Southwestern Electric Cooperative

Current Events
Before you hit the road, call to verify listings for the events you plan to attend. Dates and times are subject to change.

March 18-21 JOHN DEERE TWO-CYLINDER TRACTOR SHOW, Effingham. Village Square Mall, South Route 45. Call (217) 536-6315 or (618) 483-6241.

March 19 WINTER CONCERT SERIES, Edwardsville. Enjoy blues, jazz and soul from Kim Massie & the Solid Senders. Admission: $7. 6:30 - 9 p.m. Lewis & Clark Community College, N.O. Nelson Complex, 600 Troy Road. Call (618) 692-7538 or visit cityofedwardsville.com.

March 19-28 OVER THE TAVERN, Alton. A theatrical presentation at the Alton Little Theater. $14 for adults; $6 for students. Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Alton Little Theater, 2450 North Henry Street. Call (618) 462-6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

March 20 FRUIT TREE SEMINAR, Belleville. Learn about the variety of fruit trees available to homeowners, the basics of planting fruit trees, and how to care for your home orchard. Noon - 2 p.m. Free. No registration required. Eckert’s Garden Center, 951 Green Mount Road. Visit eckerts.com or call (618) 233-0513, ext. 4.

March 20-21 KNIFE SHOW, Bethalto. Presented by the Bunker Hill Knife Club. Free admission. Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Knights of Columbus Hall, 400 North Beau Chateaux. Call Gene Winston at (618) 288-6974.

March 20-21 GARRISON WEEKEND, Hartford. See how Lewis & Clark spent their winter and early spring months training and preparing for their voyage to the Pacific Ocean. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, One Lewis & Clark Trail. Call (618) 251-5811 or visit campdubois.com.

March 21 SPRING EQUINOX SUNRISE OBSERVANCE, Collinsville. Learn about the discovery, form and function of this ancient post-circle sun calendar. Meet at the reconstructed Woodhenge prior to 6:45 a.m. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, 30 Ramey Street. Call (618) 346-5160 or visit cahokiamounds.org.

March 21 SPRING INDIAN MARKET DAYS, Collinsville. Indian artists and vendors display and sell art, crafts, textiles, jewelry, and more. Friday: noon - 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, 30 Ramey Street. Call (618) 346-5160 or visit cahokiamounds.org.

March 26 MUNTU DANCE THEATRE, Centralia. The Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago performs authentic and progressive interpretations of contemporary and ancient African and African-American dance, music and folklore. $22 for adults; $15 for children age 12 and younger. 7:30 p.m. Kaskaskia College, Jane Knight Auditorium, 27210 College Road. Call (618) 545-3223 or visit kaskaskia.edu/soe.

March 27 EASTER BASKET WORKSHOP, Grafton. Guest artist Yvette Booker will demonstrate how to make an Easter basket. $35 for materials and tools. Noon - 4 p.m. Open Studio, 105 East Main Street. For reservations, call (618) 786-3010.

March 27; April 10 WILDFLOWER LETTERBOX WALKS, Alton. Free. 9 a.m. - noon. The Nature Institute, Talahi Lodge, 2213 South Levis Lane. Call (618) 466-9930 or visit thenatureinstitute.org.

April 1 MALASHOCK DANCE, Edwardsville. Experience the dynamic, emotionally charged choreography of the Malashock Dance Company. The magnificently trained dancers never cease to amaze with their leaps, lifts, powerful sustained movement, and artistry. 7:30 p.m. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Dunham Hall Theater. For tickets or more information, call (618) 650-5774 or visit artsandissues.com.

April 2 BALLARD TRAIL RUN, Altamont. Runners can participate in a 5 km., 10 km., 1-mile competitive run, or 1-mile fun run. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m; set-up at 7 a.m. Ballard Nature Center, Exit 82, 5253 East U.S. Highway 40. Call (217) 259-9112.

April 3 BREWERY COLLECTIBLE SHOW, Belleville. Buy, sell, and trade anything to do with beer and brewing old and new. Dealers from 8 states will attend. Early bird admission $20 at 7 a.m. Free admission 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Belle Clair Expo Center, 200 South Belt East. Call (618) 233-0052 or visit bcfairgrounds.net.

April 3 CHOCOLATE RENDEZVOUS, Lebanon. Sample scrumptious chocolate treats at participating stores and restaurants along Saint Louis Street. $7 admission fee. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. East & West Saint Louis Street. Call (618) 537-6625.

