School’s out: Kick off summer vacation with 5 things to do this weekend
It’s June, and schools are out. If you’re looking for family-friendly activities to kick off summer vacation, here are five fun things to do this weekend.
- Meet Prince at the Saint Louis Zoo — 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 5-6, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 7. Saint Louis Zoo, One Government Drive, St. Louis. No, not that Prince. Prince is the zoo’s new Grevy’s zebra, born on May 26 to parents Amira and Presley. Prince and Amira are out for public view in the zoo’s Red Rocks area. Admission is free. For more info, visit stlzoo.org.
- International Horseradish Festival — 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 5-6. Main Street, Collinsville. This event features live music, a car show, games, food and drink, a whole lot of horseradish, and fun for the whole family. Free and open to the public. internationalhorseradishfestival.com
- Nature/Culture Hike at Cahokia Mounds — 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 6. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, 30 Ramey St., Collinsville. Take a 3-hour hike with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Archaeology Professor Julie Zimmermann and experience the natural environment of Cahokia Mounds and how it shaped the Mississippian culture. The event is free and open to the public. Arrive 15 minutes before the hike starts. RSVP by calling 618-346-5164. cahokiamounds.org
- Rock the Blue 2026 — 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 6. Copper Fire, 200 E. Main St., Belleville. This event brings the community together with food and drinks, live Blues music and family-friendly fun in support of first responders. Saturday’s event will cover BackStoppers dues for every Belleville police officer. facebook.com/events/2186766532094727
- 56th annual Fort de Chartres Rendezvous — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 6, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 7. Fort de Chartres State Historic Site, 1350 IL Route 155, Prairie du Rocher. Visit the 1700s with its cannon booms, campfires, period music and dancing, and more. Admission is free; special event parking is $10 per car. fortdechartres.net
Jennifer Green
Belleville News-Democrat