Festivals, picnics featured in the metro-east this weekend. See what other fun’s in store

Noon Friday, Sept. 9, is the deadline to appear in next week’s What’s Happening. We must receive your event in writing with a contact phone number for questions.

Due to the number of submissions received, events may run only one time in print, will be edited and appear the week before the event date.

Email: lifestyle@bnd.com. Mail to: Lifestyle, Belleville News-Democrat, P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.

Highlighted Event

▪ Moment of Remembrance — 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. September 11 Memorial Walkway of Southern Illinois, Engine House No. 4, 1125 S. Illinois St., Belleville. Guest Speaker: Col. Willie L. Cooper, Commander, 375th Mission Support Group, Scott AFB. Parking available behind the Engine House. belleville.net/911memorial

Events

▪ Ascension Charity Classic — Thursday, Sept. 8, through Sunday, Sept. 11. Gates open 7:30 a.m. all four days. Norwood Hills Country Club, 1 Norwood Hills Country Club Drive, St. Louis. An official PGA TOUR Champions event owned and operated by Tournaments for Charity, a St. Louis non-profit corporation. This 54-hole stroke play golf tournament features 81 PGA TOUR Champions professionals competing for a $2 million purse. For tickets and info: ascensioncharityclassic.com.

▪ Release of the movie “Million Dollar Razzle Dazzle” — 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11 at the Lincoln Theatre, 103 E. Main St., Belleville. Over 50 local actors have roles in this movie set in 1988. The film centers around five people on a late 1980s game show: the host, a model and the three contestants. Both screenings this weekend will be followed by red carpet events. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at Circa87.com.

▪ 34th annual Homestead Harvest Days — 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9; and 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, and Sunday, Sept. 11. Louis Latzer Homestead, south of Highland. facebook.com/events/389272139858234

▪ Millstadt Township Farmers Market — 3-6 p.m. Fridays. Millstadt VFW Event Center, 200 Veterans Drive, Millstadt. Featuring everything: local plants, fruit, coffee, produce, flowers, honey, eggs, baked goods, jellies/jams and flea market items. No vendor fees. 618-476-3037.

▪ St. Joseph Parish Picnic — 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 and Saturday, Sept. 10. Parish Grounds, 11 N. Alton St., Freeburg. Live music both nights. Fish fry on Friday; chicken dinner on Saturday. Quilt bingo at 6 p.m. Saturday. Sponsored by St. Joseph Catholic Church. 618-779-1388.

▪ Tower Grove Park Beer and Cocktail Garden — 4-8 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays through October. Ruins Pond, Tower Grove Park, 4257 Northeast Drive, St. Louis. Enjoy a variety of seasonal and classic Schlafly beer, four seasonally rotating cocktails from STL Barkeep, food truck fare, live music, yoga and yard games. Free to attend. A portion of the beer and cocktail proceeds will benefit Tower Grove Park. schlafly.com

▪ Cedarhurst Art & Craft Fair — 4:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, and Sunday, Sept. 11. Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, 2600 Richview Road, Mt. Vernon. More than 90 booths — including up to 20 new artists. The variety of artists this year will be offering glass, jewelry, metal, fiber, wood, photography, 2-D art, ceramics and up-cycled art creations. Food, beverages and live music included. General Admission: $5. Children 10 and under admitted free.

▪ Fall Festival — 5-11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, and Saturday, Sept. 10. St. Stephen Catholic Church, 901 S. Main St., Illinois 157, Caseyville. Chicken dinner both nights 4-8 p.m. Mexican food, fish, beer, soda and more. Cash raffle for $1,000 and other cash prizes, drawn 11 p.m. Saturday. Live music, kids inflatables, car cruise (Saturday), bingo, booths and more.

▪ Shiloh Homecoming Picnic — 5-11:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, and 4-11:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Shiloh Community Park, 14 Park Drive, Shiloh. Games, carnival rides, food, drinks, live music, and Fireworks (Friday) at dark.

