Festivals Calendar: July offers many chances to celebrate America

2 — St. Michael’s Church Paderborn Picnic & Homecoming. 3 p.m. Saturday, St. Michael’s Church Paderborn, 4576 Buss Branch Road, Waterloo. All-you-can-eat chicken dinner, 3-7 p.m. Hand-stilt quilt, cash bingo, 6 p.m. Masses, 3:30 and 5 p.m. Raffle.

2 — Caseyville Independence Day Picnic. Opens at 5 p.m. Saturday, Caseyville Park, 40 W. Reynolds St., Caseyville. Music, food, novelties, contests. Fireworks after 9 p.m.

2 — Spectacular Dam Jam. Saturday, Dam West and Dam East Recreation Areas, Carlyle Lake. Volleyball tournaments, sand castle building contest, live music, vendors, games. Fireworks at dusk.

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

4 — Mascoutah July 4th. 4-11 p.m. Monday, Scheve Park, Mascoutah. Food and crafts booths. Softball and kickball tournaments. Rides, kids games, raffle, artisans, music. Fireworks at dusk.

4 — Liberty Bell of the West Patriotic Celebration. 12:30 p.m. Monday, Liberty Bell of the West Shrine, Kaskaskia. Food available for purchase. Free admission. Patriotic music and tributes, ringing of the bell for liberty, French Marine salute, tours of historic church.

4 — Columbia Independence Day Celebration. 11 a.m. Monday, American Legion Memorial Park, 375 E. Locust St., Columbia. Breakfast in the Legion Hall at 9 a.m. Features food, beer and other refreshments, bingo, washers tournament, Kloepper tournament. Fireworks begin at dusk.

4 — Okawville July 4 Dance. 2-5:30 p.m. Monday, Okawville Community Club. Music by Heritage. Admission $5. Chicken, fish, German potato salad, slaw and applesauce will be served starting at noon.

4 — Dupo Picnic in the Park. Monday, Dupo Community Park, 900 Bluffview Elementary Drive, Dupo. Food, games, live entertainment, arts and crafts. Fireworks at dusk.

5-9 — Washington County Fair, Nashville. ITPA Tractor Pull, 7 p.m. Thursday. ITPA Tractor Pull, 6 p.m. Friday. County Tractor Pull, 6 p.m. Sunday. Demolition Derby, 7 p.m. Monday.

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

8 — Kruz4Kids Car Cruise. 6-10 p.m. Friday, Syberg’s, 1310 Central Park Drive, O’Fallon. Fundraiser for Joshua’s Great Things to find a cure for childhood cancer.

8 — Tour de Belleville. Friday, from Union United Methodist Church, 721 E. Main St., Belleville. 15-mile bicycle ride with the theme “Fly Me to the Moon.” Pre-ride activities, 6:15 p.m.; music by Neon Cadillac, 8:15 p.m.; rides start at 8:30. Registration to be announced.

8-9 — Millstadt Fire Department Picnic. Friday and Saturday, Millstadt. Carnival rides, games, cold drinks, Chicago ball tournament. Fish fried the firemen’s way; chicken, brats, pulled pork. Music by Metal Studs on Friday and Well Hungarians on Saturday.

8-9 — Lebanon-Emerald Mound Fireman’s Picnic. 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, new engine house, 760 N. Monroe St., Lebanon. Parade at 6 p.m. both days. Beer garden, cake and soda stand, carnival rides, games. Music by The Jorrells on Friday, Whiskey Dixon on Saturday. Food served starting at 4 p.m.: burgers, brats, ribeyes, fish, chicken strips, hot dogs, onion rings, french fries, fried mushrooms, nachos.

8-9 — Smithton Turner Picnic. Friday and Saturday, Turner Hall grounds, 15 N. Julia St., Smithton.

8-9 — Maryville Firemen’s Homecoming. 5 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday, Firemen’s Park, Maryville.

8-17 — Randolph County Fair. Fairgrounds, Sparta. Music by Mud Bog, 7 p.m. July 11. Little Mr & Mrs. Contest, 5 p.m. July 12. Tractor pull, 7 p.m. July 16. Horse show, 12:05 p.m. July 18. Illinois Farms Hot Stock Tractor Pull, 7 p.m. July 18.

9-10 — Contemporary Indian Art Show. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Collinsville. Juried show and sale of fine art by Native American artists.

10 — World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Woodland Park, Collinsville. Vendors, entertainment, kids activities. Brooks Tangy Catsup Taste Test, 10 a.m. Opening ceremony and Little Princess Tomato and Sir Catsup contest, 10:30 a.m. Hot dog eating contest, Tater Tots eating contest, watermelon eating contest. Ronald McDonald magic show, 12:30 p.m. Old-fashioned birthday party games, 1 p.m. Hula-hoop contest, water balloon toss. C.I.A. Car Truck and Motorcycle Show, 1-3 p.m. Grand prize drawing, 4:30 p.m.

