Dixon in May

May through September gives you the best weather and most activities. Summer brings the Petunia Festival in early July - Dixon's biggest event where the whole town turns out for parades, carnival rides, and surprisingly good live music. The festival runs for four days and books up the few hotels, so plan ahead. Spring and fall offer pleasant temperatures for walking around Lowell Park or fishing the Rock River, plus you'll avoid the festival crowds. Winter here is brutal - we're talking subzero temperatures and lake-effect snow that can shut down roads. Most outdoor attractions close or reduce hours November through March. But here's the thing: if you visit during winter, you'll get a genuine taste of small-town Midwest life when the tourists are gone and locals hunker down in coffee shops and diners.