Mark Your Calendars for Central Region Events!

Next up we’ll shine the spotlight on events that are happening this fall in our Central Region. This region consists of six counties – Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Marion, Perry, and Washington. We will kick things off in the Central Region with the Vandalia Farmers' Market, a great family-friendly event. The community was able to safely host the event last year through the pandemic, and the response was great. “We are so excited to host another season of the Vandalia, Illinois Farmers' Market,” says Jessica Hampton, Vandalia’s Tourism Director. “Our goal is to inspire and nurture a healthy community by building a local and sustainable food economy in an engaging downtown experience while showcasing local farmers and gardeners. The momentum from last year has fueled our downtown community and we can't wait to welcome new visitors!” After the success of last year’s inaugural season for the Vandalia Farmers' Market, the committee decided to expand this year’s events. “Our vendors this year have everything from plants and produce to farm‐raised meat and homemade sweets,” Hampton adds. “You can also find honey, eggs, and dairy products. We've expanded to include more artisans and crafters, as well! Each market will also feature activities from various community organizations and live music from local musicians!” In terms of safety precautions, the event is outdoors and vendors are adequately spaced. There are also hand sanitizers at each booth, and sanitization stations dispersed throughout the market. Masks are available at the Information Table at the entrance of the market. If you plan on attending the market this year, Hampton says there are plenty of other things to explore while you are in town. “Our market is in the heart of Downtown Vandalia, right across from the Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site. With a number of other historical sites, shops, boutiques, and restaurants, you can easily make this a full day or weekend trip,” adds Hampton. The Vandalia Farmers' Markets take place every second Saturday, from May− October and run from 8 – 11am. Follow their Facebook page at Vandalia, Illinois Farmers Market for specific information and updates for each market.

Another event slated for downtown Vandalia this fall is the 4th annual Wine & Ale with Abe Street Fest. This gathering is put on by the Vandalia Historical Society, and they have plans for this to be the biggest and best year yet. “We have a wide assortment of food vendors and food trucks, many craft and artisan vendors, live musical entertainment all day and evening, commemorative Wine & Ale with Abe wine and beer glasses, and of course a variety of local and international wine and craft and domestic beer,” explains Susan Williams, President of the Vandalia Historical Society. The return of Wine & Ale with Abe is important to the entire community. It is held on the streets where Abe Lincoln walked in front of the historic Vandalia Statehouse. “We are inviting everyone to visit, there is something for everyone,” Williams says. “Food, music, arts and crafts, and of course beer and wine! Bring your lawn chairs or lawn blankets. Families with children are welcome.” The Wine and Ale with Abe Street Fest is slated for Saturday, September 25th from 12 – 8pm.

There are also several other places in our Central Region to pick out some fresh produce, and spend some time on the farm while you’re at it! Schwartz Orchard in Centralia is a great place for pick-your-own apples in the fall, and while you’re visiting make sure to pick up some of their award-winning apple cider. Speaking of apple cider, the apple cider donuts at Schwartz are well worth the drive to Centralia alone. If you make the trip without trying at least one, you should probably plan another trip! There are also plenty of places to pick out some pumpkins in the Central Region. Country Kids Pumpkin Patch in Hoyleton has 20 outdoor related games and activities from a corn maze to a scavenger hunt, and of course...pumpkin picking! In Fayette County there are two similar places to pick out the perfect pumpkin – Happy Hollow Family Farm in St. Elmo and Schaefer Pumpkin Patch in Beecher City. Another great agritourism stop that is a little different than the ones mentioned above is Rainbow Ranch Petting Zoo in Washington County. If you visit the Ranch in October to experience the camels, kangaroos, zebras and other animals – you receive a pumpkin to take home with you.

