Turn On! Chicago

Plan for Turn On! Chicago 2026.

Turn On! Chicago is Chicago Woodturners' flagship symposium, bringing together demonstrators, vendors, instant gallery activity, volunteers, and a full weekend of learning.

Registration is currently open for July 30-August 2, 2026 at the Hilton Chicago-Northbrook.

Dates July 30-August 2, 2026
Venue Hilton Chicago-Northbrook
Status Registration open

Symposium details

Demonstrators, vendors, and the education mission

Top-tier demonstrators

The 2026 lineup on the official site includes national demonstrators Greg Gallegos, Janice Levi, Kirk deHeer, Matt Monaco, and Sammy Long.

Regional talent and club connection

The lineup also includes Jeff Hornung, Mark Dreyer, Nathan Ward, Rob Wallace, and Andy Kuby.

Education funding

Chicago Woodturners has long described Turn On! Chicago as a major education fundraiser, and the official auction page says auction proceeds support the club's educational activities.

What to expect

What the weekend includes

Typical symposium flow

  • National and regional demonstrations across the weekend
  • Trade-show browsing and vendor conversations
  • Instant gallery activity and member work on display
  • Volunteer roles that pull club members into the event

Saturday highlights

  • Saturday auction that supports club education programming
  • Banquet and social time
  • Time to connect with local and visiting turners
  • A larger regional gathering for woodturners

Stay

Hotel and travel planning

Hotel block details

The official hotel page lists a Chicago Woodturners room block at the Hilton Chicago-Northbrook with a $129 nightly rate, and it instructs visitors to call 847-480-7500 or use the booking link provided there.

Open hotel details See related club dates

Venue advantages

  • Northbrook location that is easy for local members and regional visitors
  • On-site parking and hotel amenities listed on the official hotel page
  • Better chance to treat the symposium as a full weekend, not a one-day stop
  • Simple route for members who want to bring spouses, friends, or prospective members

More

Related club pages

About Club history and leadership

Read about the club and its programs.

 Learn Mentors, safety, and programs

Mentors, safety resources, handouts, and class references.

 Events Open the full club schedule

Meetings, classes, outreach dates, and the rest of the club calendar.

 Newsletters Turn On! in club newsletters

The archive shows years of planning, volunteer asks, demonstrator announcements, and post-event recap.

 Official site Registration and updates

When details change, the official Turn-On! Chicago site is the source to check first.