Greetings from the Crew!

As we gear up for the fall travel and tourism season, there is one word that describes our region of Illinois perfectly…optimistic. For the first time in a long time, folks are optimistic about welcoming crowds and hosting events. Due to restrictions and safety concerns, many gatherings were simply postponed until there was a light at the end of the tunnel – now that light is shining. Several events that were supposed to be held in the spring or early summer of this year were delayed to the fall, and that scheduling move has paid off. Restrictions have loosened and many folks are ready to get back out there – which is why we have decided to dedicate this entire publication to events. Some gatherings have changed things up a bit for this year, while others are celebrating some pretty important milestones this fall season.

Balloon Mural in Albion, IL

In the pages to follow you will find in-depth information on several gatherings, so that you know what to expect. Because there are so many events planned for the next several weeks, we have changed up the original layout of the Tourism Times to make it a little easier to follow. You’ll find that all of the events are broken down by our regions – Western, Central, and Eastern. After the in-depth articles about the events, we list all of the upcoming gatherings that we know about for that particular region. As a note, some events may not have been able to have plans finalized by the time we took this publication to print, so please be sure to check the event calendar at illinoisouth.org for more information on an event that you may not see. We REALLY hope you enjoy your time in ILLINOISouth this fall, and as always – make sure to take a ton of pictures and tag us in them! We love to see and hear about everyone’s experience while you’re visiting.

Attraction Spotlight!

Illinois Caverns in Monroe County

Amazing news — the Illinois Caverns in Monroe County have reopened after being closed for more than 10 years! Located at 4369 G Road, Waterloo, IL 62298, it is the second largest cave system in the state. It will be open seasonally from April through October and during the week, the site will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 9am – 4pm.

Know Before You Go!

Now these caverns are not like the Meramec Caverns in Missouri, so we ask that you please follow these tips below to ensure that everyone has a safe and fun experience.

• Admission is free to enter, but when you arrive, check in at the interpretive center. Your gear will need to be inspected before entering the caverns.

• Wear old clothes and bring a change of clothes. There is a changing facility on site and you WILL get muddy and wet!

• Bring a good pair of tall, waterproof boots. There is running water and mud, so proper footwear is a must. You will slip and slide in tennis shoes! Flip flops are NOT allowed.

• A helmet is a MUST before entering the caves. Bike helmets will do just fine.

• A minimum of four people is required for each visit.

• Each person needs to have at least three sources of battery powered lights on them. We highly recommend wearing head lamps.

• Groups of 25 or more will need to call ahead to the caverns to make reservations at 618-458-6699.

• Officials ask that everyone be out of the caves by 3pm and nobody is allowed to enter after 2pm.

• The caverns are not handicap accessible. The steps to enter the cavern are very steep and inside the cavern it is very slick.

We make every effort to verify the information contained in the Tourism Times; however, we suggest that you call to confirm the hours of operation, rates and reservation requirements before visiting.