Oktoberfest, Italian Fest and other festivals this weekend

What’s Happening for Sept. 14.

Noon Thursday, Sept. 7, was the deadline to appear in today’s What’s Happening. We must receive your event in writing with a contact phone number for questions. Due to the large number of submissions, non-profit events are run only one time in print, will be edited and appear in the week before the event date.

Email is preferred: lifestyle@bnd.com. Mail to: Lifestyle, Belleville News-Democrat, 120 S. Illinois St., P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427. Questions, call Heidi Wiechert at 618-239-2500.

Events

▪ 26th Annual POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony — 10 a.m. Saturday. VFW Post 805, 221 W. First St., O’Fallon. The Scott Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Council invites former prisoners of war and their family members to be honored at a ceremony. Complementary barbecue for guests following.

▪ A Conversation with Ronald White — 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20. 1405 N. Green Mount Road, Suite 400, O’Fallon. Presented by Kurowski Schultz LLC, Ronald White, the author of “American Ulysses: A life of Ulysses S. Grant,” will speak about his book and research. Book signing follows presentation. Open to the public.

▪ Ballroom Dance — 7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday. Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge, 2425 N. Illinois St. Music by: “The Casuals.”

▪ The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease — 6:30-8 p.m. Monday. Freeburg District Library, 407 S. Belleville St., Freeburg. This program provides information on detection, causes and risk factors, stages of the disease, treatment and more. Hosted by the Freeburg Rotary. Register: Judy Berowski, jbpbski@yahoo.com or sign up at the library.

▪ Belleville’s Old Town Farmer’s Market — 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. First block of South Charles, Belleville. Locally grown veggies, fruit, pasture raised beef, plants and crafts.

▪ Belleville Flea Market — 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Belle Clair Fairgrounds Park, 200 S. Belt East, Belleville. Over 600 tables and 300 vendors selling antiques, collectibles and merchandise, old and new. Parking $3, admission free. bcfairgrounds.net.

▪ Clothing Giveaway — 9 a.m.-Noon Saturday. Trinity United Church of Christ, 47 N. Douglas Ave., Belleville. Clothing, shoes, accessories for all seasons for men, women and children.

▪ ‘Coffee with Katie’ — 9-10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. Petri Café, 1416 20th St., Granite City. State Rep. Katie Stuart hosts a coffee hour to talk with residents.

▪ ‘Come as You Are’ Tai Chi — 5 p.m. Wednesday. Ever and Anon Park, corner of East Main and Mascoutah Ave., Belleville. Free one-hour class for all ages and skill levels. Sponsored by the Belleville Heritage Society.

▪ ‘GriefShare’ Seminar and Group — 6-7:30 p.m. Meeting weekly on Tuesday, Sept. 12 through Tuesday, Dec. 12. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1300 Beltline Road, Collinsville. A special weekly seminar and support group for people grieving the death of someone close to them. Can be started any time during the 13-week sessions. Information: 618-334-3151 or lcookparishnurse@charter.net.

▪ Historic Bridges of Illinois — 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. Monroe County History Museum, 724 Elaine Drive, Waterloo. Presented by Emily Land. 618-939-5008.

▪ Homeless Coalition of St. Clair County — 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday. 402 E. Main St. Parking lot behind Faith Baptist Church. All welcome. No cost. Learn about volunteer opportunities to help homeless people. Jesse Arms, 618-719-1154.

▪ Karban’s Knotty Pines Fall Festival — Doors open noon. Bands start 2 p.m. Saturday. 4569 Buss Branch Road, Paderborn/Waterloo. Free concert of three bands. BBQ served all day. 618-473-9954.

▪ Kingdom Business Conference — 5-8 p.m. Saturday. The Fort, Conqueror’s Christian Center, 200 E. Washington St., Belleville. John Curry Ministries presents Kingdom Business Conference. Aggregation: building and supporting black businesses while transforming our communities. Keynote speaker: Harry Parker, owner of Gulf Shores Restaurant and Grill. jsconquerors@charter.net or 618-980-9314.

▪ ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ — Begins 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday. Kloss Furniture, O’Fallon. Buy a ticket and get shopping deals and discounts at participating O’Fallon businesses. Attendance prizes will be awarded. Tickets cost $10 in advance at squareup.com/store/klossevents or $12 on the day of event at Kloss Furniture.

