Chicago Southland CVB - Virtual Events

Virtual Events

There are many virtual events taking place throughout the Chicago Southland that you and your family can enjoy from anywhere! Take a look all of the fun upcoming virtual events, and be sure to check back often!

	Sweet Home Chicago Blues: Celebrating 50 Years of Alligator Records Premieres on Sunday, March 14 and streams through April 14 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Cost: Varies Sweet Home Chicago Blues will feature internationally renowned vocalist Shemekia Copeland, slide guitar master Lil’ Ed Williams, beloved Chicago blues guitarist and songwriter Toronzo Cannon and legendary harmonica player Billy Branch with his all-star band, The Sons of Blues. The Sons of Blues will serve as house band for the show, backing each of the headliners. For more information, please call: 708-235-2222 Event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/758478994785735
	Virtual Pollinator Crafts: Bee Hotels Thursday, April 8 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM From the comfort of your couch, learn how to build a hotel for your garden’s buzz-iest workers! Using Isle a la Cache Museum’s traveling exhibit “Pollinators: Little Helpers, Big Results” and our pollinator garden for inspiration, we’ll investigate solitary bees that help gardens flourish. Then get pointers on different bee-friendly options you can try at home. For more information, please call: 815-886-1467 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/April-2021/Virtual-Pollinator-Crafts-Bee-Hotels
	IPO Reimagined: Poetic Strings Streaming Friday, April 9 through Friday, April 23 Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) continues its popular IPO Reimagined virtual season with its spring concert Poetic Strings filmed in IPO’s stunning home venue, Ozinga Chapel at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, available to stream April 9-23, 2021. The hour-long concert features 32 IPO string players performing American modernist composer Ruth Crawford’s Andante followed by Austrian-American composer Arnold Schoenberg’s Transfigured Night. Tickets are $15 and now available at ipomusic.org. For more information, please call: 708-481-7774 Event link: https://ipomusic.org/
	Planting Natives in the Spring Wednesday, April 14 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM It’s almost time for spring planting, so let’s start this season off with as many native plants as possible! In this webinar, learn which plants are best to plant in the spring for a summer of color. Discover why natives are a better fit for your yard and how to incorporate them within your budget. Gain confidence dealing with germination and the different soil and sunlight requirements that make every yard unique. This is the year to get your native garden growing! For more information, please call: 815-722-9470 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/April-2021/Planting-Natives-in-the-Spring
	Follow the Flowers with Phenology Wednesday, April 14 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM After a long winter, spring wildflowers are a welcome sight to see! The forest floor wakes up to transform into blankets of greens, blues, yellows, reds and more. The tricky thing is that most of our blooms only last a small window of time. Learn how to track these flowers with phenology so you know what species to expect and when. Then learn about a few favorite preserves that should be added to your must-hike list. For more information, please call: 708-946-2216 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/April-2021/Follow-the-Flowers-with-Phenology
	Living with Wildlife Sunday, April 18 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Many species of wildlife are welcome visitors to our yards and help us maintain our connection with nature. However, some animals may wear out their welcome, ending up in places that are not safe for them or for people and pets with whom they come into contact. Fortunately, taking a few simple steps can help prevent many of the most common wildlife-related problems around your home. A number of proven methods can be used to solve the problems when they cannot be prevented. In this program, learn how to coexist with wildlife. For more information, please call: 815-886-1467 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/April-2021/Living-With-Wildlife
	Wild About Woodpeckers! Wednesday, April 21 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM In this virtual presentation, we’ll take a closer look at the woodpeckers of Will County! From the downy woodpecker to the pileated woodpecker, you’ll learn fun facts about these creatures, their preferred habitats and how you can attract woodpeckers to your yard! For more information, please call: 815-722-9470 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/April-2021/Wild-About-Woodpeckers
	Put Your Foot Down on Earth Day! Thursday, April 22 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM There’s only one Earth, yet humans consume 1.6 planets’ worth of resources every year, according to the Global Footprint Network. Find out how to use the Global Footprint Calculator to adjust your resource consumption so that we can all stay within our planet’s capacity. Practical ideas and discussion will be a part of this Zoom presentation. For more information, please call: 708-946-2216 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/April-2021/Put-Your-Foot-Down-on-Earth-Day
	Turtle Time Friday, April 23 5:00 PM - 5:45 PM There’s only one Earth, yet humans consume 1.6 planets’ worth of resources every year, according to the Global Footprint Network. Find out how to use the Global Footprint Calculator to adjust your resource consumption so that we can all stay within our planet’s capacity. Practical ideas and discussion will be a part of this Zoom presentation. For more information, please call: 815-886-1467 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/April-2021/World-Turtle-Day
	WonderKids: Bees Sunday, April 25 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM Calling all families with preschoolers! Join us for a virtual circle time designed for your little one. We will explore bees and why they are so important. This Zoom program is complete with tons of bee facts, singing, a story time and a craft that you can easily do at home. For more information, please call: 815-886-1467 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/April-2021/WonderKids-Bees
	Companion Planting Wednesday, April 28 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Planting different vegetables and flowers together is one of the oldest ways to create a healthy, bountiful garden. Many people know companion planting through the three sisters – corn, beans and squash – but there are so many other great companions that benefit from this technique. Naturally fight garden pests! Increase yields! Support biodiversity! We’ll walk you through the ins and outs of starting a companion garden that meets your needs. For more information, please call: 815-886-1467 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/April-2021/Companion-Planting
