Visitors Guide for Events August 2012 Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway Area Madison, Jersey & Calhoun Counties, Illinois
		We regularly update this calendar to provide you with up to date information on a variety of events that take place in the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway Area. Changes are made when we gather more information or when we learn of an event. If you know of an event that you would like to see posted contact the webmaster. We hope you enjoy the events you choose to attend.

ARCHEOLOGY DAY Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site Collinsville, IL		Saturday, August 4, 2012 10 am - 4 pm Collinsville Road This is the site's largest annual event and features specialists demonstrating ancient crafts such as pottery making, flintknapping, gourd carving, making tools and ornaments, bow and arrow making, and more. Food and drinks available. Free For more information call 618-346-5160
		13TH ANNUAL ELSAH PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT Elsah, IL August 18 - October 28, 2012 Friday - Sunday, 1 pm to 4 pm Village of Elsah Museum Amateur and professional photographers will be displaying photographs of the Village of Elsah and the immediate area in every season in an exhibit entitled "Elsah - Like No Other." Free Click here for additional information
Probable Events Dates, times, and other details will change and will be listed as soon as we get updated information.
GUIDED PRAIRIE WALKS Alton, IL		May - September, 2011 Second and third Thursdays at 6:30 pm Gordon Moore Park, 4550 College Avenue Enjoy an evening walk as a guide from the Nature Institute leads you through the Heartland Prairie at Gordon Moore Park. The park hosts nine species of native prairie grasses and 150 prairie wildflowers that are native to Madison County and surrounding Illinois counties. If you want to see wildflowers this is a great place and time to visit. Free For more information call 618-466-9930
MUSIC IN THE PARK Grafton, IL		June 2 - August 4, 2011 Every Thursday at 8 pm Grafton's Music in the Park is a free concert brought to you by Grafton's Chamber of Commerce and participating Grafton businesses every Thursday evening throughout the summer. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy great music while experiencing the majestic views of the Mississippi River. Concerts will last 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Rain or inclement weather will cancel this event. Free For more information call 618-786-2722
FREE FISHING CLINICS Alton, IL		Weekdays, June 6 – August 5, 2011 9 am to 11:30 am & 1 pm to 3:30 pm Gordon Moore Park Instructors present information about fish and other aquatic life, fishing rules and regulations, basics including how to bait a hook, tie the hook to the line, cast, catch and handle fish and how to return them to the water.  Participants are provided with rods and reels, bait and tackle and go fishing in lakes stocked with catchable channel catfish and hybrid bluegill. Free For more information call or to register for a clinic, call IDNR Region IV at 618-462-1181
FAMILY NIGHTS AT SPLASH CITY Collinsville, IL		June 7 - August 2, 2011 10 Gateway Drive Every Tuesday from 5 pm - 9 pm Splash City Family Waterpark, operated by the Collinsville Area Recreation District, is open late so the whole family can enjoy Splash City. Half off admission For more information call 618-346-4571   or visit www.splashcity.org
ANNUAL JURIED EXHIBITION Alton, IL		July 12 - August 21 , 2011 Tuesday - Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm Sunday: 12 pm - 4 pm Jacoby Arts Center, 627 E. Broadway The Annual Juried Exhibition features 2-D and 3-D works in various mediums by over 30 Illinois and Missouri artists. Free For more information call 618-462-5222
		12TH ANNUAL ELSAH PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT Elsah, IL July 16 - October 15, 2011 Friday - Sunday, 1 pm to 4 pm Village of Elsah Museum Amateur and professional photographers will be displaying photographs of the Village of Elsah and the immediate area in every season in an exhibit entitled "Elsah - Like No Other." Free Click here for additional information
ARCHEOLOGY DAY Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site Collinsville, IL
PEACH FESTIVAL Pere Marquette State Park Grafton, IL		Sunday, August 7, 2011 11 am - 3 pm Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center If you like peaches then this is the festival for you and if it is made with peaches then you will find it here.  Come enjoy crafts, food, children's games, balloon artist, face painting, pie eating contest, largest peach contest, book signings, peach drinks, and of course peaches. Free For more information call 618-786-2331 ext. 338
GREAT RIVER RENDEZVOUS Grafton, IL & West Alton, MO		Saturday, August 6, 2011 Registration begins at 10 am Begins in Grafton and ends at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton, IL Be a part of this canoe and kayak race on the Mississippi River. Rendezvous in Grafton where the race will begin at 12 pm. Then, race your way 18 miles down river to the end of the race at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton, MO. Clubs, shops and spectators are invited to attend. In addition to the race, there will social paddles, skills clinics, family paddles, food and music. There is a registration fee with all proceeds going to the Treehouse Wildlife Center of Madison County. To pre-register, go to www.greatriverwatertrail.org or call 314- 518-0950. For more information call 618-462-6979   or visit http://www.greatriverwatertrail.org
