Reels at the Rialto 2026

Rialto Square Theatre is excited to announce our year-round movie series called “Reels at the Rialto.” This movie series is a nod to our Vaudeville movie palace past. “It’s important for us to offer a wide variety of entertainment options for the residents of Joliet and surrounding areas,” says Wade Welsh, Rialto Square Theatre Executive Director. “We are thrilled to partner with incredible sponsors to make these movies affordable for everyone.” The sponsors of the Reels at the Rialto movie series are D’Arcy Buick GMC, Rendel’s, Rod Baker Ford, The Rialto Volunteers, and Castle Law.

Tickets for all other reels are $5 each and will be available in advance or on the day of the reel at the Rialto Square Theatre Box Office. Tickets are unavailable online and are now on sale at the box office. Doors will open 30 minutes before showtime; a free organ concert will begin when doors open, and all movies start at 7 PM*. All seating will be general admission—first come, first served. Bar and concessions (including freshly popped popcorn) will be available for purchase.

The 2026 Reels at the Rialto Movies Series at the Rialto Square Theatre will include the following mix of popular movies, old favorites, and some family-friendly titles.

Romancing the Stone
Thursday, February 26, 2026 | 7 PM
PG | 1 hour and 45 minutes
A dowdy romantic-adventure writer is hurled into a real-life adventure in the Colombian jungle to save her sister, who will be killed if a treasure map is not delivered to her captors.

Big
Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 7 PM
PG | 2 hours and 3 minutes
At a carnival, young Josh Baskin wishes he was big, only to wake up the next morning and discover his wish came true. But the more Josh experiences life as an adult, the more he longs for the simple joys of childhood.

Heidi (1937)
Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 7 PM
G | 1 hour and 28 minutes
A plucky little orphan girl gets dumped abruptly into her gruff, hermit grandfather’s care, then later gets retaken and delivered as a companion for an injured girl.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Thursday, May 28, 2026 | 7 PM
PG | 1 hour and 50 minutes
In 1890s Wyoming, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid lead a band of outlaws. When a train robbery goes wrong, they find themselves on the run with a posse hard on their heels.

The Empire Strikes Back
Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 7 PM
G | 2 hours
After the Empire overpowers the Rebel Alliance, Luke Skywalker begins training with Jedi Master Yoda, while Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett pursue his friends across the galaxy.

Hocus Pocus
Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 7 PM
PG | 1 hour and 36 minutes
A teenage boy named Max and his little sister move to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.

*No films will be presented during the summer as the theatre will be closed from June through mid-September for a comprehensive HVAC renovation.

Movies for November and December will be announced as part of Home for the Holidays 2026.

All seats are $5, and seating is general admission. For more information, please visit www.RialtoSquare.com/movies, or call the Rialto Square Theatre Box Office at 815.726.6600. The box office is located at 102 N. Chicago Street in downtown Joliet.

Aaron Lewis and The Stateliners

Aaron Lewis, the Vermont-born powerhouse first found success with Staind – the 2000s-era hard rockers who injected meditative muscle into an era better known for mindless aggression. But while that band is still very much alive, it was never enough to satisfy Lewis’ creative drive. Embracing his roots to earn a rare second round of success, a series of solo Country projects have led to two No. 1 Billboard Country Album debuts – TOWN LINE (2011) and SINNER (2016) – plus a PLATINUM collab with heroes George Jones and Charlie Daniels (“Country Boy”), and a GOLD-certified Billboard No. 1 with “Am I The Only One” in 2021. Lewis’ 2022 solo album followed suit, with FRAYED AT BOTH ENDS emerging as the best-selling Country album in America but he never wrote songs for the stats. No matter the sonic setting, Lewis writes and sings to get his truth out and his latest album THE HILL (2024) is no different.

Tickets general on sale starts Friday, December 19th at 10AM local. Tickets are available online at: https://rialtosquare.com/

Learn More | Buy Tickets

Celtic Woman: A New Era

GRAMMY® nominated global music sensation Celtic Woman returns to North America and Canada in Spring 2026 with their all-new show A New Era.

