Holiday festivities are already in full swing for this week’s calendar in southwest IL
Noon Friday, Nov. 18, 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.
Events
▪ HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland Auxiliary Gift Shop Christmas Open House — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, and Friday, Nov. 18. HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland, 12866 Troxler Ave., Highland. During the open house, the Gift Shop is offering 20% off storewide (some exceptions may apply). The Gift Shop, adjacent to the hospital lobby, offers a variety of Christmas and home décor, Melissa and Doug toys, jewelry, apparel and purses for purchase. Masks are required per CDC guidelines for hospitals. Holiday hours start Tuesday, Nov. 22: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday. stjosephshighland.org
▪ Lewis and Clark Community College’s N.O. Nelson Campus Open House — 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17. The N.O. Nelson Campus, 600 Troy Road, Edwardsville. Academic and financial aid advisors will be on hand to answer questions and help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This family-friendly event will include free food, giveaways, games, music and an appearance from Blazer the Newfie, L&C’s mascot. lc.edu/nelson
▪ Frauenabend in Historic Maeystown — 4:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. Historic Maeystown. Complimentary carriage rides will be available sponsored by Coast to Coast and will pick up downtown. Luminaries will light the way to the areas where numerous vendors will display their wares. Village businesses will be open for the evening including Around the Corner Coffee, Katzenjammers Massage Spa, Maeystown General Store, Georgia Mae’s Antiques, Corner George Inn Sweet Shoppe and Hank & Lilly’s Creekside. All businesses will be offering various specials, drawings and samples. For more information please visit Maeystown on Facebook or call 618-580-5875.
▪ 53rd annual Way of Lights Christmas Display — 5-9 p.m. nightly Friday, Nov. 18, through Saturday, Dec. 31. National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, 442 S. DeMazenod Drive, Belleville. Wintertime sparkles at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows as the Annual Way of Lights Christmas display illuminates the grounds. Since 1970, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate have invited one and all to make the Way of Lights a part of their family tradition. This breathtaking display focuses on the birth of Christ, the one true light of the world. Free admission to the outdoor light display. Paid features include camel, donkey and pony rides, petting zoo, kettle corn, food booth, carriage rides, community music performances, LEGO display and more. 618-397-6770 or snows.org.
▪ Lebanon’s Winter Wonderland — Friday, Nov. 18, through Saturday, Dec. 31. 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Horner Park, 11113 Widicus Road, Lebanon. Enjoy a mixture of colorful lights with beautiful cut-outs depicting scenes and whimsical adventures. lebanonswinterwonderland.org
▪ 28th annual Community Tree Lighting — 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. Lincoln Douglas Square, 100-198 Market St., Alton. Festivities kick off with the arrival of Santa at 6 p.m. Includes caroling, cookies and hot cocoa will continue until 6:45 when Mayor David Goins flips the lights on the beautiful tree, which is provided by the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club. Families are encouraged to bring their cameras to take free photos with Santa and costumed holiday characters. facebook.com/events/1239607943604813
▪ Beer Tasting at June’s — 6-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. June’s Breakfast + Patio, 430 S. Main St., Shiloh. Enjoy 3-4-ounce pours of five local beers including Millpond’s Worth the Wear and other barrel aged beers. Tasting event from 6-7 p.m.; open for on-site consumption until 9 p.m. Light snacks provided. Hosted by June’s Owner Jon Welzbacher and Millpond Owner Bryan Schubert. Must be 21+ to attend. Tickets are $15 (plus tax) and can be purchased online at junesinshiloh.com.
▪ Dandy Dancers Square Dance — 7-9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. Caseyville Township Senior Center, 10001 Bunkum Road, Fairview Heights. An evening of fun and good exercise. Want to learn? Ask about lessons. For more information contact Mike 618-954-3487 or Kate 618-566-8752.
▪ 10th annual Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden — Saturday, Nov. 19, through Saturday, Jan. 7. Hours vary by date. Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis. Immerse yourself in a wonderland of more than 1.5 million lights, including spectacular new shows and favorite holiday tradition. New this year: A spectacular new show fills the pools in front of the Climatron with more than 100,000 lights. Advanced tickets are strongly encouraged to guarantee the date/time of your choosing. Tickets range from $3 to $22. Family Nights, which include $3 children’s tickets, are Wednesday nights through Dec. 14. Garden Glow is closed Dec. 24 and 25. For more information, visit mobot.org/glow.