▪ Damiansville & Albers Village-Wide Garage Sales — 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Damiansville & Albers, exit 34 off I-64. Some sales will be open Thursday, Sept. 8, and Friday, Sept. 9. Something for everyone! facebook.com/villageofalbers

▪ Vine Street Market at O’Fallon Station — 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. O’Fallon Station, 212 E. First St., O’Fallon. Locally grown vegetables, flowers, fruits, eggs, cheese and meats. A selection of bakers and sweet treats along with coffee, craft brew beverages and artisans. Live music, patio seating, food truck on site. Bicycle and pet friendly. 618-624-0139 or ofallonstation.com/vine-street-market.

▪ Metals & Electronics Recycle Drive — 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 10. Public Parking Lot, 227 W. Main St., Collinsville. Accepting office equipment, vehicles, electronics, batteries, appliances, machinery. Fees for TV/Monitor, CRT. No paper, glass, plastic, wood, cardboard or tires. 618-344-7232.

▪ BaconFest 2022 — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Veterans of Foreign Wars, 221 W. First St. O’Fallon. Includes a variety of food vendors with tons of creative “bacon-themed” offerings, kids games, live music, cold drinks, street vendors and more. https://www.facebook.com/events/695874004828909

▪ Alton Pride Festival — Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. On the 600 block of Belle Street, Alton. Live entertainment and more. facebook.com/altonprideinc

▪ Open Horse Show & BBQ w/ September 11 Memorial Honoring — 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Lincoln Trail Riders, 1982 Quarry Road, O’Fallon. There is a food shack on site that will have BBQ, drinks, etc. Bleacher seating available on first come first serve basis. Lawn chairs and Umbrellas are welcome for added shade. We do ask that you leave your pets home unless they are a service animal. For more information: 618-977-5167 or facebook.com/Lincolntrailriders.

▪ Litchfield Pickers Market — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. 400 N. State St., Downtown Litchfield. Vintage, antique, industrial, architectural, repurposed and collectible goods. facebook.com/litchfieldpickersmarket

▪ HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland Auxiliary Gift Shop End of Summer Sale — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, through Friday, Sept. 16, with special evening hours 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14. HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland, 12866 Troxler Ave., Highland. The St. Joseph’s Gift Shop sale will run Monday, Sept. 12, through Friday, Sept. 16, offering 25% off storewide (some exceptions may apply). The Gift Shop offers a variety of jewelry, gift items, handbags and home décor for purchase. Masks are required per CDC guidelines for hospitals.

▪ 32nd annual Jobs Plus — 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Sept. 14. Gateway Convention Center, 1 Gateway Drive, Collinsville. There will be WiFi available for those looking to complete online applications and there will be on site copying services as well as interpreters for the hearing impaired and those who speak Spanish. Applicants should bring their résumés, be prepared to interview, and should be dressed professionally. Free and open to the public.

▪ Kaskaskia College Nursing Forum — 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14. Kaskaskia College, Nursing Building, 27210 College Road, Centralia. The college’s Associate’s Degree of Nursing is due for its eight-year accreditation review and invites discussion and comments from the public. The forum is open to the community, employers, and alumni.

Games

▪ Euchre — 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9. Smithton Senior Center, 711 S. Main St., Smithton. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Partner night. Snacks welcome. Water, soda and coffee will be available for purchase. Masks not required. 618-791-8769 or 618-698-3785.

▪ Granite City Senior Social Club Bingo — 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. Granite City Township Hall, 2060 Delmar, Granite City. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Admission is $1, plus $1 for four cards. Must be 50 or older or disabled to play. 618-444-6771.

Theater/Concerts

▪ Highland Thursday Night Live Concert Series: Benders & Backroads — 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8. Downtown Square, Highland. Enjoy live entertainment on Thursday evenings. Feel free to bring your own lawn chair(s), blanket, cooler, etc., and enjoy the show. The Lions Club will be selling brats, pork burgers and chicken sandwiches. highlandil.gov

▪ Monroe Actors State Company presents ‘The Pajama Game’ — 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, and Saturday, Sept. 10; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. Capitol Theater, 202 S. Main St., Waterloo. Romance is blossoming at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory. Handsome new Superintendent Sid Sorokin falls hard for feisty Union rep “Babe” Williams, and, despite her dismissal of all things love-related, it seems she’s falling right back. For tickets and additional performance dates: masctheatre.org.