American Thresherman in Perry County

One event in Marion County is celebrating a major milestone this year. The Little Egypt Festival and Parade is celebrating its 50th year in 2021! This gathering was one of the many that decided to cancel in 2020, so it is imperative to the community that the event happens this year. “For 50 years, people have come to expect the food trucks, the craft vendors, the big wheel race, the car show, the horse show, the school marching bands, the fanfare of the parade floats, and the candy,” explains Kelley Predium, Committee Chairperson of Kids Activities for the Little Egypt Festival and Parade. “This event occurs on the first Saturday of October, and people are always prepared to support or participate in it. Everyone is excited about being able to build their floats this year and throw candy to the kids. The committee is excited to honor our Grand Marshall(s) and volunteers from over the years.” The Little Egypt Festival and Parade is an outdoor event, allowing patrons to come and go as they please from any of the several activities staged throughout the mile-long parade route all day long. “We will be providing shuttles from the courthouse to the Bryan Memorial Park all day long as well,” Predium adds. Event organizers are looking to increase the number of activities available this year, spread them out to allow distancing, increase the varieties in which the audience can participate, and add new activities later into the day. “This event brings so many different activities to one day and creates an enormous sense of community,” says Predium. “You can see the blankets and chairs line the parade route the night before. Every family is or has participated in some aspect of this event throughout their life. Most people have some story about how they were involved or something they have enjoyed from the day. Please come out and support local vendors, crafters, and food trucks, the 5K, kid's activities, the car show, and the parade. Please make plans to spend the day with us, enjoying everything we are putting together for you. We want this to be the best year ever,” adds Predium. This year’s Little Egypt Festival and Parade is set for October 2nd, so be sure to mark your calendars! The other big thing happening in Salem this year is at the Bryan−Bennett Library. There will be a combined presentation of two very important exhibits happening simultaneously. “Voices and Votes, Democracy in America, is provided by the Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibition Service,” explains Kim Keller, Director of the Bryan−Bennett Library. The other exhibition is the Illinois Freedom Project, which tells the story of slavery to freedom in Illinois through the lens of people, places, and events from the early 18th century French settlements through early 20th century Chicago. “Voices and Votes explore the bold experiment of American democracy using exhibit panels, interactive stations, and video presentations, plus traveling trunks for teacher and school use,” Keller adds. The other exhibition, the Freedom Project began in 2011 when the Lincoln Home National Historic Site and community partners began investigating the places that best represent the inspiring stories of the move from slavery to freedom in Illinois. “The goal of the project is to teach history and motivate youth by presenting inspiring stories of the past to inform and empower students to create a better future,” Keller explains. The combined exhibition in Salem provides a triple header experience whether you’re a history buff, a teacher, a patriot, or simply looking for new information and experience. “It opens on August 28th, just before the Labor Day weekend. Then the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Flight 93 is the next weekend on Saturday, September 11th, 2021,” says Keller. “Salem will honor and remember the loss of life and heroic actions of the day with a special ceremony. Finally, the exhibition closes on October 2 nd which is also the opening day of our Little Egypt Festival. In addition, each week will have a different set of special activities so, no matter your specific interest, there will be something for everyone during this time.” For more details and updates on the exhibits, visit salembbl.lib.il.us.

Art enthusiasts will want to make a trip to Greenville for ArtWalk, a two−day event planned for the first weekend in October. This year ArtWalk will look a little bit different as some new activities have been added to the lineup. “We are adding a 5K, half-marathon, and bike race to our event,” explains Jes Adam, Tourism Director for the City of Greenville. “We’re calling the races ‘ArtRun’ and ‘ArtRace.’ These will take place on Saturday morning, October 2nd. RaceMaker Productions of Indianapolis will be organizing the races. Saturday morning also includes a Farmers Market and Flea Market! We will also have more craft beer, local wine vendors, and food trucks!” ArtWalk just returned to the Greenville in 2019 after a brief three year hiatus, and then missed last year due to the pandemic – so community leaders are excited to host it again. “Thankfully, we have taken the extra time to further develop this event into something that every human being will enjoy! ArtWalk brings in a lot of visitors to our area, which is also a blessing for our local economy and businesses,” Adam explains. For folks who have never attended ArtWalk before, Adam says it’s a great time not just for locals – but for anyone who simply enjoys art. “ArtWalk is a celebration of creativity in all its facets: sculpture, photography, dancing, music, street tacos, wine, and so much more,” he adds. ”If you enjoy the unending creativity of humanity, this event is for you.” For more information on the ArtWalk, ArtRun, and ArtRace, visit GreenvilleIllinois.com.

American Thresherman in Perry County

Shop-a-holics will love this next event, which features plenty of locally made goods from VERY talented artisans. Warehouse 300 in Trenton will host Autumn Fest on September 18th and 19th from 10am to 4pm on both days. “This event was a big success last year despite Covid,” says Warehouse 300 owner Brenda Kohlbrecher. “So we’re anticipating bigger and better! This event includes over 40 extra outdoor vendors, in addition to our year-round vendors inside the warehouse, which includes the workmanship of over 30 local artisans – merchandise includes distressed furniture finds, repurposed goods, vintage, barn wood finds, primitive, shabby chic, crafts, metal works, and more.” Kohlbrecher adds that there will be limited numbers inside of the warehouse, with little to no wait time; along with hand sanitizer stations, and mask wearing will be at the customer’s discretion. There will be great food available as well. “This year we'll have two food trucks on site both days bringing traditional festival foods and beverages, along with gourmet sandwiches, desserts, BBQ and old fashion kettle korn,” Kohlbrecher adds. “This event is one of just a handful of events remaining in Clinton County and because of that, we will continue to do our best to bring a bigger and better Autumn Fest each year, in order to create a fun shopping experience for our customers,” says Kohlbrecher. Make sure to keep an eye on Warehouse 300’s Facebook page for more information.

