The Twin City Farmers Market opened its doors in July 2005 in the historic Twin City Produce Co. building. The Market is open year-round and hosts over 20 year-round vendors offering locally raised beef, pork, free range chicken and eggs, homegrown produce, hers, and other artisanal food products.
The Sterling Marketplace is an outdoor pavilion that complements the indoor Twin City Farmers Market and the market to expand their offerings to the open-air setting during the warmer months of the year. As a bonus, the Marketplace is available for rent for community members!
Woodlawn Arts Academy is the premier arts-based, educational institution of the Sauk Valley area. Year-round programming includes visual arts, dance, music, theatre, culinary arts, and STEAM education, including an arts-based preschool program.
The City of Sterling maintains seven parks encompassing 15 acres, most of which are within the heart of the city.
Central Memorial Park is a 1.8-acre park hosting events like Movies in the Park, and band and music concerts that draw thousands of residents to Sterling’s downtown.
Platt Park is an 8.6-acre park home to a baseball field, playground, tennis court, and a one-half-mile multi-use path.
Sterling Riverfront Park is a newly developed 14.3-acre park that reclaims river frontage as public space.
Dale Park is home to Sterling Main Street’s summer Pop-Up Markets, as well as a number of other events throughout the year.
The city also maintains Lincoln and Wallace Parks, both offering basketball courts and play areas; as well as a greenspace known as Flock Park.
The Sterling Park District encompasses 14 park sites covering approximately 525–585 acres, featuring around 7 miles of multi-use trails, and state-of-the-art facilities including the Westwood Fitness & Sports Center, Duis Recreation Center, Emerald Hill Golf Course, Oppold Marina, and the Dillon Home Museum, plus amenities like disc-golf courses, sledding hills, fishing areas, playgrounds, and even a dog park, all expertly maintained and widely used by the community.
The Westwood Fitness and Sports Center is the Sauk Valley’s largest fitness facility featuring over 35,000 square-feet of training equipment and space. Westwood offers a variety of group fitness classes, a cardio theater, a kids gym, juice bar, two NBA-size basketball/volleyball courts, batting/throwing cages and golf net, indoor soccer/football AstroTurf field and track, six pickleball courts, and two racquetball/wallyball courts.
The Duis Recreation Center has been home of the Sterling Stingrays Swim Club since the facility opened and includes a 25-yard swimming pool and diving well, two basketball/tennis courts, a handball court, and fitness equipment.
The Sterling–Rock Falls Family YMCA offers a wide range of health, wellness, and youth programs for the community, including fitness classes, aquatics, youth sports, before- and after-school care, and summer camps. Its facilities feature a gym, pool, fitness center, sauna, outdoor fields, and spaces for group activities, with financial assistance available to ensure access for all.
The YWCA of the Sauk Valley provides critical services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including a 24-hour hotline, shelter, counseling, and advocacy. It also offers education programs for children, economic advancement services, immigrant support, and eviction prevention, serving residents in both Sterling and Dixon.
Sterling, Illinois offers a variety of festivals and community events year-round, many coordinated by Sterling Main Street, the City of Sterling, and other local groups. Seasonal highlights include farmers markets, outdoor concerts, car shows, holiday celebrations, and family-friendly gatherings that showcase local food, music, and culture. Regional partners also contribute events such as fireworks displays, art and craft fairs, and themed community nights, making Sterling a lively hub for entertainment and traditions in the Sauk Valley.
Click or tap the buttons below for events calendars.
