Ottawa, IL - The Middle of Everywhere

Daniels Cemetery Historic Re-enactment Tour
2025-10-04 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | Dayton Bluffs Preserve, 2997 N. IL 71, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
In the summer of 1854, the Daniels family of Rutland Township was beset by sudden and inexplicable illness. On a Saturday in August, 17 year old Minervy fell ill and was dead by nightfall. Over the next ten days, 17 other family, friends and neighbors succumbed to the same horrible illness. What caused this mysterious illness? How could one avoid the same fate? As if the other privations of pioneer life weren’t enough, now comes this dread disease!

You are invited to attend the Daniels Cemetery Historic Re-enactment Tour at the Daniels Cemetery at the Dayton Bluffs Preserve. This tour will address the lives of the pioneers interred in this burial ground…. and their tragic deaths. It also describes the three-year restoration of the abandoned cemetery by Dayton Bluffs volunteers.

The program will be performed on Saturday and Sunday, October 4 and 5, at 3 PM each day. The players will perform in period costume. The program will last 90 minutes. Reservations are required and can be obtained by calling 815.488.1010 (leave a message) or Emailing dmanig@sbcglobal.net. Additional instructions will be provided in advance of the program. A $10 voluntary donation is suggested and will be used to support the Cemetery’s preservation.

Girls Who Code Club (GRADES 3-5 & GRADES 6-12)
2025-10-04 15:00 - 16:00 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
This new club isn’t just for girls, but uses the Girls Who Code
curriculum. Members will learn computer coding at their own
pace at home or at the library and meet once a month for
activities and snacks to go. Parental permission and an email
address are required.

Manga Club
2025-10-04 14:00 - 15:00 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
Hey manga and anime fans! We’re getting together to talk about our favorite
mangas (and the anime series they’ve inspired). This month we’re talking
Hellsing.

The Loop Group
2025-10-04 13:30 - 15:30 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
Learn to knit or crochet in a friendly enviornment with knowledgeable people.

Ottawa American Legion Fall Festival
2025-10-04 11:00 - 17:00 | American Legion Post 33, 901 LaSalle Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
Get ready for a day of food, drinks, and fun! Enjoy music by Gaffney Davis Band from 2 to 5pm.

Ottawa Scarecrow Festival
2025-10-04 10:00 - 16:00 | Downtown Ottawa
Come downtown on Saturday October 4th from 10am-4pm for the annual Ottawa Scarecrow Festival. So much fun to be had!!!

NFD Safety Day 2025
2025-10-04 10:00 - 14:00 | Vittone Park, 1801 W. Ottawa Avenue, Naplate, IL, United States
Join us the Naplate Volunteer Fire Department for their Annual Safety Day! This free, family-friendly event will feature a variety of organizations sharing valuable information about their services. There will be plenty of activities for kids, ensuring a fun and educational experience for all ages.
Activities include:
• Fire truck rides
• Vehicle tours
• Smoke house
• K-9 demo
• Lifeflight helicopter
• Sprinkler fun
• Face painting

parkrun
2025-10-04 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-09-27 08:00 - 09:00 | Heritage Harbor Ottawa, 2 Great Loop, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
Heritage Harbor parkrun, Ottawa is a FREE weekly 5k event for participants of all standards, which takes place every Saturday at 8:00 AM, May – September, & 9:00 AM, October – April, in Heritage Harbor. It offers an opportunity for all the local community, regardless of age or gender, to come together on a regular basis to enjoy the outdoors and get physically active. We want to encourage people to run, jog, walk and volunteer together – this event is truly open to all and best of all it really is FREE! Taking part is easy – just register before your first ever parkrun. The great thing is that you only ever need to do this once! Then just set your alarm for Saturday morning and get yourself there! Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee in the Bluegill Boathouse & Marina Bar – please come and join us! Maybe swap stories about your parkrun that day, chat to other parkrunners over a cup of tea or coffee and just be an part of this community. So whether you’re a complete novice looking to get yourself started or a regular wanting to use this as a part of your training schedule, you’re welcome to come along and join us. Please register before you first come along. Only ever register with parkrun once and don’t forget to bring a scannable copy of your barcode (request a reminder). If you forget it, you won’t get a time. You can visit the event website link to register.

Farmers and Makers Market
2025-10-04 08:00 - 12:30, 2025-09-27 08:00 - 12:30 | Ottawa, IL, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
Start your Saturday with an exciting market experience from 8am to 12:30pm. Enjoy fresh produce, local honey, handmade crafts, and delectable local treats.
Indulge in farm-fresh fruits and vegetables.
Explore unique, handcrafted treasures from talented local artisans.
Relish mouthwatering baked goods and tasty treats from food stalls.
Bring your family, friends, and even your pets for a day of fun and community spirit. Let’s celebrate and support our local farmers and makers together. See you there!

AI Safety Basics
2025-10-03 14:00 - 15:00 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
October is Cybersecurity Month. Come and learn the basics of Artificial
Intelligence (AI), common AI scams, and how to protect yourself.