	Frogs of Will County Wednesday, April 28 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM In this webinar, you will learn the basics about our amphibious friends, frogs. Find out the differences between a frog and a toad. Meet our local residents. Discover their amazing adaptions, preferred habitats and when and where to hear the males calling. This presentation will be a hopping good time! br /> For more information, please call: 815-722-9470 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/April-2021/Frogs-of-Will-County
	History at Home: Money, Mailing and Packaging Saturday, May 8 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM Encounter history from the comfort of your own home. Do some virtual time travel via Zoom and explore interesting topics from earlier times. Learn about how 18th-century people wrote and sent letters as well as how they received them. Learn how French voyageurs played an important role in delivering supplies to forts, posts and settlements. Pull up a seat in front of your computer as we learn about early postage. For more information, please call: 815-886-1467 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/May-2021/History-at-Home-Money-Mail-and-Packaging
	History at Home: French Herb Garden Wednesday, May 12 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. Don’t forget the lavender! That’s because we are talking French herb gardens for this “History at Home.” Potager, or French kitchen gardens, have intermingled vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs since medieval times. Learn about these gardens’ roots, how they made their way to Illinois Country and tips on starting your own at home. For more information, please call: 815-886-1467 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/May-2021/History-at-Home-French-Herb-Garden
	Paddling in Will County Wednesday, May 12 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Join certified canoe and kayak instructors for an informational virtual presentation that will discuss safe padding in Will County. This presentation will also share information on local places to paddle for individuals of all experience levels. For more information, please call: 815-722-9470 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/May-2021/4-5-Billions-Years-in-45-Minutes
	Birding in the Preserves Thursday, May 13 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM This virtual hike will highlight a select preserve and get you familiar with some of the birds found there. Learn where to go and what to expect. Get tips and tricks on where to look and how to identify the birds you see. Armed with this new information, you can then go out on your own to find the birds in the preserves. As a bonus, find out how you can contribute to citizen science just by walking a preserve and recording what you observe. Finding and recording birds can add significance to any day outdoors and help you become more aware of wildlife. For more information, please call: 708-946-2216 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/May-2021/Birding-in-the-Preserves-May-13
	Bats Are Back! Thursday, May 27 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Let’s welcome back the eight amazing bat species that live in Will County! Find out which bats they are and where they have been the past few months. These amazing flying mammals have a story to tell about how they have adapted to a rapidly changing landscape. For more information, please call: 708-946-2216 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/May-2021/Bats-Are-Back
	Leaves of Three Wednesday, June 2 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM If you only know poison ivy by the phrase “leaves of three, let it be,” this program is for you. Learn new tricks to help distinguish between many of our three-leaved spring wildflowers and the infamous ivy. In this Zoom webinar, you will learn the many ways that poison ivy appears in our forests and how to appreciate the similar-looking plants that won’t harm you at all. For more information, please call: 815-722-9470 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/June-2021/Leaves-of-Three
	Birding in the Preserves Thursday, June 3 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM This virtual hike will highlight a select preserve and get you familiar with some of the birds found there. Learn where to go and what to expect. Get tips and tricks on where to look and how to identify birds you observe. Armed with this new information, you can then go out on your own to find birds in the preserves. As a bonus, learn how you can contribute to citizen science just by walking a preserve and recording what you see. Finding and recording birds can add significance to any day outdoors and help you become more aware of wildlife. For more information, please call: 815-886-1467 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/June-2021/Birding-in-the-Preserves-June-3
	Plastic-Free Living Tuesday, June 8 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM In the United States, more than 500 million plastic straws are thrown away daily, and about 100 billion plastic bags are purchased annually. In a world full of plastic, how does the environment stand a chance? The answer is you. Join this Zoom presentation to learn how to live plastic-free and make small lifestyle changes that have huge benefits for the natural world. For more information, please call: 815-886-1467 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/June-2021/Plastic-free-Living-June-8
	Paddling Safety and River Hazards Tuesday, June 8 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Join a certified canoe and kayak instructor for a virtual, informational presentation to discuss safe paddling in Will County and the potential hazards that can exist on the waterways. This interactive presentation will help participants gain a better understanding of moving water and learn to spot potential safety threats before they come across them during a paddling trip. For more information, please call: 815-722-9470 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/June-2021/Paddling-Safety-and-River-Hazards
	Endangered in Illinois Thursday, June 10 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Ecosystems are dynamic, complicated and incredibly wondrous. Living things depend on one another, and the loss of one plant or animal can impact the entire ecosystem. This webinar will uncover the challenges facing threatened and endangered species in Illinois. We will discover local recovery plans, celebrate success stories and discuss how you can be part of the solution. For more information, please call: 815-722-9470 Event link: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/News-Events/Event-Calendar/June-2021/Endangered-in-Illinois