Author: Fox Valley Magazine

At around 7:30pm yesterday evening, approximately 260 people had gathered at The Apollo Theatre in Belvidere, just outside of Rockford, to hear the band Morbid Angel perform a concert. And then the roof came crashing down. At that moment, what appears to have been a powerful tornado ripped through the theatre, destroying its roof and sending heavy debris down on the concertgoers. The theater’s marquee and facade crashed onto the abutting street and the area was littered with bricks and debris. Multiple agencies responded immediately to the disaster, eventually identifying 1 fatality, and sending 28 people to nearby hospitals -…

Update 2:50pm – The NWS has issued a Tornado Watch for all of Kane County until 10pm this evening. The Chicago office of the National Weather Service is cautioning residents of the significant potential for violent weather this afternoon and evening. Two rounds of severe weather are expected today, the first this afternoon and second this evening. All modes of severe weather are possible: including destructive winds, tornadoes, and damaging hail. The first wave of sever weather is expected to reach the fox Valley area at around 3:30 pm, according to radar projections. The second is projected to hit at…

Welcome to our latest edition of Fox Valley Magazine’s 4 FOR THE WEEKEND where we wonder if Santa and Peter Cottontail hang out during the summer. So let’s get to it, starting with….. Skywalker Meets Tchaikovsky An interesting weekend is in store for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. On Friday, the venerable orchestra let’s their hair down a bit and presents “Music of Star Wars,” raising the obvious question “what about Star Trek????? HUH!@???” On Saturday its Tchaikovsky’s 4th, which raises no similar concerns (although we hear that Spock is more amenable to Chopin). Click here for more. Molly Hatchet Meets…

Comedian and actor Pete Lee will be performing Friday and Saturday evenings at The Comedy Vault in Batavia. Tickets are still available for the 9:30pm shows each evening. Pete was the first standup comedian to get a standing ovation on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, after Fallon personally attended one of Pete’s live shows in NYC and immediately invited him on the show. Pete’s joyful humor comes from his Midwestern roots. Raised in Janesville, WI by divorced parents and a 19-inch television, he was destined to pursue a career in entertainment. In 2005, Pete flew to New York to make…

It’s a blockbuster weekend at the Arcada Theater in St. Charles as legendary rock groups Molly Hatchet and The Guess Who come to town. On Saturday at 8pm, Molly Hatchet brings its 40 years of scintillating southern rock to the stage, blasting out hits like “Flirtin’ with Disaster,” “One Last Ride,” “Dreams I’ll Never See,” ”Whiskey Man” and more. Opening for the band is LynSkynyrd, Chicagoland’s first and only tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd!  Sunday evening at 5pm, Canadian rockers The Guess Who will play from their seemingly endless list of Top 40 hits over the years, including the iconic “American Woman”…

OK, ok, we know. The revamped Cubs got an Opening Day victory by shutting out the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 at Wrigley Field Thursday. Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman pitched six scoreless innings and the Cubs’ newly-acquired superstar shortstop Dansby Swanson picked up his first RBI as a Cub, igniting a 4-run rally in the third inning with a single to right, driving in Miles Mastrobuoni from third base. As Swanson rounded first, Brewer shortstop Willy Adames cut off the throw from right field to try to catch Swanson off first base, but Swanson dived back, and Adames’ throw missed wide. Hoerner, who…

The 2023 Last Fling will take place Labor Day Weekend, Friday, September 1 through Monday, September 4, as an end-of-summer block party-style event along Jackson Avenue in downtown Naperville. The annual festival has announced its music lineup for the weekend, with a mix of styles sure to delight the most discriminating musical tastes. Friday, September 1 will feature Hairbangers Ball at 8PM, an interactive hair band experience, named “Best Rock Band ” by the public in their hometown of Chicago. Mix Tape Junkies will kick-off the weekend’s musical line-up at 5PM; their songs will have your guests singing and dancing…

Registration is now open for the City of Elgin’s Fourth of July Parade. Participants can register and view parade guidelines at cityofelgin.org/july4. Registration closes on June 12.  The City of Elgin’s Fourth of July Parade steps off Tuesday, July 4 at 9:00 a.m. at the intersection of Douglas and Slade Avenues and continues to its conclusion at the intersection of Douglas and Highland Avenues, near City Hall. This year’s theme is ‘90s Throwback,’ celebrating all things 90s. Parade participants are encouraged to decorate their vehicles and dress in character. “Our community always comes out to participate and enjoy this event. While there…

Join the Elgin Symphony Orchestra at The Hemmens Center this weekend for an otherworldly musical experience. On Friday evening, 7:30pm Guest conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez leads the orchestra through “The Music of Star Wars,” featuring music you know from the acclaimed saga including “A New Hope,” “The Phantom Menace,” “The Force Awakens,” “Rogue One” and more! Tickets range from $20 to $55, and can purchased here. (Student tickets are1 $10. Children under 17 are free if accompanied by an adult.) On Saturday evening, also at 7:30, conductor Alex Amsel welcomes guest violinist Blake Pouliot for an evening of Saint-Saens and Tchaikovsky…

Come join in the fun with the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles, presented by the St. Charles Park District. The fun begins at 10:00am. 9 years of age or under. Participants should arrive to the park at least 15 minutes early to receive instructions and make your way to the designated egg hunt age group location. Participants are asked to bring their own baskets to collect the eggs. Parents, please keep children behind all lines and wait for the signal to avoid false starts and to be fair to everyone. Registration is not required. Rain…