▪ Larry Zotti: “The Great Lincoln Place Fire, the Nesco Fire and Other Fire History” — 2-4 p.m. Sunday. Granite City Firefighter Museum, 1411 19th St., Granite City. See antique fire engines and firefighting memorabilia. Free program and open to the public.

▪ MECDS Quarter Auction Fundraiser for Hope for Heroes — Doors open 6 p.m. Auction at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. Collinsville VFW, 1234 Vandalia St. $20 all-in paddles, $5 per bid paddle. Will need quarters to bid. Bring an item or two from wish list to get an additional bid paddle. Wish items include: personal hygiene, candy, snacks, notepads, shampoos, razors, toothpaste, tooth brushes, dental floss, deodorant, shaving cream, female hygiene, white socks, popcorn, books. 50/50 will be sold throughout the evening, shopping spree raffles, shop and book with vendors drawing. 618-741-9893.

▪ Paralegal Services Available for Seniors — 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20. Main Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main St., Edwardsville. Make an appointment with a paralegal to create a Power of Attorney, DNR Directive or updated will. Event for seniors. 618-656-0300.

▪ Red Cross Blood Drive at Millstadt Consolidated School — 3:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. 211 W. Mill St., Millstadt. Register: redcrossblood.org, sponsor code: MillstadtCS.

▪ Red Cross Blood Drive — 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Public Safety Building, 285 N. 7 Hill Road, O’Fallon. Sponsored by the O’Fallon Kiwanis. Register: redcrossblood.org, sponsor code: KiwanisOfallon.

▪ Roadkill Zip-Tie Drags — Doors open 3:30 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday. Gateway Motorsports Park, Madison. Roadkill stars David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan present a family automotive event. This event features drag racing, “test ‘n’ tune,” a hooptie challenge, car show, drive-in theater featuring Roadkill episodes, food trucks, camping, bonfires and s’mores.

▪ Square and Round Dance — 7-9:30 p.m. Friday. Caseyville Township Building, 10001 Bunkum Road, Fairview Heights. Sponsored by the Dandy Dancers. Theme: Go Cards night. Doug Mallory calling. Pat Hilton cueing. Eunice Peterson: 618-660-6030.

▪ St. Vincent de Paul ‘Friends of the Poor’ Walk — 8 a.m. Saturday. National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville. Walkers of all ages are invited to raise money to “stomp out hunger.” All funds raised go to the needy in the community. Register: 618-394-0126 or pat.hogrebe@gmail.com. Walkers can also register the day of the event at 8 a.m.

▪ Swansea Farmer’s Market — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. Rural King parking lot, 2801 N. Illinois St., Swansea. Locally grown crops, fruits, vegetables and crafts can be found here.

▪ Women’s Self Defense Class — 7-8:30 p.m. Friday. 724 Lincoln Highway, Fairview Heights. Hosted by Karate Fitness. Admission is free. Please bring $10 worth of canned goods to go to Violence Prevention Center.

▪ Yoga Night — 4:30-5:30 p.m. Monday. 4204 Tap House, 6435 W. Main St., Belleville. Bring a yoga mat and join the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce Healthcare and CSA Committee for an hour of zen with Stillpointe Wellness Center yoga instructors. Admission $10 cash only, includes a 4204 Main Street Brewing Company house beer.

Festivals

▪ 37th Annual Belleville Oktoberfest — Friday and Saturday. Downtown Belleville. A traditional German festival, this event features live entertainment, German food, children’s area and a cornhole tournament on Saturday morning. Wiener dog race and costume contest at 2 p.m. Saturday. Belleville Oktoberfest Store will be selling festival-themed merchandise.

▪ Holy Trinity Parish Picnic — Friday and Saturday, Holy Trinity Church grounds, 505 Fountains Parkway, Fairview Heights. On Friday: fish fry, 4-8 p.m. On Saturday: Polka Mass, 4 p.m.; chicken dinner and bingo. Both nights: games, inflatables, music, food, raffles, silent auction, booths, adult games of chance, beer garden. 618-628-8825.

▪ Collinsville Italian Fest — Friday and Saturday. Collinsville. Live music, fun runs, parade, grape stomp, Little Miss and Mister Pageant, bocce ball tournament, Italian films and exhibits. The Collinsville Library will have “Get Your Toga On,” an ancient Rome exhibit, until Oct. 15. The exhibit includes activities for families, items from Rome, Roman mosaics made by Collinsville High School Latin students and more. www.italianfest.net.