April 3 BLESSING OF THE BIKES, Effingham. Meet at the giant cross in Effingham at 10:30 a.m. for this time-honored tradition. Enjoy a short ride to Legacy Harley-Davidson at 1315 Althoff Avenue for food and fun. Call (217) 342-3494 or visit legacyhd.com.

April 3 ARCADE AUCTION, Belleville. All kinds of electronic games will be sold at auction. Free admission. 10 a.m. Belle Clair Expo Center, 200 South Belt East. Call (618) 233-0052 or visit bcfairgrounds.net.

April 3 LAKE SARA DAM RUN, Effingham. Options include a 5-km. run/walk, 8-mile run, and kids’ run. Proceeds will benefit the Special Olympics. Register at the Lake Sara pavilion by the dam from 8 - 9:30 a.m. Lake Sara Dam, 5 miles northwest of Effingham. Take I-57 to exit 160, go north on Route 32/33 to Lake Sara Road, and follow the signs. For more information or to register, visit lakesaradamrun.com.

April 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 TROUT DAYS, Sandoval. Food, music, fishery tours, and fishing fun for the whole family. Free admission. Lyons Fisheries, 573 Red Stripe Road. Call (618) 247-8477.

April 4; May 2; June 6 MONASTERY MUSEUM EXHIBITION, Teutopolis. A former Franciscan novitiate presents a collection of articles used by the friars, including books from the 1700s, and bibles in 12 languages. 12:30 - 4 p.m. St. Francis Church, Route 40 East and South Garrott Street. Call (217) 857-3586 or visit stfrancischurch.com.

April 9-11 SHELBY COUNTY ART SHOW, Shelbyville. Enjoy artwork and demonstrations by local artists. Shelby County Fairgrounds, 4-H building. Call (217) 774-5318.

April 10 QUILT SHOW, Greenville. Presented by the Bond County Historical Society. Quilts by Lorraine Schaufelberger will be featured. The theme for the block contest will be “stars.” 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 512 South Prairie Street. For information and contest entry forms, contact Jan Eyman at (618) 326-7343.

April 10 WILDFLOWER LETTERBOX WALKS, Alton. Free. 9 a.m. - noon. The Nature Institute, Talahi Lodge, 2213 South Levis Lane. Call (618) 466-9930 or visit thenatureinstitute.org.

April 11 SPRING & MUSHROOM FESTIVAL, Grafton. Free admission. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center, 13112 Visitor Center Lane. Visit pmlodge.net or call (618) 786-2331, ext. 0.

April 11 MOTORCYCLE PARTS EXTRAVAGANZA, Belleville. Motorcycle enthusiasts will enjoy more than 300 booths with new and used parts for sale. 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Belle Clair Expo Center, 200 South Belt East. Call (618) 233-0052 or visit bcfairgrounds.net.

April 14 DIE LAUGHING DINNER THEATER, Alton. Enjoy a 4-course meal while watching a 4-act show titled “All in the Mafia Family.” $34.95 per person. 11:30 a.m. Holiday Inn, 3800 Homer Adams Parkway. For information and reservations, call Phyllis at (618) 462-1220.

April 16-17 ATLATL COMPETITION, Collinsville. The atlatl, an ancient spear-throwing device, will be on display. Watch a competition and try your hand at using the atlatl. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, 30 Ramey Street. Call (618) 346-5160 or visit cahokiamounds.org.

April 17 ANTIQUE FISHING TACKLE SHOW, Effingham. Presented by the National Fishing Lure Collector Club. Bring in antique fishing tackle for a free appraisal. $5 admission fee. 9 a.m . - 2 p.m. Knights of Columbus Building, 1501 West Fayette Avenue. Call Dave at (217) 644-2294 or Brent at (217) 868-2427.

April 17 REPTILE EXPERT BRADY BARR, Centralia. A frequent guest on The Tonight Show, Brady Barr is nationally recognized for his work with reptiles. Barr is the host of Dangerous Encounters on the National Geographic Channel. $17 admission fee for adults; $10 for children. 7:30 p.m. Kaskaskia College, Jane Knight Auditorium, 27210 College Road. Call (618) 545-3223 or visit kaskaskia.edu/soe.

