It’s Our Fox River Day (IOFRD 26)

It’s Our Fox River Day (IOFRD) is held each year on the third Saturday of September. Individuals and groups organize events to celebrate, protect and restore the health of the Fox River.

The Fox River “watershed” is the total land area that drains into the Fox River; it encompasses over 2500 square miles and serves over 1 million residents. Protecting a watershed requires thinking and acting as a watershed. It’s Our Fox River Day (IOFRD) is the largest demonstration of Fox River watershed-wide protective and celebratory action.

Host Registration for 2026 Now Open!

Contact us at IOFRD@FOTFR.org or call 815.365.6605 for questions.

Friends of the Fox River offers two ways to find IOFRD events taking place in 2026 across the 200-mile span of the Fox River.

Pick your favorite way: The Fox River Watershed Google map and/or the tables below.

To see all 2026 IOFRD events, the map must be in full screen mode.

Click the icon in the top left corner to open the index. Zoom in to see where events were hosted. Click on a logo to see event details.

IOFRD 2026 Table – Events in Chronological Order

OPEN HERE TO FIND 2026 EVENTS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

Don’t miss these special pre-events:

Friends of Hackmatack NWR Fall Gathering – Open to Public Learn about the restoration of a large wetland basin in the Tamarack Core area of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. Friends Chair Steven Byers and Dave Kraft with Hey and Associates will provide an overview of the project describing removal of field drain tiles, installation of rock weirs, and the planting of 20,000 wetland plant plugs. Dave isplanning to launch a drone and share the images on a large screen as he describes steps taken to restore the site’s hydrology. Come early, the grill will be hot at 6 PM and Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge board members will be grilling hot dogs (meat & veggie) and providing cold drinks. Bring a lawn chair to get comfortable. Sign up Here – Free but Required for planning.	Tuesday, September 8 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm	Richmond. IL
Data Center Impacts: Protecting Our Water, Energy, and Ratepayers with the Illinois POWER Act	Monday, September 14 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm	Aurora, IL
McHenry County Water Forum – Join us to learn all about water sustainability in McHenry County and the Fox River region at this free, festive event with catering from Dukes Ale House and Kitchen. No registration required…Just bring your curiosity and an appetite. Hosted by the McHenry County Department of Planning and Development. For more info, contact Scott Kuykendall, at SHKuykendall@mchenrycountyil.gov or visit McHenry County Water Forum site.	Wednesday, September 16 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm	Crystal Lake, IL

Plan your day on Saturday, September 19:

Bow Wow and Bagels	8 am – 9 am	West Dundee, IL
Rotary River cleanup C’Ville	8 am – 10 am	Carpentersville, IL
It’s Our Fox River Day – https://www.kaneforest.com/volunteer – 630-762-2741	9 am – 11 am	St. Charles, IL
Tiny Trash Cleanup	9 am – 11 am	Carpentersville, IL
Oswego Litter Cleanup	9 am – 11 am	Oswego, IL
Algonquin Watershed Cleanup	9 am – 11 am	Algonquin, IL
St. Charles Litter Cleanup	9 am – 11 am	St. Charles, IL
Yorkville Litter Cleanup	9 am – 11 am	Yorkville, IL
Elgin IKES Creek Cleanup	9 am – Noon	Elgin, IL
Geneva River Clean-up – Clean-up in and out of the River at Geneva’s Island Park and Fabyan Forest Preserve East. Just show up. contact Kelvin.Limbrick@gmail.com with questions.	9 am – Noon	Geneva, IL
Fox River Bluff West Dog Park	9 am – Noon	Saint Charles, IL
It’s Our Fox River Day	9 am – Noon	East Dundee, IL
Montgomery Rotary Club River Cleanup	9 am – Noon	Montgomery, IL
On the Water Cleanup Waukesha WI	9 am – 1 pm	Waukesha, WI
Trash the Trash: Fox River Edition (IODRD 26’)	9:30 am – 12:30 pm	Elgin, IL
River Street Cleanup	10 am – Noon	Aurora, IL
Franciscan Friends of the Fox River Public Celebration	10 am – Noon	North Aurora, IL
Splash into Science!	10 am – Noon	Batavia, IL
Fox River Day at Elgin History Museum	12 pm – 2 pm	Elgin, IL
Village of Port Barrington RiverFest, semi-private, contact donna@portbarrington.net for info.	Noon – 10 pm	Port Barrington, IL
It’s Our Fox River Day: Printmaking with Fish – We will guide you through a printmaking process using rubber fish models of native fish you can find in the Fox River. This is a drop-in event. No need to register. Join us at Hawthorne Hill to learn about our watershed, how it impacts the Fox River, and what you can do to help. 28 Brookside Dr. Elgin, IL.This free event is sponsored by the Elgin Parks and Recreation Foundation!	1 pm – 3 pm	Elgin, IL
Clown Cleanup	3 pm – 6 pm	Elgin, IL

