April 2012

Mar 8-Apr 10   Jacoby Arts Center Art Exhibit (Madison Co).  Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, Saun 12-4pm at 627 East Broadway featuring Mark Makers, an exhibit of drawings and paintings from 18 artists.  Free admission.  618-462-5222  Alton
 
Mar 29-Apr 1    Seussical the Musical (Richland Co).  Olney Community College.  618-395-7777 x 2408  Olney
 
Mar 30-Apr 1  Children's Consignment Sale   (St Clair Co).  At Belle-Clair Faigrounds. 
 
Mar 31-Apr 1  Breakfast with the Bunny (St Clair Co).  Eckert's Country Store.  Egg hunts on the hour, 10am-2pm.  618-233-0513 x3  Belleville
 
Mar 31-Apr 1, 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29   Rainbow Ranch Petting Farm Baby Bonanza (Washington Co).  Exotic animal babies highlighted at Rainbow Ranch Petting Farm at Plum Hill.  618-424-7979.    http://www.rainbowranchzoo.com/  Plum Hill
 
Apr 1 Giant Flea Market (Perry Co).   Monthly flea market (first Sunday)  at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.  Apprx. 100 dealers, snack bar.  8:30am-4:30 pm.  $1 admission. DuQuoin  
 
Apr 1-31   Bus Tour of Archeaological Sites in Mississippi River Bottomlands (Madison Co).  From Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Dr. John Kelly leads tour of 20 sites in the American Bottom and adjacent uplands.  $30 includes lunch.  Advance registration needed.  618-346-5160   Collinsville

Apr 2, 9   Godfrey Wildflower Walk (Madison Co).  9:30am at talahi Lodge, at the Olin Nature Preserve.  Moderate to difficult terrain on guided tour of Olin and Missippippi Sanctuary Nature Preserves.  Free admission.  618-466-9930.  http://www.greatriverroad.com/Cities/Godfrey/olin.htm Godfrey
 
Apr 4   Songs of Frogs and Toads (Madison Co).  At Talaihi Lodge, Olin Nature Preserve.  Slideshow presentation followed by hike to nearby pond.  Admission $3, advanced registration required; limited availability.  618-466-9860  http://www.greatriverroad.com/Cities/Godfrey/olin.htmGodfrey

Apr 6   Western United Cherokee Cultural meeting  (Johnson Co).  7-9pm first Friday at Vienna Public Library.  Features speakers on variety of topics, with refreshments or potluck.  Open to public.  Free  618-922-3273  Vienna

Apr 6   21st Annual Caseyville Easter Party (St Clair Co).  6:30-8:30pm at Caseyville Community Building   Games, pictures with Easter Bunny, food.  Free admission.  618-345-6256  Caseyville
 
Apr 7   Addieville Fire Department 39th Annual Consignment Sale (Washington Co).  9am start at site, located near blacksmith's shop in Addieville.  Food stand.  618-424-0090  Addieville
 
Apr 7  Brewery Collectible Show  (St Clair Co).  At Belle Clair Fairgrounds.  Dealers from eight states.
 
Apr 7   Greenup Hootenany  (Cumberland Co).  7-9pm at Greenup Municipal Bldg.  Free music and dancing.  217-923-3401  Greenup
 
Apr 8   Easter Champagne Buffet Brunch (St Clair Co).  Bretz Wildlife Lodge and Winery.  618-594-8830 
 http://www.wildlifelodgeandwinery.com/  Carlyle
 
Apr 8   Fairfield Coin Club (Wayne Co).  11am-3pm at Frontier Community College.  Open to public at 11am.  Meeting, auction begins 1:30pm.  Dealers, vendors, raffle.  618-599-2393

Apr 10, 17    Migratory Bird Walks (Madison Co).  8am Talahi Lodge, Olin Nature Preserve.  Guide bird-watching hike.  Free event.  618-466-9930  http://www.greatriverroad.com/Cities/Godfrey/olin.htm Alton
 