▪ Highland Street Art Fest — 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. This event features: tree carving, a Unity pole, over 30 artists creating masterpieces on the streets, bags tournament. Teams can register for the tournament at www.highlandillinois.com/streetartfestival or on the day of the event. Run for Color, 2 mile fun run, begins at 4 p.m. Hops and Color Beer Tasting event will be 7 p.m.-midnight Friday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. Early bird tickets for the tasting can be purchased at the Highland Chamber office. The Illinois Federation of Business Women will host the “Kreative Kids Korner” for artists up to age 12.

▪ Okawville Fair and Wheat Festival — Friday-Sunday, Community Park, 511 S. Hanover, Okawville. Carnival rides, free entertainment, food, free admission. On Friday: concessions open, 5 p.m.; Queen pageant and Little Miss Contest in high school, 7 p.m.. On Saturday: Concession stands open at 11 a.m.; washer tournament, 1 p.m.; young farmers activities, 1 p.m.; antique tractor pull and local talent show, 2 p.m.; bingo, 5-10 p.m. On Sunday: concessions open at 11 a.m.; large float parade, 2 p.m.; Okawville High School band concert 4 p.m.; bingo, 4-9 p.m.

▪ Global Brew Tap House Oktoberfest — 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday. City Park, Edwardsville. Traditional German festival featuring live music, sampling of over 20 beers for those 21 and older, food, photo booth, 50/50 drawing, raffle for trip for two to Germany for a brewery tour. Edwardsville Children’s Museum will offer children’s activities. STL Interactives will have climbing wall for children and adults. 2K run starts at 11 a.m. Registration is available at www.finallapracing.com/gbpubrun. Entry fee for run is $35. Portion of the proceeds from the festival will be donated to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.

▪ Caseyville Frontier Days — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Caseyville Park, 40 W. Reynolds St., Caseyville. Free admission. Re-enactor encampment, demonstrations of skills of the past, kids area and tomahawk throw. Food and re-enactor goods available for purchase. Gateway Dulcimer Society will perform from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

Food

▪ Aviston Legion Fish & Chicken Fry — 4:30-7 p.m. Friday. American Legion Post 1239, 601 S. Clinton, Aviston. Cod, catfish, shrimp, chicken strips, sides. Eat in or carryout. 618-228-7311 or www.avistonlegion.com.

▪ BBQ Thursday — 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. Turkey Hill Grange, 1375 E. State Route 15, Belleville. Takeout or eat in pork steak or pulled pork sandwich dinner with sides. Brats and homemade desserts.

▪ Breakfast — 8-11:30 a.m. Sunday. Albers American Legion. Pork sausage, ham, pancakes, eggs and more. $9 adults, $4 child, 5 and under free. Carryouts available. Proceeds for Legion Youth programs. 618-248-5505.

▪ Caseyville Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. Friday, Caseyville VFW Post 1117, 415 N. Long, Caseyville. Fish plates, desserts, sandwiches, burgers and more. Bingo at 7 p.m.

▪ Collinsville Fish Fry — 3-8 p.m. Friday, Collinsville VFW Post 5691, 1234 Vandalia, Collinsville. Eat-in or carryout. Cod, catfish fillets, tilapia, sides.

▪ Collinsville Fish Fry — 3-8 p.m. Friday, Collinsville American Legion, 1022 Vandalia St., Collinsville. North Atlantic cod, whole catfish, sides, desserts. 618-345-2508.

▪ Collinsville Fish Fry — 4-7:30 p.m. Friday. Knights of Columbus Hall, 1 Columbus Plaza, Collinsville. Eat in or carryout. Fried/baked cod, catfish, sides. 618-345-1492.

▪ Highland Fish Fry — 4-7:30 p.m. Friday, VFW Post 5694, 1900 VFW Road, Highland. Eat in or carryout. 618-654-6367.

▪ Mascoutah Fish Fry — 5-8 p.m. Friday, Mascoutah VFW Post 7682, 620 Donaphan St., Mascoutah. Dine in or carryout. 618-566-2288.

▪ Millstadt Fish Fry and Jam Session — 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 4-8 p.m. Friday, Millstadt VFW Post, 200 Veterans Drive, Millstadt. 618-476-1180.

▪ O’Fallon Fish Fry — 4-8 p.m. Friday, Knights of Columbus Hall, 402 E. U.S. 50, O’Fallon. Cod and bluegill, burgers, hot dogs, sides. Eat in or carryout. 618-632-6229.

