Why Groups Are Discovering Chicagoland’s Fox River Valley

Just 35 miles west of Chicago's traffic and price tags, the communities of the Fox River Valley have quietly become one of the Midwest's most compelling group tour destinations, delivering Broadway-caliber entertainment, a brand-new casino resort, and postcard-perfect small-town charm, all within one exciting region. 

Award-winning Broadway at Paramount Theatre

At the heart of it all is Aurora's historic Paramount Theatre, home to a critically-acclaimed Broadway Series and now celebrating its 15th season of Broadway in Aurora with a 2026–2027 lineup that includes Mean Girls, A Christmas Carol, Sunday in the Park with George, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The Jeff Award-winning Million Dollar Quartet also runs in Paramount's intimate Stolp Island Theatre, extended through the 2026 fall and holiday season. Groups get white-glove treatment: a dedicated group sales manager, reserve-now-pay-later packages, free bus parking and easy access on and off the red carpet, complimentary teacher tickets, and free show guides.

A Brand-New Casino Resort Joins the Lineup

Just down the road, Hollywood Casino Aurora completed a decade-long transformation with the June 2026 grand opening of its $360 million land-based resort near I-88 and Chicago Premium Outlets. The new complex features 1,200 gaming positions, 50 table games, a full sportsbook with its own pub, a 226-room hotel, a spa, and a 12,000-square-foot event center. Dining is a headline attraction in its own right: Sorella, an Italian steakhouse from celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis, anchors the entrance, while the Boulevard Food and Drink Hall brings in Chicago favorites like a Stephanie Izard burger concept, Pretty Cool Ice Cream, and Antique Taco. For groups, that means gaming, entertainment, and upscale dining under one roof—an easy and cost-effective addition to any Fox Valley itinerary.

Geneva: Historic Charm Along the Fox River

Round out the trip with a stop in Geneva, a Fox River town known for its 160-plus specialty shops and restaurants housed in restored Victorian storefronts along historic Third Street. The Geneva History Museum offers group programs and guided walking, biking, and even "hop-on" bus tours covering the town's architecture, ghost stories, and pub history, plus arranged lunches at The Little Traveler, a 36-room shopping landmark. History buffs can also explore the Fabyan Japanese Garden and the rare 1893 World's Fair Viking Ship exhibit.

Together, Aurora, Geneva, and the surrounding Fox River Valley communities offer group travel planners a rare combination: Broadway-quality theatre, a major new casino resort, and walkable historic charm, all congestion-free and at a fraction of the cost of basing a stay in downtown Chicago. Contact us to start building your custom group tour itinerary today! 

Courtesy of Aurora Area CVB.

Photo by Boris Martin, courtesy of Aurora Civic Center Authority.