August 2008
Calendar of Events
for the
French Colonial Country
of the Central Mississippi River Valley
including Ste. Genevieve & Jefferson Counties in Missouri
& Randolph, Monroe, and St. Clair Counties in Illinois

We regularly update this calendar to provide you with up to date information on a variety of events that take place in French Colonial Country.  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.

ANNUAL CORN FEST Schuline, IL		Saturday, August 2, 2008 Charter Oak Schoolhouse, 9272 Schuline Road This annual festival benefits the Charter Oak Schoolhouse. There will be large kettles of homegrown sweet corn, delicious Indian Pudding, fried chicken and home grown vegetables. This event also features a country market and craft sale, live music, and tours of the schoolhouse. Sponsored by Randolph County Historical Society. For more information call 618-443-2812
THE GATEWAY DULCIMER MUSIC FESTIVAL Belleville, IL		August 7 - August 10, 2008 Our Lady of the Snows This festival, hosted by the Gateway Dulcimer Society, centers around the traditional folk instrument. Featured are workshops, evening concerts, an open stage, vendors, raffles, the Big Blue Jam Tent, and continuous outdoor and indoor music. Admission and registration fees For more information visit  www.gatewaydulcimer.org
ST. CLAIR COUNTY FAIR Belleville, IL		August 5 - August 9, 2008 Tuesday - Friday: Fair opens at 5 pm Saturday: Fair opens at 11 am - 9 pm Spend some time at a traditional county fair. The exposition building is open until 10 pm each night carnival rides are open until 11:30. The Beer Garden and nightly bands are open until midnight. For more information call 618-233-0052
JOUR DE FETE Ste. Genevieve, MO		August 9 - August 10, 2008 9 am - 6 pm Held annually in the middle of August, this French cultural heritage event features and Arts & Crafts Show with over 500 booths of artists and colonial crafters, a 5000 Meter Race and 1 Mile Fun Run, and a Classic Cruisers Car Show. The will be food, drink and entertainment both days. Admission and parking free Shuttle bus service, $1, leaves every 15 minutes from parking area at the industrial park, US 61 and M Road. For more information call 1-800-373-7007   or 573-883-7097
CLASSIC CRUISERS CAR SHOW Ste. Genevieve, MO		Sunday, August 10, 2008 Knights of Columbus Hall 6th & Market Streets The annual Classic Cruisers Car Show features thirty-five classes with three awards per class. Food, beer, soda and dinner available by the Knights of Columbus. Registration from 8 am to 11:30 am, judging from 12 pm to 3 pm and awards presentation at 3:30 pm. Fee to participate General admission $1
Probable Events Dates, times, and other details will change and will be listed as soon as we get updated information.
ART EXHIBIT Belleville, IL		July 19 – August 31, 2007 Tuesday - Saturday: 11 am - 5 pm Thursday: 11 am - 8 pm Schmidt Art Center, Southwestern Illinois College UNMASKING GENDER: Paintings and drawings by artists Catharine Magel and Greg Edmondson. An additional exhibit of masks from the collection of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville curated by SIUE graduate students will be in the Reiners Gallery. Free For more information call 618-222-5278   or visit www.schmidtartcenter.com
ART EXHIBIT Belleville, IL		July 19 – August 31, 2007 Tuesday - Saturday: 11 am - 5 pm Thursday: 11 am - 8 pm Schmidt Art Center, Southwestern Illinois College MEMORY: This exhibit looks at the ways that works of art convey our memories. In Absent, Peter Gifford’s photographs of the vacant second floor show rooms of the Jacoby furniture store in Alton speak about the gaps in our memory of a place. In Barbed, Agnes Pal’s metal sculptures evoke her own childhood experiences in a German concentration camp in 1944. In Collected, sculptures by Courtney Henson and Christine Holtz are the residual artifacts of their collections and examinations of consumer culture, while Rachel Hayes’s drawings visualize the many layers that combine to create and obscure our childhood memories. Free For more information call 618-222-5278   or visit www.schmidtartcenter.com
SPARTA BLUES FEST PARADE Sparta, IL		Friday, August 10, 2007 Sparta City Park, Belmont Street Parade starts at 7 pm in downtown Sparta A New Orleans style parade kicks off the Sparta Blues Fest and winds it way through the town ending with free music at the park. Free For more information call 618-443-4616   or visit www.spartablues.com
SPARTA BLUES FEST Sparta, IL		Saturday, August 11, 2007 Grounds open at 11 am, music starts at noon Sparta City Park, Belmont Street Since 1998 Sparta has hosted this annual blues festival featuring local and regional musicians on a pavilion stage overlooking a lawn with plenty of shade. Food and beverages are available on the grounds. Be sure to bring blankets and chairs. $10 and $10 for each cooler For more information call 618-443-4616   or visit www.spartablues.com
COLUMBIA DAZE Columbia, IL		August 17 - August 18, 2007 4 pm - Midnight Turner Hall, 211 E. Cherry Street This annual event features a parade, carnival rides, games, food, and live music. The parade begins at 5 pm on Saturday. Live music runs from 4 pm – 12 pm both days. Free For more information call 618-281-5393

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.