▪ Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church annual Thanksgiving 2 Go — 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, 616 Garfield Hubbard Blvd., East St. Louis. Turkeys and meal boxes will be provided to members of the East St. Louis, St. Clair County and surrounding St. Louis metropolitan area. Each box will include a turkey and all the trimmings a family needs to prepare a Thanksgiving meal. While supplies last.
▪ Highland Arts Council Youth Arts Expo — 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. Highland Masonic Lodge, 721 Ninth St., Highland. Free and open to the public. highlandartscouncil.org
▪ Book Sale — 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 19. Tri Township Library, 209 S. Main St., Troy. Book donations accepted during the book sale and on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. 618-667-2133.
▪ Metals & Electronics Recycle Drive — 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 19. St. Clair Township Building, 107 Service St., Swansea. Accepting office equipment, vehicles, electronics, batteries, appliances, machinery. Fees for TV/Monitor, CRT. No paper, glass, plastic, wood, cardboard or tires. 618-344-7232 or powerrecycling.com.
▪ History Harvest — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. Madison County Historical Society Archival Library, 801 N. Main St., Edwardsville. The focus of this History Harvest is to collect information for a future museum exhibit about immigration and migration to Madison County. The Madison County Historical Society wants to learn personal stories and make copies of the documentation that tells that story. Photographs of immigrant ancestors, naturalization papers or an item brought from the “old country” would all be appropriate items to bring. Those items will be scanned or photographed for the MCHS digital collection. Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are recommended. Call 618-656-7569 to make an appointment.
▪ Metro East Model Railroad Club Holiday Open Houses — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, and Dec. 3, 17 and 31. 180 Summit St., Glen Carbon. Visitors are welcome to view trains running on the Club’s 18-by-27-foot HO scale model railroad. Admission is free. For more information, please call Bob at 618-476-9228, or Bill at 618-531-1589, or check the web site at trainweb.org/memrc.
▪ Lebanon Victorian Holiday — 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. Downtown Lebanon. The day includes shopping, street music, a reindeer lot, carriage rides, parade with Santa, Mermaid House tours and more. Food trucks, vendors and desserts available 5-8 p.m. facebook.com/LebanonVictorianHoliday
▪ A Free Turkey for Toys — 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. New Shining Light HDND Church, 740 Broadway, Venice. Will be giving away a free turkey (while supplies last) in exchange for Christmas toys for the annual No Child Left Behind event on Saturday, Dec. 17. 618-558-6143, 618-530-2347 or 618-541-2534.
▪ Turkey Raffle and Free Dance — 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20. American Legion Post 683, 7236 Illinois 15, St. Libory. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Music by Rendition. Attendance prizes at 3, 4 and 5 p.m.
▪ 12th annual Belleville 5K and Turkey Chase — 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 24. Downtown Belleville at the Square. Early packet pick-up 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at Toolen’s Running Start, 3260 Greenmount Crossing Drive, Shiloh. Proceeds support Belleville High School Hockey. For info or to register: https://bit.ly/3UVCAvD.
▪ 26th annual Free Thanksgiving Dinner and Caps, Gloves & Socks Giveaway —10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 24. New Shining Light Community Outreach Ministry, 740 Broadway, Venice. All are welcome. No ID to show, no paperwork. 618-530-2347, 618-558-6143 or 618-541-2534.
▪ 9th annual Community Thanksgiving Meal — 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 24. Faith Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 520 E. Highway 50, O’Fallon. Arrive between serving hours for dine-in service. Free and open to all residents of Shiloh, O’Fallon, Scott AFB and surrounding areas. Sponsored by Citizens for O’Fallon Community Thanksgiving Meal. 618-235-1588 or ofallonthanksgiving@gmail.com.
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.
▪ Euchre — 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. 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.
▪ St. Paul UCC Trivia Night — 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. St. Paul UCC, 115 W. B St., Belleville. Doors open at 6 p.m. Basket raffle, free mulligans, cash prizes. BYO snacks and drinks. Cost: $25 per person; tables of eight. Questions and reservations: 618-233-3303 or swilhelm@stpaulucc.org.