Apr 12   Culpepper and Merriweather Circus (Randolph Co).  Sponsored by Sparta Chamber of Commerce.  618-317-7222  http://www.spartaillinois.us/chamber/chamber.shtml  Sparta
 
Apr 12   My Work As An Artist and What I  Bring to Judging the Village of Elsah Exhibit (Jersey Co).  Lecture by Janice Nesser-Chu, photographer and artist, judge of Village of Elsah Photography Exhibit, at 7:30pm at Farley's Music Hall, 37 Mill Street.  Free event.  Elsah

Apr 13    Culpepper and Merriweather Circus  (Washington Co).   Two live performances (5pm, 7:30pm) at county fairgrounds on Holzhauer Drive in Nashville.  Tickets available in advance at Nashville Chamber of Commerce  618-327-3700  http://nashvilleilchamber.com/  Nashville
 
Apr 13-14    State Theatre Rummage Sale (Washington Co).  At Washington County Fairgrounds.  Benefits the community-owned State Theatre, the county's only movie theater.  8am-4pm daily.  Free admission.  618-327-8338  Nashville
 
Apr 13-15  Spring Indian Market Days (Madison Co).  Native American wares offered by Indian artists and vendors to include crafts, jewelry, clothing, artifacts, etc.  In the visitors center at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site.  618-346-5160    Collinsville
 
Apr 14   Alton-Godfrey Earth Day Celebration (Madison Co).  10am-4pm at Talahi Lodge at Olin Nature Preserve, workshops, folk and bluegrass music, informational booths, arts and crafts, hikes along woodland trail, and more.  618-551-5020   Godfrey
 
Apr 14    Elsah Community Dance (Jersey Co).  7am-10pm at Farley's Music Hall 37 Mill Street, featuring Contra dancing, dance lessons.  Admission charged.  Elsah

Apr 14   Living History Program (Massac Co).  Massiac Marines, French and Indian War period reenactors at Fort Massac. 10am - 4pm. 618-524-9321  Metropolis
 
Apr 14    Mett at the Het: La Traviata (Madison Co).  Live on HD simulcast of New York Metropolitan Opera production.  Hettenhasuen Center for the Arts, McKendree University.  Admission charged starting at $18 for adults and going down from there.  http://www.mckendree.edu/the_hett/  Lebanon 
 
Apr 14   Southern Illinois Sheep and Craft Festival (Monroe Co).  Festival at Monroe County Fairgrounds with  demomnstrations and activities to include working sheep dogs, sheep Olympics, sheep pellet bingo, kids corner, sheep shearing, exhibit area with spinning and weaving demonstrations, craft items, packaged frozen lamb cuts.   A lamb lunch 11am-2pm. Free admission.  618-939-8536  http://www.mcsheepproducers.com/ Waterloo
 
Apr 15  Motorcycle Swap  (St Clair Co).  At Belle Clair Fairgrounds. 

Apr 16   Fund Raiser for Multiple Sclerosis (Madison Co).   Registration for one- and -three-mile walks, 11am, starts 12pm at Tower Park  618-3908  http://nationalmssociety.org/chapters/MOS/index.aspx  Edwardsville

Apr 16   Juan Siddi Flamenco Theatre Company (Wabash Co).    7:30pm at Wabash Valley College.  Flamenco music, song and dance. 618-263-4999 x 3480 Mt Carmel 

Apr 20   Olney Community College Music Department Concert (Richland Co).  618-395-7777 x 2408   Olney
 
Apr 20-21  My Secret Garden (St Clair Co).  Missoula Children's Theatre rendition at O'Fallon High School Milburn Campus Auditorium.  Admission $5.  618-624-0139  http://www.ofallon.org/  O'Fallon
 
Apr 20-22  Anime STL 2012 Convention (Madison Co).  At Gateway Center.  Activities include video gaming, tabletop taming, vendors and artists, industry guest speakers, charity fundraiser, panels and many more special events. Admission charged.  http://animestl.net/  Collinsville
 