ANNUAL STREET ART FESTIVAL Highland, IL		August 6 - August 7, 2011 Saturday: 11 am - 8 pm Sunday: 11 am - 3 pm Historic Downtown Square Visitors can stroll the streets watching artists create masterpieces right on the pavement using chalks and. There is also a Creative Kids Corner with lots of activities for young, aspiring artists! An Arts Expo featuring several local artists and there will be live music and enjoying great food. Free For more information call 618-654-3721
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH PICNIC Meppen, IL		August 6 - August 7, 2011 Saturday: 5 pm - 12 pm Sunday: 11 am - 12 pm Saturday: Turtle soup & sandwiches, games and entertainment. Sunday: Family style chicken & beef dinner, games and entertainment.  For more information call 618-883-2400
WOOD RIVER TRI Wood River, IL		Saturday, August 13, 2011 7 am Wood River Aquatic Center 450m Swim, 12M Bike, 4M Run in 9 different age divisions. Entry fee includes a souvenir T-shirt, complimentary brunch, and a day at The Aquatic Center for the participant and their family. Entry fee For more information email tbunt@charter.net  or visit http://www.teamgodzilla.org
ST. MARY'S CHURCH PICNIC Brussels, IL		August 13 - August 14, 2011 Saturday: 5 pm - 12 pm Sunday: 11 am - 12 pm Saturday: BBQ and fish, games and music. Sunday: Family style chicken & beef dinner, country store and raffle. Turtle soup served starting at 5 pm.  For more information call 618-883-2400
I SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM RIDE Edwardsville, IL		Sunday, August 14, 2011 Registration: 7:30 am - 9 am The Cyclery and Fitness Center, 2472 Troy Road (IL-159) This beautiful ride through the country makes a stop at Annie’s Frozen Custard. The routes are on roads and portions of Madison County Transit Trails. Fees: $8 Trailnet Member, $12 Non-member, $3 Children under 13 For more visit www.trailnet.org
ST. MARY'S CHURCH PICNIC Fieldon, IL		August 20 - August 21, 2011 Saturday: Fish dinner starting at 5 pm Sunday: Chicken dinner from 11 am - 3 pm This is annual church picnic features bingo, a kids' tents, raffles, food and drink tents, and music. There will be live entertainment from 7-11 on Saturday night by the Glendale Riders and the grand prize for the raffle is in Sunday.  For more information call 618-498-3416
MIDWEST SALUTE TO THE ARTS Fairview Heights, IL		August 26 - August 28, 2011 Friday: 7 pm - 10 pm Saturday: 10 am - 6 pm Sunday: 11 am - 5 pm Longacre Park Since 1988 Fairview Heights, Illinois, has been host to the Midwest Salute to the Arts, rated the 40th best fine arts show in the nation. This prestigious event attracts people from across the Midwest and features some of the best sculptors, painters and creators of decorative and wearable art in the United States. Free For more information visit midwestsalute.com
BOBCAT PROGRAM Pere Marquette State Park Grafton, IL		Sunday, August 27, 2011 10:30 am Meet at the Visitors Center Come discover the mysteries of the bobcat . Placed on the Illinois' first list of threatened species in 1977, these animals are indigenous to Illinois and prefer large forested or wooded areas like Pere Marquette State Park. Free For more information call 618-786-3323 ext. 1   Click here for more about Pere Marquette State Park
ALTON BLOCK PARTY Alton, IL		Saturday, August 27, 2011 4 pm - 10:30 pm Third Street between Piasa and State Alton holds a downtown block party on the last Saturday of every month from May through September. This event features a wide variety of food and drink at reasonable prices. Kids activities begin at 4 and adult activities begin when the sun goes down and the bands begin playing at 6:30. Free For more information call 618-465-6676
ANNUAL OLDEN DAYS FESTIVAL Jersey County, IL		August 27 - August 28, 2011 Saturday: 7 am - 7 pm Sunday: 7 am - 5 pm Tri-County Antique Club Grounds Illinois Route 3 between Grafton and Jerseyville Antique Tractors and Farm Equipment. Learn how people used to live from a variety of demonstrations. Arts & Crafts, Antique Car Show, Food and Live Entertainment! Adults $3, Children under 12 admitted free. For more information call 618-639-4192
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI PARISH PICNIC Michael, IL		August 27 - August 28, 2011 Saturday: 5 pm - 12 pm Sunday: 11 am - 12 pm Saturday: BBQ and fish, games and music. Sunday: Family style chicken & beef dinner, country store and raffle. Turtle soup served starting at 5 pm.  For more information call 618-576-2628

This Calendar of Events provides listings free of charge for events that are of interest to visitors to the area and that are organized or sponsored by Non-Profit or community based organizations. To have your event listed here contact the webmaster. We reserve the right to limit content. We also willing to provide a web page free of charge for these types of events to provide more details for our readers.

FEATURED ATTRACTIONS ALONG THE GREAT RIVER ROAD
Pere Marquette State Park	McCully Heritage Project	Mississippi River Ferries	Lewis and Clark State Historic Site