Festivals Calendar: August filled with art, picnics and food

3 — Car Cruise. 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dandy Inn, 1030 Lincoln Highway, Fairview Heights. All food and beverages must be purchased from Dandy Inn.

5-7 — Mascoutah Homecoming und Augustfest. Friday-Sunday, Scheve Park, Mascoutah. Carnival ride, music, parades.

6 — Monroe County Bicentennial Palooza. 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday, Courthouse Square in downtown Waterloo. Firemen’s Muster, with all county fire departments competing in various relays. The day is focused on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. (Lincoln spoke at the courthouse in 1841.) Re-enactors and demonstrations from the Civil War period. Street dance performance by the 33rd Illinois Volunteer Regiment Band, music by The Trophy Mules and Highway 15. Food and refreshments.

6 — St. Francis of Assisi Parish Picnic. Saturday, Second and Clinton Streets, Aviston. All-you-can-eat fried chicken, roast beef dinner with homemade dressing, dessert and drinks will be served from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the air-conditioned hall. Quilt bingo, 6:30 p.m. Mass, 4 p.m. Basket booths, raffles, country store, margaritas, rides.

6 — St. James Summer Festival. 3 p.m. Saturday, St. James Parish Center, 419 W. Madison, Millstadt. Chicken dinner in air-conditioned gym beginning at 4 p.m. Quilt/cash bingo, booths, country store, raffles, attendance prizes.

6 — Corn Fest. 4 p.m. Saturday, Charter Oak 8-sided School, 9272 Schuline Road, Randolph County. Guided tours of one-room school house on the National Register of Historic Places. Country store, music. Dinner available with kettle-cooked corn on the cob, fried chicken, Indian pudding. School is between Illinois 3 and 4 near Sparta. Presented by the Randolph County Historical Society.

6 — St. Anthony’s Lively Grove Picnic. Saturday on the church grounds, Illinois 153, Lively Grove. Chicken dinner served indoors, 4-8 p.m.; quilt and cash bingo. Music, concessions, novelties, prizes.

6 — Archeology Day. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Collinsville. Demonstrations of ancient crafts, artifact processing, hands-on activities, dig tours, storytelling.

6 — Car Cruise. 5-9 p.m. on the brick street in Lebanon.

6 — Bluegrass and Barbecue. 4 p.m. Saturday, Zoar United Church of Christ Church Picnic, New Hanover (Columbia). George Portz and The Friends of Bluegrass. Free.

7 — St. Patrick’s Auction and Chicken Dinner. Sunday, St. Patrick’s Parish, 5675 LL Road, Tipton. Mass, 10 a.m.; oral auction, noon; quilt auction, 2 p.m.; silent auction and country store. Chicken plate dinner, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., eat in or carryout.

10 — Car Cruise. 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dandy Inn, 1030 Lincoln Highway, Fairview Heights. All food and beverages must be purchased from Dandy Inn. First 100 cars will receive a free commemorative plaque.

12 — Troy Fun in the Park. 6-8 p.m. Friday, Tri-Township Park, Troy. Back-to-school night with free school supplies for all kids. Movie is “The Good Dinosaur.” Free food, drinks, games. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket.

12-13 — Fairview Heights Homecoming. 6-11:30 p.m. Friday, 1-11:30 p.m. Saturday. Entertainment by Johnny Rockitt on Friday night; Smash Band on Saturday night. Parade, 5 p.m. Saturday. Car show, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Carnival rides.

13 — St. George’s Quilt/Cash Bingo. 3 p.m.-midnight, Saturday, St. George Parish, 200 N. Third St., New Baden. Dinner served in air-conditioned hall; carryouts available. Fried chicken and roast beef with homemade dressing, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, green beans, slaw and applesauce, bakery bread. Homemade pie or cake. Also, bratwurst, hamburger, fish, French fries, hot dogs, kettle corn, funnel cakes and ice cream. Quilt bingo, lightning bingo, raffles, sausage stand, fruit stand, pillowcase stand, basket stand, Texas Poker, Over and Under. Kids games and entertainment. Washer tournament. Indoor Polka Mass at 4 p.m.

13 — Venedy Picnic. Saturday, Brockschmidt Park, Venedy. Fried chicken plates served beginning at 4 p.m. Music by the Venedy Band, 4-6 p.m.; Backroads Band, 7-11 p.m. Bingo and kids games.

17 — Car Cruise. 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dandy Inn, 1030 Lincoln Highway, Fairview Heights. All food and beverages must be purchased from Dandy Inn.

