The weekend brings Geneseo’s Christmas Open House, Turkey Trot and Turkey for Toys, along with fundraisers, live music and more to the Kewanee area.
Geneseo’s Christmas Open House
What: The 2025 Geneseo Christmas Open House is the annual kick-off of the holiday season in Geneseo. It includes a lineup of holiday warm-up events: the Shop Geneseo! promotion kickoff, Candlelight Shopping, free horse and wagon rides and more. The horse and wagon rides will be offered to shoppers enjoying candlelight shopping, taking shoppers for a horse-drawn stroll through downtown Geneseo, as the city’s Christmas lights and decorations are illuminated for the first time this holiday season. Uncle Bud’s Apple Slush will have apple slush and kettle corn and there will be vendors set up on State Street this year.
When: 4-7 p.m. Nov. 14
Where: downtown Geneseo
Cost: Free
Ryan David Green
What: A graduate of Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music, Ryan David Green has performed on four continents, been profiled in Acoustic Guitar Magazine, and twice been named “Best Guitarist” in the Tucson Music Awards (where he currently resides). His original compositions have received numerous film and TV placements, including shows on E!, Lifetime and ABC Family/Freeform.
When: 7-10 p.m. Nov. 14
Where: Bishop Hill Creative Commons, 309 Bishop Hill St., Bishop Hill
Cost: $20-30 suggested donation
Fall Toothpick Leaf Painting
What: Get creative at this craft time for elementary students session. Kids will design colorful leaves using toothpicks instead of paintbrushes to explore texture, detail and color blending. All materials will be provided. Artists can take home their masterpieces to celebrate the beauty of autumn.
When: 2-6 p.m. Nov. 14 or 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Nov. 15
Where: Kewanee Public Library District, 102 S. Tremont St., Kewanee
Jessie’s Closet Open House
What: Shop the holiday sale all weekend and register to win a gift basket. There will be sweet treats served.
When: 10 a.m. Nov. 14 – 3 p.m. Nov. 16
Where: Jessie’s Closet, 315 N. Main St., Kewanee
Christmas in the Country
What: This annual event features fresh wreaths, swags, roping, fresh-cut trees, vintage Christmas items, candles, home décor and everything you need to make the holidays special.
When: 6-9 p.m. Nov. 14, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Nov. 15 and noon – 4 p.m. Nov. 16
Where: Songbird Lane Antiques, 16870 N. 1100 Ave., Cambridge
Christmas Holiday Open House
What: Come celebrate the season here with a complimentary hot chocolate bar, door prizes, special coupons and 20% off one regular-priced item.
When: 10 a.m. Nov. 14 – 4 p.m. Nov. 16
Where: Blissful Branch, 224 N. Main St., Kewanee
Holiday Bazaar
What: This event features live music, raffles, a silent auction and food. Guests are encouraged to make monetary donations or any support they can to Galva’s Food Pantry. Donations will directly help sustain the food pantry and support other local organizations like United Way, Galesburg Rescue Mission, nursing homes and Operation Christmas Child.
When: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Nov. 15
Where: First Baptist Church of Galva, 211 N.W. Fourth Ave., Galva
Christmas Open House
What: Come enjoy hot cocoa, cookies and Christmas cocktails. Get a raffle entry with purchase. Specials include buy-one-get-one-half-off ornaments and gnomes.
When: 4-7 p.m. Nov. 15
Where: Krans Kafe, 103 S. Bishop Hill St., Bishop Hill
Rye Davis Music and Adam Hood
What: Rye Davis is a blue-collar country artist from Pig, Ky. who performs in more than 150 shows a year, both as a headliner and supporting act. His smooth distinctive vocals, captivating songs and live show energy brings his brand of music to a whole new generation of listeners who never knew what country could be. Adam Hood has left his mark both onstage and in the writing room, carving out a sound that mixes equal parts country, soul and American roots music. His big break came as opening act for Leon Russell on a three-year nationwide tour. Today, some of the same artists that Adam covered as a rising young star in Alabama are fans of his, and they play his songs too — artists such as Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Brent Cobb, Whiskey Meyers, Cody Jinks and Travis Tritt. The 6 p.m. potluck is optional, but it is an opportunity to connect with others in the audience and maybe share a meal with the artist. Plates, bowls, silverware, napkins and serving spoons are provided. This is an all-ages, family-friendly show.
When: 7-11 p.m. Nov. 15
Where: Bishop Hill Creative Commons, 309 Bishop Hill St., Bishop Hill
Cost: $20-30 suggested donation
Turkey for Toys
What: Help raise money for Patchy’s Red White and Blue Christmas Toy Drive and give local kids a great Christmas. A minimum donation gets you a homemade turkey dinner and a chance to win Wiebler’s Harley-Davidson gift cards. Food will be served at 11 a.m. until it’s gone.