▪ O’Fallon Fish Fry — 4-8 p.m. Friday, VFW Post 805, 221 W. First St., O’Fallon. Fried and grilled fish, chicken, sides and desserts. Carryouts. 618-624-2651.

▪ Okawville Fish & Chicken Fry — 5-8 p.m. Friday, 205 N. Hanover St., Okawville. American Legion Post No. 233. Eat in or carryout. 618-243-6545.

▪ Scottish Rite Fish Fry — 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday. 1549 Frank Scott Parkway West, Belleville. Fish by the pound, plate, sandwich. Sponsored by Scottish Rite Masonic bodies. Open to the public.

▪ Shiloh Fish Fry — 5-8 p.m. Friday, 100 Eagle Drive, Shiloh. Cod, walleye, shrimp, chicken wings. Eat in or carryout. Auxiliary bake sale for charity. 618-624-5412.

▪ Swansea Fish Stand — 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 216 Service St., Swansea. Cod, walleye, catfish, shrimp and more. Saturday: fried chicken. 618-222-7171.

▪ Troy VFW Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. Friday, Troy VFW Post 976 and Auxiliary, 123-A W. Market St., Troy. Cod, catfish, jack salmon, baked fish, chicken strips, shrimp. Dine in or carry out. 618-667-8387.

▪ Walton’s Chicken Dinner — 4-7 p.m. Tuesday. Knights of Columbus, 5420 Old Collinsville Road, Fairview Heights. Homemade desserts. Carryout, 618-632-5222.

▪ Walton’s Fish Fry — 3-8 p.m. Friday, Knights of Columbus, Hall, 5420 Old Collinsville Road, Fairview Heights. Homemade desserts. Carryout, 618-632-5222.

Games

▪ Bridge — 11:45 a.m. Thursday. Collinsville Senior Center, 420 E. Main St., Collinsville. To participate, must have played bridge before. 618-310-1289.

▪ Bridge — 11:45 a.m. Tuesday. Senior Center, 10025 Bunkum Road, Fairview Heights. Sponsored by Caseyville Township. 618-310-1289.

▪ Cribbage Club — 6:30 p.m. Thursday. 1 Columbus Plaza, KC Club, Collinsville. Nine games played against nine different opponents. Yvonne Bright 618-344-1521 or John Bilski 618-398-1029.

▪ Euchre Tournament — 7 p.m. Friday. Everyone welcome. Smithton Senior Center, 711 S. Main, Smithton. 618-233-3370.

Theater/Concerts

▪ ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ — 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Capitol Theatre, 202 S. Main St., Waterloo. Musical presented by the Monroe Actors Stage Company. Tickets: 618-939-7469 or www.masctheatre.org.

▪ ‘Eurydice’ — 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Jacoby Arts Center, 627 E. Broadway, Alton. A re-telling of the myth of Orpheus from the perspective of his wife, Eurydice. Tickets cost $10 for students, $15 general admission on Thursday, $20 general admission on Friday and Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at door or online: www.jacobyartscenter.org.

▪ Organ Spectacular Concert — 7:30 p.m. Monday. Benjamin Godfrey Memorial Chapel, Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Road, Godfrey. Free and open to the public. Area organists will perform a variety of pieces. 618-468-4731.

▪ ‘Wishbone Ash: The Complete Argus Album’ — 8 p.m. Sunday, Wildey Theatre, 252 N. Main St., Edwardsville. One of two performances on the North American tour to feature “Argus” in its entirety. Tickets: 618-307-1750 or www.wildeytheatre.com.

Worth the Drive

▪ Grand Finale of ‘Live in Library Park’ — 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. Library Park, 400 N. State St., Litchfield. Featuring: Hunter Sharp. www.visitlitchfield.com.

▪ Wamac Fest — 3-11:45 p.m. Saturday. Wamac City Park, 100 S. Wabash Ave., Centralia. Live entertainment, food, games, sport competitions, kids games and beer garden. seecentralia.com/event-calendar.

▪ Chicken Dinner — 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. St. Felicitas Church, Beaver Prairie, 13322 Church Road, Carlyle. Fried chicken, dressing, mashed potatoes and sides. Carryouts available. 618-973-8067.

This story was originally published September 13, 2017 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Oktoberfest, Italian Fest and other festivals this weekend."