairie Pride Coalition is bringing a traveling exhibit which highlights 125 queer icons in an interactive digital display.

The garden unveiled a new addition this week: a bronze cast sculpture by Bloomington's Herb Eaton that nods to the Twin Cities' circus roots.

Mixed-media artist Selina Trepp has her first solo exhibition at University Galleries in Uptown. Running through Oct. 3, 'Unprofessional Practices' features two short films created through stop-motion animation.

The singer/songwriter from Metamora has a new EP called More Than Just Bones, part of his deepening collaboration with Charles Wesley Godwin of Pittsburgh-based band The Allegheny High.

Bloomington-Normal was home to the oldest and longest continuously running underground newspaper in United States history. The paper, called Post Amerikan, ran from 1972-2004 and is now the subject of a feature length documentary screening Friday at the Normal Theater.