This weekend in DeKalb, IL

The 3D MAC Championship is a competitive archery event where shooters work their way through a full course of 3D targets. This is the MAC circuit championship, so participants will compete against other serious archers from the region using hunting-scenario style targets. The event offers different divisions for compound, recurve, and longbow, with scoring based on accuracy and consistency across multiple stations.

This event takes place at NIU Anderson Hall in DeKalb, Illinois.

Explore a craft and vendor show with a food truck on site.

This cruise brings automotive enthusiasts together around faith in Jesus Christ, offering a chance to learn more about Him while enjoying a relaxed showcase of vehicles. Spectators are welcome to attend just to see the cars. Everyone is invited, and all vehicle types are accepted, including motorcycles. For safety and courtesy, avoid burnouts and excessive revving, and help keep the area clean. Admission is free for all. Doughnuts, juice, and water will be available. Sponsored by Just the Details and The Obsessed Hobbyist.

Free Open Mat welcomes all ages and experience levels to a wrestling gym that views wrestling as both a sport and a path to fitness. This open session allows anyone to come in for a few hours to practice technique, work with weights, or spar with a friend. A coach is always on site to help and give direction.

Learn how to use pistol-mounted optics with a hands-on defensive red dot pistol class. You’ll cover key topics like gear considerations, how to zero your red dot, an efficient draw stroke, finding and using the dot at close range and distance, and building trust in the optic. Rental red dot pistols are available if you don’t already own one. The class runs in person over a full day.

Engaging, easy-to-follow dog training sessions offer a chance to refresh familiar skills or try something new. Dogs of any age and experience level can participate, as long as they are suited to a group environment.

At North Grove Park, kids ages 7 to 12 take on a new playground obstacle course challenge. Participants navigate a set route on obstacle-style equipment, building confidence while developing strength and agility as they climb, swing, balance, and race to the finish. Each child is assigned a specific layout, and prizes recognize both quick finishes and strong effort. Depending on enrollment, participants may be separated into smaller age groups. Registration is $10 for residents and $15 for nonresidents. Participants may also register for both events to try to improve their time.

Meet local writers and explore their newest publications in the main lobby of the library. Authors will showcase their work, answer questions, and chat with readers, and books will be available for purchase. Admission is free and everyone is welcome, and visitors can stop in at any point to talk with the authors. Featured participants include Bree M. Lewandowski, Terry Soltow, Photine Liakos, Pat Camalliere, Victoria J. Hyla, Pascuala Herrera, Dale Cozort, Cat Stark, E.L. Rae, and Courtney Skelton, with Booth 11 hosting Demetrius Page and Candace Green and Booth 12 featuring Knenosha Fields-Page and Tamina Kazi. For more information, contact Samantha at samanthah@dkpl.org or (815) 756-9568 ext. 1701.

Put your puzzling speed to the test in a timed showdown where up to seven teams of two to four people all work on the same 300-piece jigsaw. The first team to finish, or the one closest to completion when the 90-minute limit ends, takes the win and earns a puzzle as the prize. All ages are welcome, and each team must include at least one adult. Advance registration is required, capacity is limited to seven teams, and only the designated team contact should register with a single ticket to hold a spot for the entire group. Support for this program is provided by Friends of the Library, Robin’s Nest Bookshoppe, and Barb City Bagels.

A high stakes caper unfolds in this Dungeons & Dragons adventure. A newly discovered key points to a hidden cache of 500,000 gold coins, and a pair of crooked nobles plans to exploit it for their own ends. An unlikely band of heroes must slip into the estate, secure the treasure, and derail any other wicked schemes in motion. Bring a level 5 character tailored for a heist focused campaign, or choose from premade options available at the table. Newcomers and experienced players are welcome. This program is intended for adults, and no registration is required. For more information, contact Britta at brittak@dkpl.org or 815-756-9568 ext. 2100.

Hosted by the Ezra Hill Jr. Memorial Foundation, this sixth annual Project Rock Renewal rock painting gathering also serves as the first Back-to-School Bash. It honors the life of 10-year-old Ezra, lovingly nicknamed Ej, who was taken by gun violence. This community event welcomes the public to participate in rock painting, raffles, and sunny outdoor activities. Wearing orange to show support is encouraged. Free food and drinks will be provided, along with music and other activities.

A percussion-focused club at The Music Connection, LLC in Sycamore, Illinois offers guided practice and coaching on rudimental percussion, drum set, mallet percussion, and more. Participants are asked to bring sticks and earplugs, while music and instruments are provided. The participation fee is $20 per student and is paid upon arrival by cash, check, Zelle, Venmo, or PayPal, with fees covering music, instruments, and staff. Friends and families are welcome to attend. For questions, call 815-970-8106 or 815-217-5648, or email info@themusicconnection.com. Sponsored by The Music Connection, LLC.

The 22nd Annual 50 Men Who Cook offers more than 50 dishes to sample, along with a cash bar, entertainment, and raffle prizes at NIU's Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center. Proceeds support CASA DeKalb County and its work advocating for children in DeKalb County who have faced abuse or neglect. Tickets are available online and in person at the CASA Office.

Dennis Stroughmatt and the Honky-Tonk Circus present a musical journey from Tennessee to Texas, highlighting the roots of American country music. The performance centers on old-time country alongside honky-tonk, western swing, and Cajun swing, with songs tied to trailblazers such as Bob Wills, Hank Williams, Ray Price, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, Dottsy, and Tony Booth. A strong spotlight falls on the sound of the steel guitar. Internationally recognized for his French Creole fiddle work, Stroughmatt grew up in southeast Illinois in a home surrounded by his father Jack’s extensive record collection. He played in western swing and honky-tonk bands across southern Illinois and southern Indiana in the 1980s, later becoming the sole fiddle student of western swing legend Wade Ray in the mid-1990s. His path was further shaped by mentorship from Nashville A-Team fiddler Buddy Spicher, members of Ray Price’s Cherokee Cowboys, and country singer Tony Booth. The band features Greg Bigler on bass, Virgil Franklin on lead guitar, Raegan Stroughmatt on drums, and Areille Stroughmatt on fiddle, with vocals shared by the entire ensemble. Beverages can be purchased before and during the show from Whiskey Acres Distilling Company in DeKalb. The concert is free, welcomes all ages, and does not require registration. It is presented in partnership with the Friends of the Library and 94.9 WDKB as part of an after-hours concert series, and it is included within the America 250 initiative, a yearlong celebration of the nation. For more information, contact Chelsea at chelsear@dkpl.org or 815-756-9568 ext. 1700.

Join a single-day NFAA field archery competition hosted by Kishwaukee Archers. Check in with early discounted registration available for $35, and the event will run with a 10:00 AM shotgun start.

Dive into color and pattern with a hands-on paper marbling workshop for all ages. Explore how this time-honored technique decorates book covers and creates the end pages that connect a book’s text block to its cover. All materials are provided, including pigments, paper, and tools, and you can look through examples from older and newer books alongside a variety of marbled designs for inspiration. Expect a lively, messy studio session and a couple of hours of free-flowing creativity. Because the artist travels a long distance, a minimum of eight registrations is required for the workshop to proceed.

Matt Ripsch, from Riplock, returns to Fatty's Pub in Dekalb with a high-energy acoustic show that spans genres and highlights crowd favorites. The music ranges from Zach Bryan to Tom Petty to Pearl Jam, with more in the mix, and he will be taking requests. Expect a lively performance that keeps the hits coming.