Plan your weekend: Metro East Pride Fest, more than 40 other events highlight calendar

Noon Friday, Sept. 30, 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

▪ Metro East Pride Fest — Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. West Main Street, Belleville. Celebrate diversity, equality and inclusion with vendors, food and drink, music and a lot of drag (queens, kings, shows, high heel race). This year’s event brings more merch, more info and resources, more allies, more pride. facebook.com/MetroEastPridecom

Events

▪ Swansea Farmers Market — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays through October. Rural King parking lot, 2801 N. Illinois St., Swansea.

▪ 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.

▪ 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

▪ Fishing and Night Hike Program — 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30. Pere Marquette State Park, 13112 Visitor Center Lane, Grafton. Meet at the Visitor Center for an educational program on fish and fishing. Following the talk, young kids can fish at the blue gill pond on site. At 7:30 p.m. is the program on owls and other creatures heard at night. Following this program is a night hike to listen for owls and other night sounds. Refreshments and drinks provided. 618-786-3323.

▪ Inaugural 24-Hour Laps for Leaps — 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 through 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Highland Speedway, 1800 Lindenthal Ave., Highland. The newest fundraiser for Leaps of Love will include street cars with four drivers per sponsored team. Festivities also include food trucks, live music, bounce houses, vendor fair and more. For information or to register a driving team: leapsoflove.org/24-hr-laps-for-leaps.

▪ Vine Street Market at O’Fallon Station — 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. O’Fallon Station, 212 E. 1st 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.

▪ Blessing of the Animals — 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. St. Henry Catholic Church, 5315 W. Main St., Belleville. Bring your cats, dogs or any other family pet you’d like blessed. Dogs must be on a lead. 618-540-8383.

▪ Lincoln Trail Riders Saddle Club Open Horse Show & BBQ — 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. 1982 Quarry Road, O’Fallon. There is a food shack on site that will have BBQ and drinks. Bleacher seating available on a 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. 618-977-5167 or facebook.com/Lincolntrailriders.

▪ Zootoberfest — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2. Saint Louis Zoo, 1 Government Drive, St. Louis. Enjoy a Zoo-themed, family-friendly Oktoberfest! Take advantage of the cooler weather and visit the Zoo’s animals, exhibits and attractions. Kids can participate in fun activities, including an obstacle course and arts and crafts. German-inspired food is available for purchase, along with root beer and other soft drinks. Beer trailers throughout the Zoo offer a variety of canned and bottled brews (ages 21 and older) for purchase. An exclusive Zootoberfest beer stein with discounts for refills is available for purchase (while supplies last). Free admission. stlzoo.org/zootoberfest

▪ Vintage Voices Tours — Noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2. Alton Cemetery, 5th and Vine streets, Alton. Tours leave the cemetery gate every 15-20 minutes. Vintage Voices is produced by a volunteer committee and volunteer actors who bring the history of Alton to life. Tickets: $15 adults, $10 ages 6-18. vintagevoices2022.eventbrite.com

▪ Hispanic Heritage Celebration — 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Six Mile Regional Library District, 2001 Delmar Ave., Granite City. Family fun learning about different Hispanic cultures. Enjoy snacks, games and more. 618-452-6238 or smrld.org.

▪ Alton Cigar Event — 3-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Bluff City Grill, 424 E. Broadway, Alton. Hand-rolled cigars by STL Cigars, live DJ with DJ Brando, cash bar, food menu. Rain or shine, covered patio. Free admission. facebook.com/events/1383802412031334

▪ Glenfest — 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Miner Park, Glen Carbon. This community-wide annual event showcases a wide-variety of local businesses and is filled with great music, food, drinks, entertainment, fireworks and more. Kicking off this year’s festivities is a Main Street Pet Parade at 5 p.m. that will raise funds for Partners for Pets. glencarbonil.gov

▪ Metro East Model Railroad Club Open House — 5-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. 180 Summit St., Glen Carbon. Visitors are welcome to view trains running on the Club’s 18x27-foot HO Scale model railroad. Admission is free. 618-476-9228, 618-254-6596, or trainweb.org/memrc.

▪ St. Clair County Health Department will be offering the JYNNEOS vaccine to individuals who meet eligibility criteria at the Metro East Pride Fest on Saturday, October 1st from 12 pm -5 pm. Vaccine will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

▪ Collinsville ‘Show Me the Money’ Coin Show — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2. American Legion Post 365, 1022 Vandalia, Collinsville. The show offers a wide variety of U.S. and World coins, paper money, tokens, medals, books and collecting supplies. Free hourly door prizes, free attendance, free parking, free appraisals of coins, currency, medals, tokens, gold, silver and jewelry. Show Me Big Raffle that includes Gold and Silver coins. Open to the public. Full-service BBQ meals are available through the American Legion.

