Hat & Honey Bar
DeSoto House Hotel
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Cost: $80
Dates:  May 8, June 5, July 10, August 7, September 25, October 9, November 13 and Decmeber 4

Gather your friends and family for a one-of-a-kind experience at Dry Creek Beekeeping’s Hat Bar & Honey Bar Event held at the DeSoto House Hotel in Galena!

Create Your Custom Hat: Choose from Western, Fedora, or Flat-Brimmed hats and try your hand at burning a gorgeous bee and sunflower design onto your hat using specialized tools. Your hat will be pre-stenciled with a custom-made bee and sunflower design, so you can easily burn in the design with the help from expert instructor, Marie McDonough from Marie’s Wood Carvings. Plus, you’ll add your personal touch by choosing a hat band, feathers, and other accessories to make your hat truly unique!

Honey Bar Tasting: Sip, savor, and sample up to 20 varieties of delicious honey from around the world! Learn about the distinct flavor notes of each variety and discover where they come from. Once you’ve found your favorite, you can purchase your top picks to take home!

All-Inclusive Fun: Your registration fee of $80 covers everything: instruction, tools, hat, band, accessories, and honey tasting. By the end of the event, you’ll be rocking a stylish, custom-burned hat that’s all your own—and you’ll be buzzing about your honey finds!

Don’t miss out on this creative and sweet event. Space is limited—reserve your spot in advance!

Food and drinks are available to purchase through the DeSoto House Hotel. Maybe you’d like to order a charcuterie board or try a glass of honey mead wine as you enjoy this workshop.

Children ages 8+ are welcome. The felt burning of the hat requires the use of a hot tool, so please consider this when booking for children.

For tickets and more information, please click here!

Green Street Tavern Open Mic
May 12th and May 26th
6:00-8:00 p.m.

We are thrilled to be hosting Robyn Davis, Theodore T. Williams and Lenny Wayne as they bring their Open Mic right here to the DeSoto House Hotel! Whether you’re a local legend or a hidden poet, or just someone who enjoys a great martini and live talent, this is where you want to be!

Come for the music, and stay for the drinks.

Galena Main Street Sidewalk Sales
Galena Main Street
May 10-12,2026

It’s time to shake off the winter blues and welcome the warmth of spring with a shopping spree on Main Street! The merchants are clearing out their inventory, and you’re the lucky winner!

Browse through the various sales taking place both on the street and inside the stores. Whether you’re in the market for new clothes, home decor, or just looking for a great deal, you’re sure to find something that catches your eye.

With so many options to choose from, you’ll definitely work up an appetite. Luckily, Main Street is home to some of the best restaurants around. Take a break from your shopping spree and refuel with a delicious meal before hitting the shops again.

So, mark your calendars and head to Main Street for a day of amazing deals and delectable cuisine.

With spring in the air and bargains galore, you won’t want to miss out on this exciting shopping event!

From Friday, May 15, through Sunday, May 17, 2026, join us in the heart of Galena for the Galena History Symposium, hosted at the historic DeSoto House Hotel in downtown Galena, Illinois. Whether you’re a scholar, student, preservationist, or curious traveler, this gathering offers a deep dive into the rich, layered history of our region.

Times will vary depending on day and event – see website for more details!

What to expect:

• Papers, panel discussions, and performances covering topics such as the mound-builder cultures, Native nations’ land rights, the booming 19th-century lead mining trade, Galena’s role as a busy Mississippi River port, and the hometown story of Ulysses S. Grant and his ally Elihu Washburne.
• A chance to engage with professional historians, avocational researchers, and preservationists. An immersive experience for both academic and traveler audiences.
• Networking and exploration of Galena’s architectural legacy: the 19th-century commercial buildings, homes, and the historic fabric that draws visitors to our town year-round.