13 — 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.

14-16 — St. Jacob Homecoming. Thursday-Saturday, St. Jacob. Thursday night is family night (two people ride for price of one) and no alcohol. On Friday, Parade with theme “America’s Favorite Pastimes” begins at 7 p.m.; music by Black Top Boulevard, 8-midnight. On Saturday, bags tournament begins at 11 p.m.; parade at 6:30 p.m.; music by Cold Shot, 8-midnight.

15 — Relay for Life, Southern St. Clair County. 7 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday, Belleville West High School, Belleville. Teams and individuals can sign up for event to raise money for the American Cancer Society at relayforlife.org/southernstclairill.

16 — Mustang Round-Up & All Ford Car Show and Swap Meet. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Roberts Ford, Homer Adams Parkway and Alby Street, Alton. 26 classes with awards given out at 3:30 p.m. Show fee is $20; display fee is $15; $5 swap space. Registration ends at noon. Open to Ford, Lincoln and Mercury body and powered vehicles only. Free to the public. Contact Fred Obrock at 618-656-5204. Presented by the Southern Illinois Mustang Association and Roberts Ford.

17-23 — Clinton County Fair. Fairgrounds, Carlyle. Tractor and truck pulls, queen pageant, auto cross, demolition derby. Concessions, vendors, carnival rides and games, 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

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

21-23 — Troy Lions Homecoming. 5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Tri-Township Park, Troy. Theme is “Shine Like a Diamond.” Carnival rides, food. Thursday night is family night with a Children’s Character Parade inside the park, 6:30 p.m.; food trucks and stands. Friday night: food trucks, parade from downtown Troy to park, 6:30 p.m.; music by Community Band, 7:30 p.m.; Baywolfe, 8-midnight, 50/50 drawing. Saturday: parade, 6:30 p.m.; music by Shriners Band, 7:30 p.m.; Well Hungarians, 8 p.m.-midnight; 50/50.

24-31 — Monroe County Fair. Sunday through Sunday, Monroe County Fairgrounds, 4177 Illinois 1566, Waterloo. Free entry during the day; various entry fees for nighttime events. Fair exhibits include farm implements, farm animals, arts and crafts, 4-H projects, floral arrangements, art and photography, quilts and garden produce. Carnival rides. Food and drink vendors. Tractor pulls, Future Farmers of America competition. Fair Queen Pageant and Little Miss contest. Demolition derby. Special Bicentennial events on July 31. The Anheuser Busch Clydesdale 8-horse team and hitch will be on display Tuesday through Sunday.

26-31 — Madison County Fair. 8 a.m.-11 p.m. daily, Lindendale Park, 2025 Park Hill Drive, Highland. Product displays, livestock, arts and crafts, carnival rides, food, live music. Arena events include stock car race and demolition derby. Free admission to fairgrounds; parking fee.

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

29-30 — Smithton Homecoming. Friday and Saturday, Turner Hall grounds, 15 N. Julia St., Smithton. Parade at 5 p.m. Saturday.

30 — St. Mary Church Picnic. Saturday, church grounds, 218 W. Kentucky St., Trenton. Fried chicken and roast pork dinner served in air-conditioned hall, 3-6 p.m. for dine-in and 3-7 p.m. carryouts. Adults and all carryouts, $10; children, $5. Craft and vendor fair in school building, 2-8 p.m. Cash and quilt bingo, 7 p.m. in hall. Kids games, raffle, cake wheel, basket stand, beer, soda, food.

30 — Jeff Staley Memorial Poker Run. Sign up between 10 a.m. and noon Saturday at M&M Custom Cycles, 506 Vandalia, Collinsville. Motorcycles, cars, vans, trucks welcome. 50/50s, attendance prizes for everyone, free food at VFW, raffles. $20 includes T-shirt and first poker hand; $5 each additional hand. Everyone needs to be at the final stop by 6 p.m. Host: Jeff Staley Safety Foundation. 10th and final ride. Proceeds will benefit work zone safety awareness.

31 — St. Elizabeth’s Church Picnic. Sunday, church grounds, Marine. Family-style chicken dinner with dressing and homemade pie, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; adults $10, ages 6-12 $4. Carryouts available. Refreshments, country store, basket stand. Raffle. Bingo 12:30-8 p.m.

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 10:02 AM with the headline "Festivals Calendar: July offers many chances to celebrate America."