MetroEastCoinCurrencyClub.com.

▪ The League of Women Voters of the Edwardsville Area and the NAACP of Edwardsville Candidate Forum — 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3. Wildey Theatre, 252 N. Main St., Edwardsville. Candidates invited to participate in this event are those vying for Madison County Clerk and Recorder, Illinois State Senator 56th District, Illinois Representative in the General Assembly 112th District. Candidates for United States Representative in Congress 13th Congressional District and candidates for judicial races have also been invited for this forum. Moderator Rachel Tompkins will provide an opportunity for all candidates participating to introduce themselves and their platforms. The event is open to the public and will be recorded for later viewing. facebook.com/edwardsvillearealeague.org

▪ St. Luke’s Perpetual Help Sodality Luncheon and Card Party — Noon Tuesday, Oct. 4. St. Luke Parish Hall, 226 N. Church St., Belleville. Cards, bingo, games with prizes. Menu: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, glazed carrots, cake, coffee, tea and water. Cost: $10 per person. Bring canned food for the food pantry. 618-236-1124.

▪ Food on the Move — 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5. New Shining Light HDNC, 740 Broadway Ave., Venice. Free food distribution. SNAP support and referrals provided. Masks and social distancing required and enforced. stlfoodbank.org

▪ The League of Women Voters of the Edwardsville Area and the NAACP of Edwardsville Candidate Forum — 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5. Wildey Theatre, 252 N. Main St., Edwardsville. Candidates invited to participate in this event are those vying for County Board Districts and candidates for United States Representative in Congress 15th Congressional District. Moderator Rachel Tompkins will provide an opportunity for all candidates participating to introduce themselves and their platforms. The event is open to the public and will be recorded for later viewing. facebook.com/edwardsvillearealeague.org.

Games

▪ Mahjong — 12:30 p.m. Fridays. PSOP, 201 N. Church St., Belleville. Join the group and play this popular tile game. American version. 618-234-4410, ext. 7034 or ext. 7044. Sponsored by the St. Clair County Office on Aging.

▪ Granite City Senior Social Club Bingo — 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2. 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.

▪ Metro Cribbage Club — 12:30 p.m. Mondays. American Legion Post 365, 1022 Vandalia St., Collinsville. For more information, contact Yvonne Bright, 618-344-1521 or ybrightmail@gmail.com.

Theater/Concerts

▪ St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents Mahler’s Song of the Earth — 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Tōru Takemitsu’s “Night Signal” creates a dreamy soundscape, while Qigang Chen’s “L’Éloignement” blends the excitement of exploration with the pang of homesickness. Gustav Mahler’s “The Song of the Earth,” inspired by Chinese poetry and featuring Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor, represents the totality of life. slso.org

▪ Terence Blanchard featuring the E-Collective and Turtle Island Quartet — 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Ave., St. Louis. Oscar nominee and six-time Grammy-winner trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard celebrates the brilliance of jazz legend Wayne Shorter with the acclaimed “Absence,” based on his album of the same name. He is joined by his young band of musical pioneers, the The E-Collective, and the double Grammy-winning Turtle Island String Quartet, who since their inception in 1985, have been a singular force in the creation of bold, new trends in chamber music for strings. thesheldon.org

▪ A Little Sondheim Music: The Muny and SLSO Celebrate the Music and Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim — 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Powell Hall turns into a Broadway theater when the SLSO and The Muny celebrate the legacy and music of composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Known for iconic shows such as “Sweeney Todd,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” “A Little Night Music,” and “Sunday in the Park with George,” you’re sure to leave the theater humming. slso.org

▪ The Saint Louis Chamber Chorus presents ‘Darkness to Light’ — 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2. St. Louis Abbey, 500 S. Mason Road, Creve Coeur, Missouri. To open the season we present a “Missa Brevis” written for the Chamber Chorus by a shining light of new music in Europe, Dobrinka Tabakova. Her work will be complemented by polychoral works from Edward Naylor, John Rutter and Steven Stucky. chamberchorus.org

▪ Chamber Music Society of St. Louis: ‘Some Royal Noise’ — 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3. E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall, 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., St. Louis. Music composed by and for the Crowned Heads. chambermusicstl.org

▪ Kaskaskia College Fall Instrumental Concert — 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4. Jane Knight Auditorium, 27210 College Road, Centralia. The concert features the Kaskaskia College Concert and Jazz Bands under the direction of Professor Cliff Jourdan. The concert is free and open to the public.