April 18, 25; May 9, 16, 23 SPRING BIRD HIKES, Godfrey. Birding hikes through the The Nature Institute’s Olin Preserve. 8 a.m. The Nature Institute, Talahi Lodge, 2213 South Levis Lane. Call (618) 467-2521 or visit thenatureinstitute.org.

April 18-24 FINE ARTS SHOW, Effingham. Village Square Mall, South Route 45. Call (217) 925-5161.

April 21 NATIVE LANDSCAPING LECTURE, Godfrey. Betty Struckhoff, from the Missouri Botanical Gardens will discuss the use of native vegetation in landscaping. Lecture limited to 30 participants. Donations are welcome. 7 p.m. The Nature Institute, Talahi Lodge, 2213 South Levis Lane. To register, call (618) 467-2521. For more information, visit thenatureinstitute.org.

April 23-24 EFFINGHAM ARTISAN FAIR, Effingham. Work by more than 40 artists from across the region will be on display for purchase. Available items will include oil paintings, pottery, jewelry, and sculptures. Art auction Friday 5 - 8 p.m.; Wine tasting Friday & Saturday 5 - 10 p.m.; Art fair Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Downtown Square, 201 East Jefferson Avenue. Call (800) 772-0750 or visit effinghamartisanfair.com.

April 24 TRIVIA NIGHT, Collinsville. Sponsored by the Cahokia Mounds Museum Society and Powell Archaeological Research Center. Each table may have 8 - 10 people. Bring your own snacks and drinks. Soda and water will be available. 7 - 10 p.m. $10 admission per person. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, 30 Ramey Street. For more information, call (618) 346-5160 or visit cahokiamounds.org. To reserve a table, call (618) 344-7316 or e-mail museumsociety@cahokiamounds.org.

April 24 ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION, Godfrey. An Arbor Day event hosted by the Godfrey Parks & Recreation Department. The day kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with a youth fishing derby, and continues from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. with face-painting, environmental crafts, games, and more. Free redbud tree seedlings will be given to the first 500 visitors. A Memorial Tree Dedication Ceremony will take place at noon. Glazebrook Park, 1401 Stamper Lane. Call (618) 466-1483 or visit godfreyil.org.

April 24 LINCOLN-THORNTON DEBATE REENACTMENT, Shelbyville. Celebrate the 154th anniversary of the historic 1856 debate between Abraham Lincoln and Anthony Thornton. $5 suggested donation. Shelby County Courthouse, 301 East Main Street. Call (217) 774-5548.

April 24 LIVE AT JACOBY: LAST SATURDAY NIGHTS, Alton. Enjoy an evening of classical, swing and tango music as the Christine Banda string quartet performs “Configurations.” $8 admission fee. 7 - 9 p.m. Jacoby Arts Center, 627 East Broadway. Call (618) 462-5222 or visit jacobyartscenter.org.

April 24-25 ST. LOUIS ANTIQUE FESTIVAL, Belleville. Large Indoor show features more than 100 antique dealers from 32 states. $6 admission fee. Belle Clair Expo Center, 200 South Belt East. Call (618) 233-0052 or visit bcfairgrounds.net.

April 25 MUSHROOM FESTIVAL, Grafton. Enjoy a glass of wine, live music, and mushroom dishes from local chefs. Prizes will be given to the largest and smallest mushrooms brought to the festival. 1 - 4 p.m. $10 per person. Piasa Winery, 211 West Main Street. Call (618) 786-9463 or visit piasawinery.com.

April 25 SAINT LOUIS SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA, Lebanon. A free concert performed by nearly 100 talented young musicians, ages 12 - 22, from more than 35 St. Louis-area schools. Free admission. 3 p.m. McKendree University, Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, 701 College Road. Call (618) 537-6863 or visit thehett.com.

April 25 THAT MANCINI MAGIC, Godfrey. Presented by The Greater Alton Concert Association. Enjoy an enchanting voyage through the inspired melodies of renowned composer Henry Mancini. Adult tickets are $22 at the door or $20 in advance; student tickets are $6 at the door or $5 in advance. 3 p.m. Lewis & Clark Community College, Hatheway Hall, 5800 Godfrey Road. For more information, visit altonconcerts.org. For tickets, call (618) 468-4222 or visit metrotix.com.

April 30 - May 1 AGAPEFEST, Greenville. A contemporary Christian music festival. Gates open Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. Bond County Fairgrounds, 1224 Midway Drive. For tickets or more information, call (800) 965-9324 or visit agapefest.com.