Celebrating their rich musical and cultural heritage with a fresh and contemporary spirit, A New Era marks the beginning of a new chapter for the world-renowned ensemble.

This tour marks a new, exciting chapter in the group’s celebrated 21-year journey, blending the ensemble’s signature sound with fresh arrangements and dynamic stage production.

A New Era showcases the timeless traditions of Irish music and culture while reflecting on Celtic Woman’s continued evolution. Audiences can expect a captivating performance featuring new orchestrations, exquisite harmonies and world-class musicianship brought to life by sopranos Mairéad Carlin, Muirgen O’Mahony, Sean-Nós singer Caitríona Sherlock, and fiddle player Ciara Ní Mhurchú, together with the Celtic Woman band and dancers.

Since their debut in 2004, Celtic Woman has captivated millions of fans worldwide with their powerful performances and storytelling. The group has achieved over 3 billion streams, 12.5 million global equivalent album sales, and performed to millions of fans across 23 countries. With A New Era, the group invites audiences to experience the next chapter in their extraordinary story, one that honours the past while embracing the future.

Tickets general on sale starts Friday, December 5th at 10AM local. Tickets are available online at: https://rialtosquare.com/

Learn More | Buy Tickets

Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! Presented by Walmart

DreamWorks Animation, Universal Destinations & Experiences, TEG Life Like Touring, and Terrapin Station Entertainment are delighted to announce a second leg of the North American tour of GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE LIVE! PRESENTED BY WALMART due to popular demand, launching in Macon, GA on January 14, 2026.

The second leg of the live production of DreamWorks Animation’s Gabby’s Dollhouse will visit more than 40 additional cities including performances at major venues such as National Theatre in Washington D.C., Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, NY, Théâtre St-Denis in Montreal, and Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

This follows the smashing North American debut of Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! earlier this fall, based on the global preschool sensation from DreamWorks Animation, which opened with sold-out shows in Thousand Oaks, Long Beach, and San Francisco. Additional performances were added at The Grove in Anaheim, CA, to close out the first leg of the tour this winter.

Now with more than 150+ shows in North America, this a-MEOW-zing new musical follows Gabby as she uncovers a special acorn that needs the magical touch of a rainbow to grow. But when CatRat causes a color cat-astrophe and breaks the rainbow, Gabby and the Gabby Cats must find the colors again to set things right.

“We’re thrilled to partner with TEG Life Like Touring and DreamWorks Animation to bring Gabby’s Dollhouse to the stage for the very first time in North America, including so many iconic venues” said Jonathan Shank, CEO, Terrapin Station Entertainment. “The show is completely interactive, the songs are infectious, and the production brings you right into the center of Gabby’s cat-tastic universe full of rainbows and sprinkle parties!”

“DreamWorks is so excited to see this tour expanding across North America,” said Michael Vollman, EVP, Marketing for DreamWorks Animation. “Gabby’s Dollhouse is beloved around the world and we couldn’t be happier to see fans enjoying this show all across the country.”

Universal Destinations & Experiences, SVP of Global Location Based Entertainment and Licensing, Gerald Raines stated, “We are delighted to work with TEG Life Like Touring and DreamWorks Animation to bring this exciting show to Gabby’s many fans.”

This new stage production of GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE LIVE! PRESENTED BY WALMART brings to life an exciting original story featuring unique puppets, dynamic staging, and songs including “Hey Gabby”, “You Can’t Spell Meow Without Me”, “Sprinkle Party”, and others that will have audiences singing and dancing along, from beginning to end.

Tickets general on sale starts Friday, November 21st at 10AM local. Tickets are available online at: https://rialtosquare.com/

Learn More | Buy Tickets

Hairball

A band puts on a concert – Hairball puts on an event! Hairball is a Rock & Roll experience you won’t soon forget. The lights, sound, smoke, fire, bombs, and screaming hoards of avid fans…to merely call it a concert would be like calling Mount Rushmore a roadside attraction!

