Things to do in Big Rock, Illinois
This big-hearted small town is a popular camping, hunting, and fishing getaway set against rolling hills and unspoiled natural beauty.
The annual Big Rock Plowing Match is a harvest tradition going back over 120 years, where visitors can enjoy a wholesome festival with live entertainment, a horse show and carnival, and get a glimpse at the strength, skill, and accuracy required to maintain the attractive farm fields of the surrounding area.
Esther's Place, a bed-and-breakfast in an idyllic sheep farm setting, educates visitors about crafting traditions with fiber arts classes and is a provider of locally sourced knitting wool. More Polish Pottery, the Midwest's largest retailer of Polish-made pottery, is an offbeat indicator of the hidden gem retailers you'll find here in Big Rock and throughout the Aurora Area.
The Big Rock Forest Preserve offers miles of wooded trails on over 840 acres suitable for hiking and horseback riding, and a beautiful quarry lake that's popular with anglers and paddlers. Nearly 100 vehicle-accessible, powered campsites with fire rings are available at Big Rock Forest Preserve, offering creature comforts in the great outdoors. An additional dozen or so primitive, tent-only sites are also available for the outdoorsy type who prefers to rough it underneath wide open prairie skies.
For a deep dive into the rich history of Big Rock, visit the Big Rock Historical Society Museum, collector of local facts and lore, including displays about Plowman's Park and an extensive selection of military history.