▪ Annual Creekside Concert — 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Maeystown Historic Museum, Main Street, Maeystown. Featuring George Portz and His Friends of Bluegrass, Thunder & Lightning Cloggers, Lillian Roever junior fiddler and “Sammy Boy” Webb and Audrey Webb junior fiddler. Free and open to all. Bring lawn chairs.

▪ ‘Ace’ Magruder Memorial American Legion Post 199 Bluegrass Festival — 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. American Legion Post 199, 58 S. State Route 157, Edwardsville. Featuring George Portz and His Friends of Bluegrass Band, Paul Jarvis “Willie Nelson” Tribute Artist, Caitlyn Richards, country vocalist.

▪ Auditions for Emlyn Williams’ ‘Night Must Fall’ — 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, and Tuesday, Sept. 13. Capitol Theater, 202 S. Main St., Waterloo. Monroe Actors Stage Company will produce the show with director Kevin Hester making his MASC directorial debut. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Production dates for “Night Must Fall” are Nov. 11-13, 18-20. More audition information may be found at masctheatre.org, or by emailing the director at kevinmichaelhester@gmail.com.

▪ Mary Gauthier — 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier will perform at Old Rock House in support of her recently released album, “Dark Enough To See The Stars” (Thirty Tigers), which follows her celebrated debut book, “Saved by a Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting,” and “Rifles & Rosary Beads,” her 2018 album that earned a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album and an Album of the Year nomination from the Americana Music Association. For ticket info: metrotix.evenue.net

▪ Stéphane Conducts Dvořák — 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Music Director Stéphane Denève and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra open their 143rd season Sept. 17-18 with concerts at Powell Hall that feature the first performances of Nathalie Joachim’s “Fanm d’Ayiti (Women of Haiti)” with the composer as the vocal soloist. The concert also includes Dvořák’s sunny Symphony No. 8. Tickets start at $15. 314-534-1700 or slso.org.

Clubs & Support Groups

▪ Marine Historical Society — 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12. Marine Citizens Center, 101 W. Silver St., Marine. The meeting and the membership are both open to the public.

▪ Recreational Badminton — 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays. Nichols Center, 515 E. D St., Belleville. For more information, Call Mary at 618-234-4410, ext. 7034. Sponsored by the St. Clair County Office on Aging.

▪ GriefShare Seminar/Group — 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 6. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, lower level, 1300 Beltline Road, Collinsville. A special weekly seminar and support group for those grieving the death of a loved one. Featuring practical suggestions and reassurance through video interviews with counselors, grief experts and others who have experienced the death of a loved one. There are 14 sessions; participants can start at any time. Cost: $20 for the workbook. 318-344-3151 or bklee54@yahoo.com for info or to register.

▪ Senior Beginning Pickleball — 9-11 a.m. Wednesdays. Nichols Center, 515 E. D St., Belleville. This group is for beginners. Call 618-234-4410, ext. 7034 to register. Sponsored by the St. Clair County Office on Aging.

▪ O’Fallon Sunrise Rotary Meeting — 6:45 a.m. Wednesdays. O’Fallon Township Building, 801 E. State St., O’Fallon. 618-210-8156 or ofallonsunriserotary.org

▪ Bible Study Fellowship Women’s Classes — 9:30-11 a.m. and 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays starting Sept. 14. St. Matthew Church, 1200 Moreland Drive, Belleville. Morning classes include teaching for newborn through Pre-K. Together with other women, we will be studying the later history of Israel. For info or to register, call or leave a message with Jane at 618-520-8357 or Candy at 618-363-3285.

▪ National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Alvin G. Bohley Chapter 1019 — 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14. Golden Corral, 3360 Green Mount Crossing Drive, Shiloh. Can purchase buffet of soda/coffee only. Subject is recent FEDCON22 held in Arizona, followed by meeting. All active and retired federal employees are welcome to speakers/meetings held the second Wednesday of each month except for May and December socials. NARFE remains the go-to resource for the federal community. For information, contact James at jbflat2021@gmail.com or call 618-795-5174.

▪ The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern IL (NAMI SWI) — 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14. Heights Community Church, 2227 Vandalia, Collinsville and online via Zoom. For family members or other caregivers of someone who has a mental illness. Meetings held the second Wednesday of each month. For information, contact Kelly at kellyjefferson@charter.net or call NAMI at 618-798-9788.