Apr 20-29   Fiber Art Show (Jersey Co).  Fri Apr 20- 6-8pm, Apr 21-28 11am-8pm, Apr 29 12pm-3pm at Farley's Music Hall, 37 Mill Street, recent hand woven fine art tapestries by Denise M. Mandel, a fiber artist.  Mandel’s most famous work is a series of five tapestries at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica, which led to a commission for the Papal Coat of Arms for Pope John Paul II’s visit to St. Louis in 1999.  Opening reception Fri, Apr 20 (6 pm-9 pm) featuring weaving demonstrations and hands-on participation for guests along with live music.  Free admission.  Elsah
 
Apr 21   Arun Gandhi Presentation (St Clair Co).  National Our Lady of the Snows hosts Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, will speak on Lessons I Learned from My Grandfather: Lessons for the 21st Century.  Admission: $20, $10 Students w/current student id.   618-397-6700 x 6270  http://www.snows.org/  Belleville
 
Apr 21   Bettis Open Bass Tournament (Richland Co).  At East Fork Lake. 217-412-1624    Olney
 
Apr 21-22   Belleville Flea Market (St Clair Co).   9am-4pm Sat and Sun.  400 vendors, 600 tables.  Third full weekend of the month.  Free admission, free parking.  http://www.bcfairgrounds.net/index.asp?action=page&name=1   Belleville
 
Apr 22   Fund Raiser for Multiple Sclerosis (Madison Co).   Registration for one- and -three-mile walks, 10am-12pm at Glazebrook Park  618-628-9030  http://nationalmssociety.org/chapters/MOS/index.aspx  Godfrey
 
Apr 22   Spring and Mushroom Festival (Jersey Co).  Celebrating spring, mushrooms, and Earth day at Pere Marquette State Park Lodgefeatures artisans and craft vendors displaying their wares for purchase, live entertainment, and a competitive morel hunt in Pere Marquette Park,  weather permitting.  Free event.  618-786-2331  Grafton
 
Apr 22   Lawrenceville Kite Day (Lawrence Co)  At Texaco Park.  618-943-4821  Lawrenceville

Apr 22   Family Series:  World Champion Trinity Irish Dance (Madison Co).  At Hettenhasuen Center for the Arts, McKendree University.  Admission: $15 Adults $12 Senior $5 Student/Child.  618-537-6863 http://www.mckendree.edu/the_hett/ Lebanon

Apr 23   Young Artists Presentation (Madison Co).  8pm at lewis and Clark Community College Fteauring the Alton Riverbend Orchestra and local artists.  618-468-4782  http://www.altonsymphony.org/ Alton
Apr 25  Distinguished Speaker Series:  Eric Schlosser (Madison Co).  At Hettenhasuen Center for the Arts, McKendree University. The investigative journalist's first book, Fast Food Nation, helped start a revolution in how Americans think about what they eat.  Free admission.  618-537-6863  http://www.mckendree.edu/the_hett/  Lebanon
 
Apr 26   Nashville Farmer's Market (Washington Co).  Every Thursday 7am-noon through Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  In front of the Washington County Courthouse.  618-372-3700  Nashville

Apr 27   Stage Dinner Event (Union Co).  All you can eat dinner buffet, Open Mic for local talent.  At Masters Center, Anna Arts Center.  Fourth Fri.   $10 admission.  618-697-6285   Anna
 
Apr 27  Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra (Madison Co). At Hettenhasuen Center for the Arts, McKendree University.  Performing with the McKendree University Choir, under the direction of Robert Charles Howard, the nation's second oldest, continuously operated symphony orchestra.  Admission: $15 Adults, $12 Seniors $5 Student/Child  618-537-6863
 