Vocalists Kris Vox, Dave Moody, and Patrick Stone lead the band through a 2+ hour, mind-blowing, and dropdead accurate homage to some of the biggest arena acts in the world. Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, Journey, and Aerosmith are but a few of the acts fans will see brought to life. The Hairball stage becomes an entirely new rock concert before your very eyes countless times throughout the night.

The motor that drives the Hairball dragster consists of HBK on the electric bass, Billy on the drums, and Happy on the lead guitar. These Rock & Roll soldiers pride themselves on nailing some of the most memorable licks and chops of all time, while adding their own style and flare that they’ve cultivated over decades of tireless performing. This isn’t a side job. These guys eat, sleep and breathe Rock & Roll!

2026 finds Hairball celebrating its 26th year of rocking hundreds of thousands of people across the country. Constantly adding more characters, more pyrotechnics, more lights, more sound, more props, more surprises…more everything! While Happy often tells the audience “Today is the first day is the rest of your life!” Hairball performs every show as though it could be their last. Every night is a 100% full-on, no-holds-barred, exciting, chaotic, fiery party that has to be experienced to be believed!

As important to Hairball as the music, are its fans. While many bands claim to have the best fans in the world, Hairball actually has! Whether they are 10 years old or 100, Hairball fans bring an unparalleled enthusiasm and energy to the show that enhances the arena experience. Hairball knows it wouldn’t exist without its fans and takes every opportunity to let them know that.

Whether it’s a pre-show meet and greet, hanging out at the merch booth, or chatting online, Hairball has a lot in common with its fans and it’s always a good time when they get together. Don’t confuse Hairball with the countless “80’s Tribute” bands across the country. Hairball is an experience, an attitude, and expression of music that isn’t simply a retro flashback, it’s a way of life!

Tickets general on sale starts Friday, November 21st at 10AM local. Tickets are available online at: https://rialtosquare.com/

Learn More | Buy Tickets

Brett Young

After wrapping his expansive Back To Basics World Tour 2025, which sold out venues across the United States, Australia, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom, DIAMOND-selling Country artist Brett Young announces 2026 2.0 Tour. Kicking off on January 22 at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, the 18-date run will bring Young’s authentic storytelling, compelling musicianship and live band intimacy to cities across the United States, including Durham, NC; Greenville, SC; Boston, MA; Bowling Green, KY; Syracuse, NY; and more, with support from singer-songwriter Jenna Davis. Brett’s ability to make every room feel personal has become a defining trait of his live shows, earning praise for the way he draws audiences into the heart of his stories with rare ease and authenticity.

The tour takes its name from his newest studio album 2.0, out now via Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. Praised as a collection that “weaves together moments of vulnerability, celebration, and wisdom” (Country Now), 2.0 marks a renewed chapter in his artistic journey, with The Tennessean calling it the “embodiment of the man he’s become.” Co-written entirely by Brett, the 11-track album features collaborations with Lady A, a reimagined version of his career defining hit “In Case You Didn’t Know” with Hannah McFarland and his current chart-climbing single “Drink With You.”

“After an incredible trip across the pond and feeling the amazing momentum behind my new album 2.0, I’m beyond excited to hit the road next year,” said Brett. “It feels like something special is happening and I want y’all to be a part of it.”

Ticket presale for the 2.0 Tour begins November 19 at 10 a.m. local time, followed by the public onsale on November 21 at 10 a.m. local time. VIP Packages will also be available starting November 19 at 10 a.m. local. The VIP packages will include a ticket, meet & greet, photo with Brett, exclusive merchandise, early venue access and more. Please visit brettyoung.com/tour for more information.

Tickets general on sale starts Friday, November 21st at 10AM local. Tickets are available online at: https://rialtosquare.com/

Learn More | Buy Tickets