May 1 MAY MARKET, Lebanon. The streets will be filled with flowers, antiques, architectural & gardening items, artisans, food, and live music. Free admission. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. West Saint Louis St. Call (618) 537-6625.

May 1 SPRING SWAPFEST & CRUISE-IN, Effingham. Swapfest is an “old time” swap meet for Volkswagen and Corvette enthusiasts. Only private sellers and car clubs are allowed - no commercial vendors, please. Free admission for the public. 8 a.m. Call (866) 350-4541 or visit funfestevents.com.

May 7-8 IHSA STATE BASS-FISHING FINALS, Carlyle. The City of Carlyle and Carlyle Lake are hosting the annual Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Bass Fishing Finals. Dam West Recreation Area. For more information, visit ihsa.org or thefuturefisheshere.org. You may also contact the City of Carlyle at (618) 594-2468.

May 12 BIG TRUCK DAY, Godfrey. Big truck displays by the Godfrey Fire Protection District, Pepsi America, U.S. Army, the Godfrey Street Department, and many more will be available for you to view, touch and explore. Free admission. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Glazebrook Park, 1401 Stamper Lane. For more information, call (618) 466-1483 or visit godfreyil.org.

May 14-16 ART ON THE SQUARE, Belleville. Art show featuring 100 juried artists from around the world. Intersection of Main Street and Route 159. Call (618) 233-6967 or visit artonthesquare.com.

May 14-23 LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Alton. An Alton Little Theater presentation of the classic musical. $18 admission for adults; $8 for students. Tuesday - Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m. Alton Little Theater, 2450 North Henry Street. For tickets, call (618) 462-6562.

May 15-16 CAMP RIVER DUBOIS POINT OF DEPARTURE, Hartford. Commemorate the departure of the Lewis & Clark expedition from Camp River Dubois. View reenactments of life in 1803 and 1804 - the period when these men prepared for their departure. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, 1 Lewis & Clark Trail. Call (618) 251-5811 or visit campdubois.com.

May 15-16, 22-23 STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL, Belleville. A celebration of strawberries featuring food, country music, and free wagon rides. Live music noon - 5 p.m. daily. Children’s activities will include pony rides, play area, petting farm, and carnival rides. Admission is free, but fees will be charged for some activities. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eckert’s Farm, 951 Green Mount Road in Belleville. Call (618) 233-0513 or visit eckerts.com.

May 16 KIDS’ DAY, Collinsville. Hands-on activities for kids. Your child will have an opportunity to play Indian games, grind corn, throw spears, and make arrowheads. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, 30 Ramey Street. Call (618) 346-5160 or visit cahokiamounds.org.

May 16 MAY MADNESS SPRINT TRIATHLON, Effingham. ¼-mile swim/13-mile bike ride/3.1-mile run. This event is sanctioned by USA Triathlon, and All USAT rules apply. Lake Sara Beach. For more information or to register, visit cuttingedgeevents.net.

May 16 HUMMINGBIRD FESTIVAL, Grafton. Free admission 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center, 13112 Visitor Center Lane. Visit pmlodge.net or call (618) 786-2331, ext. 0.

May 20 GOLDEN AGE TRIVIA, Alton. Answering trivia questions about the Golden Ages of television, movies, songs, history, and more. Prizes awarded to the winning teams. $22.95 per person. Admission fee includes dinner, dessert, coffee, and tea. 4 p.m. Holiday Inn, 3800 Homer Adams Pkwy. For reservations, call Phyllis at (618) 462-1220.

May 21-23 CRAFT SHOW, Collinsville. Free admission. Friday 3 - 8 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Gateway Center, One Gateway Drive. Visit treasurechestshows.com.

May 22 GREAT RIVER RENDEZVOUS, Grafton - Alton. The event is designed to introduce visitors to the wonderful paddling opportunities along the Mississippi River and in the surrounding areas. Registration is required for the race, clinic and tours. Festivities include a 20-mile river race from Grafton to Alton, boater safety class, skill clinics, family paddles, food, and music. Proceeds will benefit the TreeHouse Wildlife Center. For more information, call (314) 518-0950. Register online at greatriverwatertrail.org. Pre-register for the boater safety class by calling (618) 462-6979.

Southwestern Electric Cooperative, 525 US Route 40, Greenville, IL 62246. Ph: 800.637.8667 Email: info@sweci.com