When: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Nov. 15
Where: Wiebler’s Harley Davidson, 623 N. Main St., Kewanee
Cost: Minimum $15 donation
Night Sky Viewing
What: Tour the night sky after sunset. The planet Saturn will be in an ideal position this evening. Of particular interest is to note that the rings are seen edge-on. The moons of Saturn will be strung out in alignment with the rings. Neptune is close by Saturn. Uranus will be visible all evening long. Jupiter rises around 9 p.m. Jupiter’s moons (Io, Ganymede, Europa and Callisto) will put on a show. Double stars, open clusters, NGC253 (Sculptor Galaxy), M31 (Andromeda Galaxy), M2 (globular cluster in Aquarius) will be among the featured objects along with many other deep sky objects that should be visible weather permitting. The PACMO (mobile observatory) and other telescopes will be set up; knowledgeable club members will guide you. If you have a telescope, bring it along. Keep in mind that restroom facilities will not be available. This is a family-friendly event.
When: 4:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 15
Where: Niabi Zoo parking lot, 12524 Niabi Road, Coal Valley
Cost: Free
Country Thyme Annual Craft Show
What: Celebrate the fall and Christmas seasons at the Country Thyme craft fair. This market has many vendors selling homemade products.
When: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Nov. 15 and 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Nov. 16
Where: Antique Tractor Barn, 13451 IL-92, Geneseo
Turkey Trot
What: Lace up your sneakers and race your friends for a chance to win a Thanksgiving turkey. Participants will compete in three grade-based divisions: Pre-K, K-2nd, and 3rd-5th, with separate races for boys and girls. The top three finishers in each group will take home a prize — turkeys included.
When: 2 p.m. Nov. 16
Where: Geneseo Park District Athletic Field, 407 E. North St., Geneseo
Cost: Free
Coming next week
Legends and Lore
What: Winter may blanket the world in stillness, but beneath the snow lies a season rich with eerie legends, chilling folklore and mysterious traditions. Join renowned paranormal researcher and author Chad Lewis for his presentation, Winter Legends and Lore. Drawing from decades of global exploration into the supernatural, Chad delves into the bizarre wintertime tales and spine-tingling stories of phantom spirits, Krampus the Christmas Monster and the deadly Wendigo of the northern woods. Discover the curious origins of Santa Claus, the truth behind ancient New Year’s Eve rituals, weather superstitions and unsettling accounts of holiday hauntings and mythical little people. With a master’s degree in psychology and dozens of books about the supernatural, Chad blends storytelling, historical research and firsthand accounts to uncover the strange phenomena that thrive in the shadows of the season.
When: 6-7 p.m. Nov. 18
Where: Kewanee Public Library District, 102 S. Tremont St., Kewanee
Sean Dagher
What: Seán Dagher is widely known for his recordings with the Assassin’s Creed video game series, including Black Flag. His renditions of sea shanties and other songs from the games have been streamed 70 million times. His own Shanty of the Week video series receives thousands of views each week and he has a loyal following the world over. Sean has been nominated for numerous OPUS and ADISQ awards and he participated in the ADISQ-winning CD, La Traverse Miraculeuse with La Nef and Les Charbonniers de l’enfer. He has won OPUS awards for Creation of the Year (Leave Her, Johnny), Album of the Year (Skye Consort & Emma Björling) and Youth Production of the Year (Le chat et le gondolier, La Nef). The 6 p.m. potluck is optional, but it is an opportunity to connect with others in the audience and maybe share a meal with the artist. Plates, bowls, silverware, napkins and serving spoons are provided. This is an all-ages, family-friendly show.
When: 7-11 p.m. Nov. 19
Where: Bishop Hill Creative Commons, 309 Bishop Hill St., Bishop Hill
Cost: $23-$34
Cotton Ball Painting for Littles
What: Celebrate Dino-vember by creating a dinosaur silhouette painting.
When: 2-6 p.m. Nov. 19
Where: Kewanee Public Library District, 102 S. Tremont St., Kewanee
Pentatonix: Christmas in the City Tour
What: Pentatonix will perform.
When: 7 p.m. Nov. 19
Where: Vibrant Arena, 1201 River Drive, Moline
Cost: $31-$660
A Sherlock Carol
What: Moriarty is dead. And Sherlock Holmes is a haunted man. But, when a grown-up Tiny Tim asks Holmes to investigate the death of Ebenezer Scrooge, the great detective must use his gifts to solve a Dickens of a Christmas mystery. Six Richland Hill Players actors take on the beloved characters of Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens in this heartwarming and highly theatrical holiday treat for all ages.
When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20-Nov. 23 and 3 p.m. Nov. 23
Where: Barn on the Hill, 600 HK Robinson Drive, Geneseo
Cost: $12
Frosty Florals with Sue
What: Sue from Blooms by Heartfelt will help you create Frosty Florals. Registration is required; call to register.
When: 2 and 6 p.m. Nov. 20
Where: Community Room, Kewanee Public Library District, 102 S. Tremont St., Kewanee
Kathi Edwards is a freelance contributor to the Kewanee Star Courier.
This article originally appeared on Star Courier: The Geneseo’s Christmas Open House is among 13 events this weekend in the Kewanee area
Reporting by Kathi Edwards / Star Courier
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