It’s Our Fox River Yay! “After-Party” Events planned after September 19:

Wandering with Wonder – Hampshire	Sunday, September 20 Dawn to dusk	Hampshire, IL
Wandering with Wonder – Elgin	Sunday, September 20 Dawn to dusk	Elgin, IL
Wandering with Wonder – St. Charles	Sunday, September 20 Dawn to dusk	St. Charles, IL
Wandering with Wonder – Aurora	Sunday, September 20 Dawn to dusk	Aurora, IL
Tyler Creek Watershed Coalition	Friday, September 25 3 pm – 7 pm	Elgin, IL

IOFRD 2026 Table – Events by Location North to South

OPEN HERE TO FIND 2026 EVENTS – NORTH TO SOUTH

On the Water Cleanup Waukesha WI	Waukesha, WI
Friends of Hackmatack NWR Fall Gathering	Richmond. IL
2026 Groundwater Festival – private event	Woodstock, IL
Village of Port Barrington RiverFest, semi-private, contact donna@portbarrington.net for info.	Port Barrington, IL
McHenry County Water Forum – September 16 Join us to learn all about water sustainability in McHenry County and the Fox River region at this free, festive event with catering from Dukes Ale House and Kitchen. No registration required…Just bring your curiosity and an appetite. Hosted by the McHenry County Department of Planning and Development. For more info, contact Scott Kuykendall, at SHKuykendall@mchenrycountyil.gov or visit McHenry County Water Forum site.	Crystal Lake, IL
Algonquin Watershed Cleanup	Algonquin, IL
Rotary River Cleanup C’Ville	Carpentersville, IL
Tiny Trash Pickup	Carpentersville, IL
Wandering with Wonder – Hampshire	Hampshire, IL
Bow Wow and Bagels	Dundee, IL
It’s Our Fox River Day, East Dundee Cleanup	East Dundee, IL
Fox River Day at Elgin History Museum	Elgin, IL
Elgin IKES Creek Cleanup	Elgin, IL
Trash the Trash: Fox River Edition (IODRD 26’)	Elgin, IL
It’s Our Fox River Day: Printmaking with Fish – We will guide you through a printmaking process using rubber fish models of native fish you can find in the Fox River. This is a drop-in event. No need to register. Join us at Hawthorne Hill to learn about our watershed, how it impacts the Fox River, and what you can do to help. September 19, 1 to 3 pm, 28 Brookside Dr. Elgin, IL.This free event is sponsored by the Elgin Parks and Recreation Foundation! devon.estevanes@elginil.gov	Elgin, IL
Wandering with Wonder – Elgin	Elgin, IL
Tyler Creek Watershed Coalition	Elgin, IL
Clown Cleanup	Elgin, IL
Fox River Bluff West Dog Park	Saint Charles, IL
It’s Our Fox River Day	Saint Charles, IL
St. Charles Litter Cleanup	Saint Charles, IL
Wandering with Wonder – St. Charles	Saint Charles, IL
Geneva River Clean-up – Clean-up in and out of the River at Geneva’s Island Park and Fabyan Forest Preserve East. Just show up. contact Kelvin.Limbrick@gmail.com with questions.	Geneva, IL
Splash into Science!	Batavia, IL
Franciscan Friends of the Fox River Public Celebration	North Aurora, IL
River Street Cleanup	Aurora, IL
Wandering with Wonder – Aurora	Aurora, IL
Data Center Impacts: Protecting Our Water, Energy, and Ratepayers with the Illinois POWER Act	Aurora, IL
Montgomery Rotary Club River Cleanup	Montgomery, IL
Oswego Litter Cleanup	Oswego, IL
Yorkville Litter Cleanup	Yorkville, IL

IOFRD 2026 Table – Events in Alphabetical Order by City

OPEN HERE TO FIND 2026 EVENTS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

