10 Ideas for Covid-Safe Fun at Home in Elgin

When you’re avoiding the crowds due to Covid-19, you can still have fun at home in Elgin with these 10 ideas that will bring Downtown Elgin to you.

#1 – Do a Virtual Downtown Elgin Puzzle

Try your hand at these custom puzzles featuring images from around Downtown Elgin. Click an image to begin. If a word search is more your style, try this word search of local restaurants, businesses and destinations around town.

#2 – Learn Elgin History

The Elgin History Museum offers online educational resources so you can get a dose of Elgin history from home. Did you know Elgin was once famous for milk and butter? Learn about Elgin’s history as a dairy town with over 6,000 cows and hundreds of farms. Elgin was even once home to a famous car race!

The museum website also offers a wealth of opportunities to research the history of Elgin including architecture, genealogy and more. Another fun way to experience Elgin history is to tune in to the weekly radio broadcast, Elgin 100 Years Ago. This award-winning program features articles printed in Elgin’s newspapers 100 years ago in one minute vignettes that retell tales of city hall politics, police reports, sports, society news and more. Listen to this trip back in time on WRMN 1410 AM weekdays at 6am and at 12:15pm.

Showcasing history of the past and documenting events of today, that will be our history in the future, are both important missions to the museum. The “You Are Living History” initiative will document perspectives and photographs about the Covid-19 pandemic. People are encouraged to answer questions about socializing, voting, shopping, and home and family life. Adults and children are encouraged to respond and submissions will be accepted through the end of 2020.

Many other popular Museum initiatives and events are featured online for readers to experience at home today, and to look forward to attending in the future. Events such as the Classic Car Show, the Bluff City Cemetery Walk and more. To stay updated on future Museum events sign-up for the Crackerbarrel bi-monthly museum newsletter here. (Photo from Elgin History Museum)

#3 – Experience Your Library from Home

The Gail Borden Public Library has a wide variety of virtual programing available for the entire family including Facebook live storytime, craft and project tutorials, group meetings, poetry readings, STEAM and kids activities, Spanish programing and much more.

Visit the Gail Borden Public Library Facebook page, the library YouTube channel or www.gailbordeninfo.com. Your Gail Borden Public Library card gives you virtual access to movies, magazines, kids books, homework help, music & more. Learn about library card perks by taking this fun interactive quiz.

#4 – Get Takeout Tonight

Elgin Public House is a hometown favorite.

Downtown Elgin restaurants are open for take-out or delivery so you can enjoy fabulous food at home while supporting a local business! Try some burgers and pub fries from Elgin Public House or a classic sandwich and malt from Al’s Cafe.

Your at-home dining can be a fun experience for your family or a great date night too. Create a theme party for taco Tuesday, family pizza night or maybe a romantic picnic by the fire on a chilly evening. Cocktails to go from Martini Room or Lounge 51 can get your celebrations stared right. For a complete list of where to get takeout or delivery from Downtown Elgin restaurants, plus menus and quick links for easy ordering, visit Elgin Eats. Our local restaurants need and appreciate your support!

#5 – Make a Shopping List

Downtown Elgin offers a wide variety of retail businesses with many offering online shopping.

ABLE Shoppe
Cook’s Sweet Boutique
Elgin Antiques and Uniques
Elgin Knit Works
Mama Lee’s Gourmet Popcorn
Meraki Market Hub
Rediscover Records
Shockey Jewelers
State Street Market Shops
Whatnots & Whimsies
WRMN Radio Shopping Show

Gift Certificates – Please inquire with individual businesses for gift card sales or consider purchasing a Downtown Elgin Gift Certificate valid at many local businesses.

#6 – Test Your Knowledge of Historic Elgin Architecture

What could provide more fun at home in Elgin than a challenging test of your Downtown Elgin architecture knowledge? Print this fun “I Spy” Challenge and invite your family to play along.

Riddles will help you along the way as you complete this challenge in a quest to correctly name all the locations. Where are they? What were they then and what are they today? Have fun and test your friends to see who really knows more about Downtown Elgin!

#7 – Meet Musicians from the Elgin Symphony Orchestra

Meet some of the talented musicians from the Elgin Symphony Orchestra virtually through their “Meet the Musicians” series. Learn a little bit about their background, education, favorite pastimes and more.

For even more insight into the symphony watch this video interview featuring Maestro Andrew Grams and violinist Philippe Quint. Explore more videos from the ESO here.

#8 – Explore Public Art From Your Couch

Elgin is home to wonderful public art.

Have fun at home in Elgin exploring art from anywhere, even your couch. Take this virtual Elgin public art tour and discover the wide variety of art in Downtown Elgin ranging from sculptures and statues to murals and graffiti.

#9 – Watch Local YouTube Videos

Did you know we have Downtown Elgin YouTube channel with over 100 videos! Start watching Downtown Elgin videos today and be sure to subscribe to our channel so you are the first to see new content.

#10 – Explore Elgin’s Oldest Cobblestone Building

Built in 1846, the Nancy Kimball house is the oldest cobblestone building in Elgin, and one of the last ones left standing. Located at 302 W. Chicago Street, the building has been going through an extensive restoration with plans to create a gallery space, a work room for hands on demonstrations and space for educational programs and community projects. As one of the last old architectural styles left in Elgin, with 16 inch thick cobblestone walls, this building is unique and important to Elgin and is a source of neighborhood pride. Watch a video here showcasing the progress already made and learn more on the Elgin History Museum website.