▪ Belleville Community Band — 7:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays. Belleville Philharmonic Hall, 116 N. Jackson St., Belleville. Currently seeking new members, particularly woodwinds, percussion and tuba. Visit the Belleville Community Band Facebook page for more info.

Food

▪ Swansea Fish Stand – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 216 Service St., Swansea. Cod, walleye, catfish, shrimp and more. Saturday: fried chicken. Open for carryout, call-in and dine-in orders. 618-222-7171. facebook.com/swanseafishstand

▪ O’Fallon Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Knights of Columbus Hall, 402 E. U.S. 50, O’Fallon. Traditional menu of cod, tilapia, catfish, hamburgers, hot dogs, pork steaks and several side dishes. Dine-in and carryout. Credit cards accepted. Orders can be called in at 618-632-6229. facebook.com/KnightsOfColumbus4239

▪ Aviston Legion Fish Fry — 4:30-7 p.m. Fridays. American Legion Post 1239, 601 S. Clinton, Aviston. Cod (baked or fried), catfish, shrimp, chicken strips, fries, baked potato, slaw, applesauce. Dine-in and carryout. 618-228-7311. avistonlegion.com

▪ Okawville American Legion Fish Fry — 5-8 p.m. Fridays. American Legion Post 233, 205 N. Hanover St., Okawville. Dine in or carryout. Also serving lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday with a salad bar. Pizza made fresh and served every day. facebook.com/OkawvilleLegion

Reservations Required

▪ The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern IL (NAMI SWI) Family-to-Family Education Class — 6-8:30 p.m. Mondays Sept. 12 through Oct. 31. Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene, 8201 Old St. Louis Road, Belleville. The course will be taught by Paul and Diane Borawski. Includes evidence-based information about mental illnesses, treatment options, community resources, coping skills and much more. Registration required. diane.bski@live.com

▪ Virtual Evening Flow Yoga — 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14. Online via Zoom. A Slow Flow mixed levels practice that will lead you through a series of yoga poses that focus on strengthening, lengthening, and stretching. Requires Registration. Instructed by Anne Hughes. Register at glencarbonlibrary.org.

▪ Adult Zumba with Aimee — 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15. Glen Carbon Centennial Library, 198 S. Main St., Glen Carbon. Join us for an evening workout with our very own Zumba Fitness instructor! Come in comfortable exercise clothing and bring a water bottle. Space is limited. Requires Registration. glencarbonlibrary.org

▪ Learn to Monitor Streams with Illinois RiverWatch — 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 17. Centennial Park, 311 N. Belt East, Swansea. Illinois RiverWatch staff are looking for volunteers to help monitor local streams throughout the Metro East region at three events this September. More details will be provided to volunteers who register. Additional dates/locations: Thursday, Sept. 22, Piasa Creek in Godfrey; and Saturday, Sept. 24, The Nature Institute in Godfrey. To register or for more information: https://conta.cc/3c2HXZe or 618-468-2781.

▪ Virtual Saturday Morning Yoga — 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. Online via Zoom. Get fit and healthy when you join us for an energizing session of yoga with instructor Sarah Hartwig. Space is limited. Registration required. Register at glencarbonlibrary.org.

Worth the Drive

▪ Ste. Genevieve Farmers Market – 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays. KC Hall grounds, 600 Market St., Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. Locally produced vegetables, fruits, eggs, honey, canned goods, vinegars, jams, jellies and freshly baked goods. facebook.com/SteGenevieveFarmersMarket

▪ Important Prehistoric and Historic Estates Indian Relics Auction — 3-6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 (preview) and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Sangamon County Fairgrounds Building, 318 W. Birch St., New Berlin (12 miles west of Springfield). rainbowtradersauction.com

▪ Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum Day of Appreciation — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, 212 N. 6th St. Springfield. First responders will receive free admission with presentation of employer ID at the ticket counter. All responders are welcome: police, fire, medical, military, etc. Advance registration is not required. presidentlincoln.illinois.gov

This story was originally published September 7, 2022 at 10:00 AM.