One of the more unique annual events that can be found in ILLINOISouth each year calls Perry County home. The American Thresherman Association holds two shows each fall, and they ALWAYS draw quite the large crowd to the Fairgrounds in Pinckneyville. The American Thresherman Association’s Advertising Chairman David Logsdon says this year’s events are scheduled for August 19 th – 22 nd , and October 15 th – 17 th . After missing both of the scheduled event dates in 2020, Logsdon says the group is chomping at the bit to have the American Thresherman show this year. “Our August show in particular plays an important part in adding an economical boost for the City of Pinckneyville, as well as the surrounding communities.” The August show features so many activities, it’s really hard to mention them all. But a few of the notable things that attract visitors are the ITPA tractor pulls each night, steam train rides (a big hit with children), broom making, rope making, wheat threshing and more! Logsdon says this year’s event will be very similar to shows from past years. “Our events are like a homecoming for many people,” he adds. “They come not only to enjoy seeing the ways of farming and various trades from the past, but to reunite with friends!” For more information regarding this event, visit americanthresherman.com.

That’s not all in terms of unique events for the community of Pinckneyville. The ‘Friendly Little City’ is known for its Annual Mardi Gras celebration, which is now in its 99 th year! “The Pinckneyville Chamber of Commerce couldn't be more excited for the 2021 Mardi Gras,” says Ashley Bathon, Picnkneyville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Chairman. “We were able to have a 2020 event, but it was extremely scaled down due to the COVID−19 pandemic with no parade. So, we are super excited to be able to hold a full Mardi Gras celebration this year.” Bathon adds that event coordinators are working closely with city officials and the local health department to take all of the precautions necessary to be able to include the parade and other activities that they were not able to do in 2020. For those who are expecting to visit, Bathon says prepare for quite a good time! “The 99 th Annual Mardi Gras will be a weekend packed with things to do for all ages and very family oriented,” Bathon explains. “The vendor fair takes up most of the day on Saturday with merchandise booths, food vendors, and kid friendly activities. Then, the night parade ends our celebration that evening with the drawing for the 50/50 at the end of the parade. Local shops will be open throughout the day and then most participate somehow in the parade that night.” If you have the chance to partake in this long-standing southern Illinois tradition, it is ALWAYS a one-of-a-kind experience. “We have been told that our Mardi Gras parade is the longest standing night−time parade in Illinois, and this is something that we are very proud of and excited to continue,” Bathon adds. “One of the long− standing traditions of Mardi Gras for Pinckneyville is the crowning of the Mardi Gras Queen, which takes place a few weeks before the celebration. This allows the crowned Queen to attend the celebration, ride in the parade, and get a feel for what she is reigning over for the next 12 months. The Mardi Gras Queen Pageant draws contestants from all over the region for a chance to wear our one of a kind crown and say that she is now on the long list of Mardi Gras Queens,” explains Bathon. For more details about this year’s Mardi Gras in Pinckneyville, visit pinckneyville.com/mardi-gras/.

Farmers Market in Vandalia, IL

We’ll stick in Perry County, but head to Du Quoin for another iconic event in our region. The Du Quoin State Fair started back in 1923 and has since become one of the most popular gatherings in southern Illinois, attracting an estimated 300,000 folks each year! There are SO many entertainment options, from harness races and livestock competitions to concerts every day of the event. There are also plenty of vendors and a wide array of food options to sink your teeth into. Families will definitely want to take advantage of the carnival rides and games as well! The aforementioned concerts can be found at the free entertainment tent, the beer stage, and the Grandstands. Speaking of the Grandstands, there are some pretty notable acts that have been set for this year’s Du Quoin State Fair. En Vogue, REO Speedwagon, Ludacris, and Ron White are a few notables that are slated to perform this year! Fans of racing will want to head to the Fairgrounds on September 4th – 5th for ARCA and USAC races on the dirt track. This year’s event starts on August 27th and will go through September 6th, so be sure to check out the Du Quoin State Fair on Facebook for more information on pricing, tickets, and much more!