Algonquin Watershed Cleanup	Algonquin, IL
River Street Cleanup	Aurora, IL
Wandering with Wonder – Aurora	Aurora, IL
Data Center Impacts: Protecting Our Water, Energy, and Ratepayers with the Illinois POWER Act	Aurora, IL
Splash into Science!	Batavia, IL
Rotary River Cleanup C’Ville	Carpentersville, IL
Tiny Trash Pickup	Carpentersville, IL
McHenry County Water Forum – September 16 Join us to learn all about water sustainability in McHenry County and the Fox River region at this free, festive event with catering from Dukes Ale House and Kitchen. No registration required…Just bring your curiosity and an appetite. Hosted by the McHenry County Department of Planning and Development. For more info, contact Scott Kuykendall, at SHKuykendall@mchenrycountyil.gov or visit McHenry County Water Forum site.	Crystal Lake, IL
Bow Wow and Bagels	Dundee, IL
It’s Our Fox River Day, East Dundee Cleanup	East Dundee, IL
Fox River Day at Elgin History Museum	Elgin, IL
Elgin IKES Creek Cleanup	Elgin, IL
Trash the Trash: Fox River Edition (IODRD 26’)	Elgin, IL
It’s Our Fox River Day: Printmaking with Fish – We will guide you through a printmaking process using rubber fish models of native fish you can find in the Fox River. This is a drop-in event. No need to register. Join us at Hawthorne Hill to learn about our watershed, how it impacts the Fox River, and what you can do to help. September 19, 1 to 3 pm, 28 Brookside Dr. Elgin, IL.This free event is sponsored by the Elgin Parks and Recreation Foundation! devon.estevanes@elginil.gov	Elgin, IL
Wandering with Wonder – Elgin	Elgin, IL
Tyler Creek Watershed Coalition	Elgin, IL
Clown Cleanup	Elgin, IL
Geneva River Clean-up – Clean-up in and out of the River at Geneva’s Island Park and Fabyan Forest Preserve East. Just show up. contact Kelvin.Limbrick@gmail.com with questions.	Geneva, IL
Wandering with Wonder – Hampshire	Hampshire, IL
Montgomery Rotary Club River Cleanup	Montgomery, IL
Franciscan Friends of the Fox River Public Celebration	North Aurora, IL
Oswego Litter Cleanup	Oswego, IL
Village of Port Barrington RiverFest, semi-private, contact donna@portbarrington.net for info.	Port Barrington, IL
Friends of Hackmatack NWR Fall Gathering	Richmond, IL
Fox River Bluff West Dog Park	Saint Charles, IL
It’s Our Fox River Day	Saint Charles, IL
St. Charles Litter Cleanup	Saint Charles, IL
Wandering with Wonder – St. Charles	Saint Charles, IL
On the Water Cleanup Waukesha WI	Waukesha, WI
2026 Groundwater Festival – private event	Woodstock, IL
Yorkville Litter Cleanup	Yorkville, IL

Communities who have issued IOFRD Proclamations

Do you see your town listed? If not, let’s see how we can add it!

IOFRD = “I Offered”

IOFRD is pronounced “I offered” – a day intended to be both an individual and collective event that offers a thank you to the Fox River. The concept originated as a 200-mile cleanup to symbolize the need for a unified approach to protect and restore a watershed. IOFRD has evolved to include celebrations that go beyond the standard trash removal. It is intended to grow awareness throughout the entire watershed for the need to work collaboratively to protect and restore the health of the Fox River. It is also an opportunity for residents to be able to say, “I offered” thanks to my Fox River.

The Fox River serves 1 million residents

Without interruption the Fox River serves over 1,000,000 watershed residents every day. It carries the wastewater and stormwater from over 100 communities, and provides drinking water for over 300,000 residents. It also provides habitat for a diversity of plants and animals and is an exceptional resource for boaters, paddlers, anglers, hikers and photographers. All the while, the Fox River brings economic value through its aesthetic appeal to every riverfront community. 

Managing a resource that crosses a state line and several municipal borders is a huge challenge. FOTFR’s founder, Pat Reese called for a unified effort for watershed management in 1988. It’s Our Fox River Day is a step in that direction.

FOTFR’s Director of Education Operations Jenni Schiavone organized a full-length river paddle trip to help raise awareness about IOFRD and the importance of the Fox River’s natural resources. Jenni experienced unique challenges, inspiring moments and beautiful scenery along her 10-day river journey, paddling and portaging.

Jenni said, “I watched giant fish, turtles, and invertebrates in their natural environment as though it were an aquarium.” Throughout her trip, she also identified threats to the health of the river such as stormwater inputs, combined wastewater overflow, agricultural runoff, and litter.

See IOFRD Event Photos

We are always gathering information and welcome additional materials, photos, logos and/or corrections.

Friends of the Fox River is grateful for the support of organizers and participants whose impact was too enormous to fully tabulate.

IOFRD Organizers

1. Municipalities
2. Service Organizations
3. Business hosts
4. Individuals
5. Large Events with Multiple Partners

Become an IOFRD Business Supporter

Friends of the Fox River (FOTFR) is inviting businesses as supporters in exchange for advertising their IOFRD promotion.

See a list of past business supporters

The public has an increased way to benefit the Fox River, FOTFR grows our Fox River protection capacity, and you grow your business.

It only costs $100 to become a business supporter. For more details, contact Gary Swick at 815-356-6605.

Business Supporter Sign-Up Page

Together, we keep on fixin’ the Fox!