Apr 27  Grafton Riverside Flea Market (Jersey Co).  9am-5pm fourth Friday of each month , Apr-Oct, at Grafton Boatworks on Water Street.  70-plus vendors.   Free admission.  618-786-8210   Grafton
 
Apr 27-28  Walsh Annual Spring Rummage Sale (Randolph Co).  Rummage sale with a lot of clothes, shoes, toys, purses, household items, tools and more. There will also be a bake sale and lunch stand.  Free admission  618-785-2392  Walsh
 
Apr 27-29   Anna Arts Festival (Union Co).  Center and Washington Street. Fri-6-10pm with Your Stage Extravaganza featuring sketch comedy, one-act plays, dance, and open readings of poetry and short fiction in old Fire Station garage.   618 697-6285   Anna 
 
Apr 28  Godfrey Annual Arbor Day Celebration (Madison Co).  8am-2pm at Glazebrook park with children's activities including fishing derby, wall climbing, environmental crafts, other games, free tree seedlings, Tree Memorial climbing, demonstrations by expert climbers.  Free admission.  618-466-1483   Godfrey
 
Apr 28  Escape to the Bluffs Prinicipia Triathlon (Jersey Co).  Starts at 8am.  Advance registration required.  http://www.principiaathletics.com/sports/2010/1/13/multisport.aspx  Elsah
 
Apr 28  Voices of the Civil War (Madison Co).  11am-2pm self-guided tour along Alton"s Lincoln and Civil War Legacy Trail.  $10 tockets available after Apr 1 at Alton Visitor Center, 200 Piasa Street.  618-465-6676  http://www.visitalton.com/  Alton

Apr 28  Bekeckemeyer Village Wide Yard Sale (Clinton Co).  618-227-8331 http://www.beckemeyeril.gov/ Beckemeyer 
 
Apr 28   New Baden Villagewide Yard Sale (Clinton Co).  Approx. 100 yard sales throughout the community. At the Village Park, the New Baden Jaycees will be serving BBQ.  618-588-3813   http://www.newbadenil.com/ New Baden
 
Apr 28   Historic Edwardsville and Bike Trails Walk (Madison Co).  5K and 10K walk on city streets and bike trails in Edwardsville. Walk through Lewis & Clark Community College (N.O. Nelson Campus); pass the first brick house in Edwardsville.  Admission $3  618-692-4337  Edwardsville

Apr 28  Quilter's Luncheon (Pope Co).   Local family heirloom and new quilts displayed, lunch served on tables set with different themes and table settings. 618-683-MAIN www.mainstreetgolconda.org   Golconda

Apr 28-29  St Louis Antique Show  (St Clair Co).  At Belle Clair Fairgrounds.  Over 100 quality dealers from 32 states.  618-233-0052  http://www.bcfairgrounds.net/index.asp?action=page&name=1    Belleville
 
Apr 29   Blessing of the Bikes (Union Co) . Bald Knob Cross off Illiniois 127, Alto Pass. 618-893-2344  Alto Pass.
 
Apr 27  Stage Dinner Event (Union Co).  Every 4th Friday at the Masters Center of the Anna Arts Center, showcases local talent for a time of Open Mic and an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet. $10 at the door.  618 - 697-6285   Anna
 
Apr 30   Nashville Volunteer of the Year Banquet (Washington Co).  At the Nashville American Legion home.  618-327-3700  http://nashvilleilchamber.com/   Nashville
 
Apr 30   Alton Catholic Children's Home 5K Run/Walk (Madison Co).  Registration 7am, run/walk 8am at Russell Commons Park, Discover Parkway off Illinois 143.  T-shirts for advance registered.  Entry fee charged.  618-465-3594  http://www.catholicchildrenshome.com/  Alton

Apr 30-May 1   Annual Swap Meet and Flea Market (Jersey Co).  7am-dusk daily at Tri-County Antique Auto Club grounds on Illinois 3 between Grafton and Jerseyville.  Free admission.  618-466-7206   Jersey County