▪ Belleville Philharmonic String Quartet ‘Strings Under the Stars’ — 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5. Mid-Century Modern Architecture Museum, 8501 W. Main St., Belleville. Bring blanket, chairs, snacks. Bottled water available for purchase. Museum opens at 6 p.m. for tours. Presented in cooperation with the Belleville Historical Society. bellevillephilharmonic.org

▪ Wayne E. Lanter Lecture Series: Fostering Intrapreneurship with Mike Marchal — 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5. Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, 400 N. Alton St., Lebanon. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Mike Marchal, President, Holland Construction, leads an interactive session where attendees will navigate through a series of critical thinking prompts. Along the way, Mike will provide guidance using his experience as a successful intrapreneur. Free and open to the public. General admission. thehett.com

Clubs & Support Groups

▪ Parents of Addicted Loved Ones — 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Online via Zoom. The PAL group provides education, support and hope to family members and loved ones of someone who has an addiction of substance use disorder. Free and open to all. For info or to join the Zoom meeting, contact Craig at 618-567-6095. palgroup.org

▪ 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

▪ Gateway East Artist Guild — 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5. PSOP, 201 N. Church St., Belleville. Meetings are open to all art enthusiasts with any level of skill from beginner to professional. The public is invited. This month’s program is presented by Ann Kullberg, a colored pencil artist. GEAG meets the first Wednesday of every month. GEAG.net

▪ St. Clair County Genealogical Society — 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6. Online via Zoom. “Files, Folders, Pictures! Get Organized!” SCCGS President Samantha Bailey shares tips for those drowning in a sea of papers, or don’t know what to do with all those digital files. Learn how to organize your genealogy research into something more manageable. The meeting is open to the public, but space is limited. Reservation information is at stclair-ilgs.org/events or facebook.com/STCCGSIL.

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

▪ 72nd annual Wurst Markt — 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 1 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2. St. John UCC, 21 N. Walnut, Trenton. Saturday’s Outside Country Store includes homemade applesauce, pork sausage and handmade quilt and basket raffle ticket sales. Sunday’s Wurst Markt will have drive-thru only with a menu of pork sausage, roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, sauerkraut, green beans and pie. Cost: $13.

▪ Albers Legion Breakfast — 8-11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 2. American Legion Post 1026, 600 N. Bertha St., Albers. Cost: $10 adults, $5 kids 5-12, under 5 free. Dine-in or carryout. 618-248-5505.

▪ Friedens UCC 30th annual Fall Sausage Dinner — 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2. Friedens UCC-Troy, 207 E. Center St., Troy. Menu: Grilled pork sausage, sauerkraut, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, dessert. Dinners $12 per plate. Drive-thru only. 618-667-6535 or friedens@friedensucc-troy.org.

Reservations Required

▪ Illinois Center for Autism’s Tee Off for Autism Golf Tournament — 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5. Far Oaks Golf Club, 419 Old Collinsville Road, Caseyville. This four-person, 18-hole scramble includes a continental breakfast, drinks on the course, on-course games and lunch. Cost: $125 per golfer/$500 per foursome. To register: https://bit.ly/3xN9hCr.

▪ Virtual Evening Flow Yoga — 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5. 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, Oct. 6. 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

▪ Virtual Saturday Morning Yoga — 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. 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.

▪ Granite City Senior Social Club Fall Dance — 2-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16. Granite City Township Hall, 2060 Delmar Ave., Granite City. Featuring Mo Pleasure. Advance ticket sales Sept. 1-Oct. 9. Cost: $8 per person/$15 per couple in advance; $10 per person at the door. Refreshments included. For tickets and info: Diana 618-444-6771 or Marty 618-797-6749, Granite City Township Office 618-877-4373.

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

▪ River-to-River Trail Society Guided Hike: Heron Pond Nature Preserve — 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Heron Pond Nature Preserve, Vienna in Johnson County. This will be a wildlife hike and is free and open to the public. It will be a loop hike of moderate difficulty, approximately 7 miles in length, and 5 hours of hiking time. The hike leader will be Shawn Gossman who can be reached at 618-694-7034 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10 a.m. at the Todd Fink Heron Pond Trailhead parking area. This hike is intended for people in good health who have done some walking. Hiking sticks and boots or sturdy shoes are recommended. Bring your own bug spray and plan to carry it on the hike with you. Hikers should bring their own water and snack. No dogs please. Check the post on rivertorivertrail.net for more information including a Google Maps link to the trailhead.

▪ The David Strawn Art Gallery: Kent Epler and Janet Sgro Opening Reception — 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. The David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave., Jacksonville. “Gallery Talk” by the artists will be held at 6:30 p.m. The opening reception and “Gallery Talk” are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Sunday, Oct. 2, through Sunday, Oct. 30 from 1-3 p.m. Sundays and 4-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. strawnartgallery.org

This story was originally published September 28, 2022 at 8:00 AM.