▪ 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
▪ Middle School Honor Band Concert — 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17. Jane Knight Auditorium, Kaskaskia College, 27210 College Road, Centralia. Featured ensembles will be the Middle School Honor Band and the Kaskaskia College Jazz Band under the direction of Professor Cliff Jourdan. KC Jazz Band will perform Curtis Fuller’s “Alamode,” George Gershwin’s “Love is Here to Stay,” Morgan Lewis’ “How High the Moon,” and “Swing Street” by Sammy Nestico. The concert will conclude with the Middle School Honor Choir performing Patrick Roszell’s “Fanfare 1127,” David Gorham’s “Aliens Among Us,” Victor Lopez’s “Espanola,” and Randall Standridge’s “Aggressivo.” Free and open to the public.
▪ Monroe Actors Stage Company presents ‘Night Must Fall’ — 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, and Saturday, Nov. 19, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20. Capitol Theatre, 202 S. Main St., Waterloo. When the imperious, embittered Mrs. Bramson learns that her young maid Dora is pregnant, she summons the child’s presumed father to her bungalow. The young man, Dan, is charming but mysterious. Could he be responsible for the recent murder and beheading of a local woman, and could Mrs. Bramson be his next victim? Admission: $14 general, $12 students/seniors. masctheatre.org
▪ Philharmonic Society of Belleville: Nutcracker Ballet with the Belleville School of Ballet — 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20. Love Church (former Scottish Rite), 1549 Frank Scott Parkway West, Belleville. General admission: $25. For tickets and info: 618-277-1373 or bellevillephilharmonic.org.
▪ The Tamburitzans — 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. Edwardsville High School Performance Theater, 6161 Center Grove Road, Edwardsville. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Talented young artists, from Duquesne University, clad in elaborate costumes, will celebrate and share international cultural heritages through the universal languages of music and dance. Tickets are $20 for adults and must be purchased in advance. For tickets, call Norma Bellcoff at 618-978-1522. For credit card purchases visit thankyou.swic.edu or call 618-235-2700, ext. 5518.
▪ The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents ‘A Christmas Carol’ — Saturday, Nov. 19, through Friday, Dec. 30. Time varies by date. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, 130 Edgar Road, St. Louis. For tickets and info: repstl.org.
Clubs & Support Groups
▪ Highland Garden Club — 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17. Korte Rec Center, rooms 2&3 on the second floor, 1 Nagel Drive, Highland. April Robin of Skitopel will give a presentation about the herb-based, all natural mosquito/bug repellent she developed. Their products are 100% all natural and have been scientifically proven for up to two hours. The homemade product comes in spray form or candles. Visitors are always welcome.
▪ 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. Participants can start at any time. Cost: $20 for the workbook. 318-344-3151 or bklee54@yahoo.com for info or to register.
▪ The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern IL (NAMI SWI) — 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17. St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, 1200 Moreland Drive, Belleville. For family members or other caregivers of someone who has a mental illness. Meetings held the third Thursday of each month. For information, contact Diane at diane.bski@live.com or call NAMI at 618-798-9788.
▪ Parkinson’s Disease Discovery Group — 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22. Sullivan Conference Room, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland, 12866 Troxler Ave., Highland. Meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of every month. This group provides the opportunity to learn and share helpful information, support each other in dealing with Parkinson’s disease-related issues, and to connect with others who can relate to your experience. Registration is not necessary to attend. Masking (non-cloth) is still required in health care facilities. For more information or questions, please call 618-651-2720. stjosephshighland.org
Food
▪ O’Fallon Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Fridays. 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
▪ 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
▪ Aviston Legion Fish Fry — 4:30-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. 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
▪ Virtual Saturday Morning Yoga — 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. 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 Christmas Party — 12:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. Granite City Township Hall, 2060 Delmar Ave., Granite City. Featuring Memories of Elvis with Steve Davis, Vince K Band, attendance prizes, raffles and 50/50 drawing. Tickets available through Sunday, Dec. 4 and cost $13 members, $15 non-members. No tickets sold at the door. Refreshments included. For info: Diana 618-444-6771 or Marty 618-797-6749, Granite City Township Office 618-877-4373.