Everyone loves hot air balloons, right? Whether they’re flying through the air in the morning or having a balloon glow at night, the colors and sheer size of the balloons are enough to make you stop whatever you’re doing, and just watch. Centralia Balloon Fest is the perfect event to just get lost in the wander of those large, amazing balloons. This annual event started back in 1990, and has done nothing but grow pretty much ever since. Balloon Fest was one of the few events in our region that did move forward with their gathering in 2020. “We learned a lot about our event from having a socially distant event in 2020, so we are happy to have the opportunity to bring back our event with some exciting changes,” said Marcus Holland, Executive Director for the Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce. When it comes to health and safety precautions for this year’s Balloon Fest, the event is being held in Foundation Park – which has over one MILLION square feet. Within that space, vendors and volunteers will be encouraged to follow any guidelines closely, with signs and reminders for the attendees as well. “Certain activities and entertainment will be adapted in the park, and we are keeping our drive−through Balloon Glows in the community for anyone who wishes to stay in their vehicle and remain safe,” Holland adds. There are going to be a couple of other changes to this year’s event as well. “A second entertainment tent will be added to host more bands and entertainment,” explains Holland. “Our children's activity area will be separated into smaller activities throughout the park. Our car show will be moving to Fairview Park to allow more cars and motorcycles! We are adding more entertainment in the community, and businesses will be encouraged to have their own festivities,” adds Holland. One thing is for sure, there will be plenty to do for all who pay a visit to Centralia – whether it’s for one day or the whole weekend. “We have everything you need for a great weekend in Centralia. Families can see hot air balloons up-close and enjoy entertainment in the park,” Holland adds. “People who enjoy shopping can get their retail therapy with our craft vendors, balloon fest merchandise, and our community retail stores. Couples can enjoy our winery and restaurants while watching hot air balloons in the sky. Car and motorcycle enthusiasts can talk shop and admire their prized possessions. It is worth the trip and we hope you plan to stay for the whole three-day festival to see Centralia!” This event is extremely affordable for the whole family, at just $5 per person for the entire weekend. For more information on Centralia’s Balloon Fest, make sure to visit their website at centraliachamber.com/balloon-fest. Have FUN watching those balloons!

Du Quoin State Fair in Perry County

Another area that is always good for a few events is Carlyle Lake – the largest man-made lake in the state. To take in the beauty of some truly amazing cars while visiting the lake, you will definitely want to make room for this next event on your calendar. The Cruz−in the Dam Car Show Nationals at Carlyle Lake is slated for it’s 29th year, and features dozens of beautiful automobiles. When asked how excited they are for this year’s event, Dick Conner with Misfit Motorsports Productions simply said, “we are as excited as a bunny rabbit in a carrot patch!” Conner adds that while they will be adhering to any state safety guidelines regarding the event, there are no other changes set. Folks can expect the same wholesome, family friendly event with live entertainment and classic cars. “This is an important economic event for the local community,” Conner says. “It brings many tourists to the Carlyle Lake area.” The Cruz−in the Dam Car Show Nationals is scheduled for Friday, August 13 th . For shoppers and pumpkin hunters, the Pick of the Patch Vendor Fair is right up your alley. This event is held on the third Saturday in October at the Dam West Recreational Area at Carlyle Lake. The event is always coordinated to coincide with the city’s annual Pumpkin Patch for children. The Pick of the Patch Vendor Fair did host folks in 2020, though the attendance was a little lean. When it comes to safety protocol, it’s an outdoor event with no distancing issues. “Since we have access to such a large, gorgeous venue, we are able to distance our vendor booths as well as move them back from the walkway,” explains Brenda Johnson, Co-Chair for the Carlyle Street Fair. “This gives shoppers space and also allows movement along the path without too much congestion. Of course, hand sanitizers will be prevalent throughout the area as well. We want our vendors and shoppers to be comfortable in their space.” There is a wide variety of goods to shop from, everything from hair bows and jewelry to wooden crafts and baked goods. On top of all of that, there will be plenty of food options and a giant boombox on wheels for musical entertainment! “I think folks love this event because it’s so energizing! It’s a beautiful time of year, and the venue itself is beautiful,” Johnson adds. “The food, music, and vendors are all outstanding. It’s probably the last outdoor event of its kind for the year. It’s a great mix of activity for the young and old alike, and it’s a full weekend of fun for all ages. The campgrounds are full, and the entire community is invigorated – that makes a big difference.” If you or anyone you know are avid triathlon fans, there is a new triathlon coming to Carlyle this year! Technically, 2020 was supposed to be the first year for the Carlyle Lake Triathlon – but of course it wasn’t able to happen. Sally Drake, Owner and Race Director of MSE Racing says this year’s race is a full−go, but they have taken one important safety precaution. “We have implemented a new race start to keep athletes more spread out and safe,” Drake says. “This came out of Covid but has been a change that we will stick with.” Although this event is new, Drake hopes that it will continue for years and years to come. “We are extremely thankful to be able to put on an event in this community,” adds Drake. “We realize that it can be frustrating when it holds up traffic, and closes the beach area − so we hope the community will come out to see the event and we would LOVE to have local volunteers.” The Triathlon is scheduled for Sunday, September 19th at 6:45am. Enjoy the race!