Shake, Rattle, Read
2025-10-01 10:00 - 10:45, 2025-09-24 10:00 - 10:45 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
Join the Reddick Library for stories, songs, and a craft! Stay and play after the craft if you have the time! Find each week’s theme on the Events Calendar on the Reddick Library website. This event is for children ages birth to 3 years.

Silent Book Club
2025-09-30 16:30 - 17:30 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
Need a place to study after school or somewhere to hang out with friends? Bring schoolwork, a project, or a book to read for fun! There’s no pressure here, just friends, snacks and time to get something done at the library.

Ready, Set, Read!
2025-09-30 10:00 - 10:45, 2025-09-23 10:00 - 10:45 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
Join the Reddick Library for stories, songs, and a craft! Stay and play after the craft if you have the time! Find each week’s theme on the Events Calendar on the Reddick Library website. This event is for children ages 3-5 years

Catapault Bowling
2025-09-29 16:00 - 16:45 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
For grades 3-6, Your challenge is to build a catapult that can accurately launch a ping pong ball at 10 clothespins. Can you hurl a strike?

Homeschool Art
2025-09-29 10:00 - 11:00 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
For children of all ages, learn about an artist and create a masterpiece inspired by their style. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting messy!

Kid's Book Club: Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
2025-09-28 13:00 - 13:45 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
This month, the library will be discussing Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems and hatching dino eggs! Copies of the book will be available for checkout in the Children’s Department.

General WHL Wallace Memorial Event
2025-09-28 09:00 - 16:00 | Ottawa Historical and Scouting Museum, 1100 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
Enjoy guided tours of the Wallace-Dickey Family Cemetery and the Wallace Home, The Oaks.
Sept 28, 2025: Starting at the Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum, enjoy Guided Tours of the Wallace-Dickey Family Cemetery and The Wallace Home, The Oaks in Ottawa, Illinois. Wallace was one of Illinois’ greatest Civil War heroes. Visitors can meet famous figures of the past and learn of the relationship WHL Wallace had with Abraham Lincoln. Tours will run from 9am to 4pm.
Family Entrance Fees
$15/person, $10/Students, $50/family
The definition of family for this Event shall be limited to parents and children under the age of eighteen (18) and shall be for no more than a total of five (5) attendees.
Note: All must ride on provided transportation, comfortable walking shoes are recommended and the tours are not handicapped accessible.

The Loop Group
2025-09-27 13:30 - 15:30, 2025-09-20 13:30 - 15:30 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
For adults, learn to knit or crochet in a friendly environment with knowledgeable people.

Bill's Barktoberfest
2025-09-27 11:00 - 14:00 | IL
Get ready for a tail-wagging good time at the Fido Fair (11am – 2pm), where you and your four- legged friend can explore a paw-some array of dog-related products. From gourmet treats to stylish accessories, it’s a canine paradise you won’t want to miss! There will also be a Pack Walk (check in at 10:45am, walk @ 11am), a structured walk with the experts that will show you how to properly communicate with your dog in a way that he/she understands using various tools, your energy, and body language.
And that’s not all! There will also be a costume contest, canine showcase featuring OPD dogs demo and more, the crowning of Ottawa’s Top Dogs, and canine carnival games for dogs and owners alike.
Bill’s Barktoberfest honors Bill Walsh Sr. and his legacy with the Ottawa community. All proceeds benefit Bill’s Barking Lot (dog park located at 401 E Lafayette St). Check out the Barktoberfest Facebook page for more info!

Food for Thought Cookbook Club
2025-09-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
Home Is Where the Eggs Are by Molly Yeh will be discussed at this fun book club. New members are always welcome. Participants will be asked to make a recipe out of the cookbook prior to each meeting and share their opinion of the results.

LEGO Club
2025-09-23 18:00 - 19:00 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
Club–Create with library LEGO pieces and have your build displayed in the Children’s Department

Tea Blend Workshop
2025-09-22 19:00 - 19:45, 2025-09-22 18:00 - 18:45 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
For adults, Enjoy the first day of Autumn by making a delicious tea blend. Registration is required as spots are limited due to the availability of supplies. To register for one of the two classes, please call the library at 815-434- 0509 or stop by the circulation desk.

Crafter Hours
2025-09-20 10:00 - 11:30 | Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
Create a seasonal ghost wall decoration with yarn. Registration is required as spots are limited due to the availability of supplies. To register for this class, please call the library at 815-434-0509 or stop by the circulation desk.

2025 Boater Safety Courses
2025-09-20 09:00 - 17:00 | Illinois Waterway Visitor Center, 950 N 27th Rd, Ottawa, IL, 61350, United States
The Illinois Waterway Visitor Center offers free IDNR approved boater safety classes. Advanced registration is required. This eight hour class is required to complete your certification. Courses are open to anyone 12 and older. Students under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. This class is recommended for new boaters, families that enjoy boating adventures, and even seasoned boaters who would like to brush up on their knowledge! Participants should bring their own snacks/lunch/drinks. Course materials will be provided. Call to register today!
Courses are from 9 am to 5 pm on the following dates:
April 19
May 17
June 21
July 19
August 16
September 20