19-20 — Columbia Daze. 5-11 p.m. Friday, all day Saturday, Turner Hall, 211 E. Cherry St., Columbia. Carnival rides, games, live music, food and drinks, historic trolley tours. Parade on Main Street at 5 p.m. Saturday. Live music beginning at 8 both nights.

19-21 — Gemantown Spassfest. 4 p.m Friday to 1 a.m.; 11 a.m. Saturday to 1 a.m.; 8 a.m.-noon (breakfast only) Sunday, Schoendienst Park, Germantown. Continuous music, food, carnival rides, games. Beer Run, bags and washers tournaments, motorcycle show. Parade at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

19-21 — Centralia Balloon Fest. 3-10 p.m. Friday, 6 a.m-10 p.m. Saturday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Centralia. On Friday: Balloon race, 6 p.m.; tethered balloon rides, 6-9 p.m.; balloon glow, 7:30 p.m.; USAF Band of Mid-America Starlifter, 8:30-10 p.m.; Fireworks, 10 p.m. On Saturday: balloon race, 6:30 a.m.; car show, 12:30-4 p.m.; tethered balloon rides, 6-9 p.m.; balloon glow, 7:30 p.m.; music by Retro Boogie (pop, soul and top 40). On Sunday: balloon race, 6:30 p.m.; childrens activity area, noon-4 p.m.; Corvette Car Club Display, 12:30-4 p.m.; cardboard boat races, 2:30-3:15 p.m.; balloon race, 6 p.m.

20 — St. Augustine Kirchenfest. Saturday, Hecker Community Center and grounds, Hecker. Old-fashioned fried chicken and pork sausage dinners in air-conditioned hall, 3 p.m.; Mass, 4 p.m.; quilt bingo, 6:30 p.m.; music by Riverside, 7-11 p.m.; Tiki Trot youth/adult 5K run-walk. Picnic stands.

24 — Car Cruise. 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dandy Inn, 1030 Lincoln Highway, Fairview Heights. All food and beverages must be purchased from Dandy Inn.

26-28 — St. Paul Kirchenfest. Friday-Sunday, St. Paul Church grounds, Highland. On Friday: open from 5:30 to 11 p.m.; early pre-sell Mega Flea Market, 6-9 p.m.; Vote for Pedro, 7-11 p.m. On Saturday: Straussenlauf 5K and 10K, 8 a.m.; Mega Flea Market, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; music by Dirty Muggs, 7:30-11:30 p.m.. On Sunday, 25-mile bike race, 9 a.m.; Polka Mass, 10 a.m.; Mega Flea Market, 11 a.m-3 p.m.; chicken dinner, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Motown Review plays in the evening.

26-28 — Midwest Salute to the Arts, 6-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Moody Park Fairview Heights. Artists in juried competition exhibit and sell their art. Kids activities, music, food.

26-27 — Waterloo Homecoming. Friday and Saturday, downtown Waterloo. Free. Parade at 5 p.m. Saturday. Live music, carnival rides and games. Food and drinks sold by local organizations.

26-27 — Holy Childhood Parish Picnic and Fish Fry. Holy Childhood Church, 419 E. Church St., Mascoutah. Fish fry, 5-9:30 p.m. Friday with live music, beer and games. Picnic, 5-11 p.m. Saturday includes chicken dinner, lightning raffle at 5:30 p.m., bingo at 6:30 p.m. Beer, pet land, games for all ages open at 5 p.m. Saturday.

27 — St. Teresa Parish Picnic. 4-midnight Saturday, St. Teresa School grounds, 1108 Lebanon Ave., Belleville. Fried chicken dinner, quilt bingo, live music, beer garden, raffles, silent auction, carnival rides, kids activities.

27 — Wheels of Freedom MC Biker Rodeo. — Gates open at 1 p.m. Saturday, events start at 3 p.m., American Legion Stookey Post 1255, 201 Eiler Road, Belleville. Everyone is welcome. $10 entry fee per person or $15 per couple enters you in all games. Door prizes, vendors, cold drinks, food, music. Proceeds go to homeless, wounded and active veterans.

27 — Fun In the Sun and Cruise-In Car Show. 11 a.m.-6 p.m New Baden Community Park, New Baden. Presented by St. George Church and New Baden Knights of Columbus.

31 — Car Cruise. 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dandy Inn, 1030 Lincoln Highway, Fairview Heights. All food and beverages must be purchased from Dandy Inn.

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 10:02 AM with the headline "Festivals Calendar: August filled with art, picnics and food."