7 Best Things To Do In Oswego, Illinois

things to do in oswego illinois
Susanna
Susanna 
Updated
| 3 min read

Oswego is located on the Fox River in Kendall County, Illinois. Some people may remember Oswego as having a town drag-strip from 1955-1979 that attracted muscle car racers from all over the Midwest. The drag-strip is now closed, but Oswego still races ahead with a boost in population growth and jobs. Oswego has a variety of festivals like Drag Strip Days, Wine on the Fox, Christmas Walk, and others. Oswego is an all American city, with a lot of potential to give a lasting impression on any visitor. Oswego is a hidden gem in Kendall County. With beautiful parks, a welcoming atmosphere, and family-friendly activities everyone can enjoy what Oswego has to offer.

1. Fox Valley Winery


Fox Valley Winery creates handcrafted, award winning wines. They’re made in small batches made from a small vineyard of Illinois grapes. Vines were first planted in 2000 by the Faltz Family in a vineyard near Sheridan, Illinois. The Faltz family carefully tends to their grapes and harvest them at the right moment to make the most delicious wines. Fox Valley Winery has a tasting room decorated with artwork from local artists and where visitors can taste dessert wines, dry wines, and sweet wines. Wines can also be purchased online.

The Tasting Room is open Monday-Thursday from 12pm-6pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am-7pm, and Sunday from 11am-5pm. Tours of the winery are by appointment only. An event room can be rented for a private party.

Fox Valley Winery

Address: 5600 US-34, Oswego, IL 60543

Website: Fox Valley Winery

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2. Emerson Creek Pottery and Tearoom

Posted by Emerson Creek Pottery and Tearoom on Friday, 28 June 2013

Posted by Emerson Creek Pottery and Tearoom on Thursday, 15 March 2012

Located inside a 100-year-old house the shop sells more than just pottery. The shop does sell exclusive, hand crafted pottery pieces, but it also sells handmade candles, artisan spreads and preserves, home decor, fashion accessories, and more. There is also a tearoom that serves a weekly lunch menu made with fresh ingredients. The tearoom takes reservations, and the property can be rented out for special events. The shop is open from 10am-3pm. The tearoom is open from 10:45am-2pm. An event calendar can be found online.

Emerson Creek Pottery and Tearoom

Address: 5126 Stephens Rd, Oswego, IL 60543

Website: Emerson Creek Pottery and Tearoom

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3. Little White School Museum

Saturday at the Museum - Before restoration began in 1977, the Little White School Museum in Oswego had badly...

Posted by Little White School Museum on Thursday, 17 September 2015

The Little White School Museum is located in downtown Oswego. It is owned by the Oswegoland Park District. The museum includes a research and records area that is open to anyone interested in Oswego history. The museum has changing exhibits and a calendar of presentations online. Group tours can be arranged by emailing the staff through its website. Research hours are Thursdays 10am-5pm, Saturdays 10am-12pm, or by appointment. The museum can also be rented for events.

Little White School Museum

Address: 72 Polk St, Oswego, IL 60543

Website: Little White School Museum

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4. Downtown Oswego

Things To Do In Oswego, Illinois
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Jauerback used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Downtown Oswego started a project to boost the downtown area. The project included street improvements, sidewalks, landscaping improvements, and decorative lights and benches. The downtown area has dining, shopping, and historic buildings and homes.

Downtown Oswego

Address: Main Street, Oswego, IL 60543

Website: Downtown Oswego

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5. Fox Bend Golf Course

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

The 15th #teebox giving us those #summervibes today! #par3 #acetime #primeconditions #springbirdies

Posted by Fox Bend Golf Course on Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Fox Bend Golf Course is a demanding par 72 golf course with 34 bunkers and water on 11 holes. It was voted a 5-star golf course by Chicagoland Golf Magazine. Fox Bend Golf Course has a pro-shop and restaurant, Pearce’s. Fox Bend has league play for men and women, as well as junior golf programs. Lessons are offered for individuals and groups. Tee times can be booked online and Fox Bend can be reserved for a wedding or banquet. Rates for golf can be found online as well.

Fox Bend Golf Course

Address: 3516 US-34, Oswego, IL 60543

Website: Fox Bend Golf Course

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6. Hudson Crossing Park

Posted by Hudson Crossing Park on Tuesday, 8 December 2015

Posted by Hudson Crossing Park on Tuesday, 8 December 2015

Hudson Crossing Park was named in honor of the spot at the Fox River where early settlers used a ford to cross the river. Now the park boasts a multitude of activities for guests to do. A reservable picnic shelter, a handicap accessible playground, a fishing area for catch and release fishing, a canoe access area, a concert/festival area, a sculpture garden, and more can be found here. Hudson Crossing Park is used for public events and is located near the downtown area of Oswego.

Hudson Crossing Park

Address: S Harrison St, Oswego, IL 60543

Website: Hudson Crossing Park

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7. Saw Wee Kee Park

Posted by Saw Wee Kee Park on Monday, 20 June 2016

Saw Wee Kee Park is an outdoor adventure waiting for you to arrive. This park has trails for hiking, horse back riding, biking, and cross country skiing. Saw Wee Kee Park is a wildlife habitat, so visitors can hike the trails to spot wildlife, including bald eagles. The park includes a fishing area for catch and release fishing, a canoe/kayak launch on the Fox River, and more. This area was once a trip mined gravel pit, but Oswego worked to change it into one of the most stunning areas of natural wildlife in the county.

Saw Wee Kee Park

Address: Oswego, IL 60543

Website: Saw Wee Kee Park

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Oswego,Illinois, a place to enjoy

Oswego, Illinois is a great place to take the family for the weekend. The whole family can enjoy the parks, have a quaint lunch at Emerson Creek Pottery and Tearoom, and then do some shopping downtown. Later the adults can head to the winery to enjoy a tasting of delicious Illinois wines. Some accommodation choices include the AmericInn Lodge and Suites or the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Chicago-Oswego. There’s a wide variety of places to eat with casual and welcoming atmospheres. At first glance, Oswego may seem like a typical small town, but after you begin to explore it, you find out that there’s more than meets the eye in this Illinois town.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Susanna Carlson is a freelance writer from Wisconsin. She enjoys traveling, art, reading, and outdoor activities in her free time.

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