Eagle festival, fishing show, square dancing and more on this week’s southwest IL calendar

Noon Friday, Jan. 6, 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

▪ Christmas Tree Recycling — Through Sunday, Jan. 29. Plant Land, Old Route 50, east of Breese; Allen Branch Boat Ramp, Carlyle; Little Prairie Nature Trail parking lot in the West Spillway at Carlyle Lake. All decorations, including garland and tinsel, must be removed. No artificial trees or wreaths. The trees are used to provide effective and economical fish habitat at Carlyle Lake. 618-594-2484 or carlylelake@usace.army.mil.

▪ Tri Township Library Book Sale — 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Jan. 6. Tri Township Library, 209 S. Main St., Troy. Book donations accepted during the book sale and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. 618-667-2133.

▪ Square Dance — 7-9:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6. Caseyville Township Senior Center, 10001 Bunkum Road, Fairview Heights. Dandy Dancers invites people to join an evening of fun and exercise. Want to learn? Contact Mike at 618-954-3487 or Kate at 618-566-8752. Next dance: Jan. 27.

▪ Let’s Go Fishing Show — 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8. Gateway Convention Center, One Gateway Drive, Collinsville. Visitors to this show, dedicated solely to anglers, will find a wide variety of fishing tackle, rods and reels, and aluminum and fiberglass fishing boats. They will also find accessories such as trolling motors, depth finders and other fishing related products and services. Representatives from resorts and destinations will be there to help you plan a fishing trip to a nearby lake, Ozark retreat, charter fishing trip, or a Canadian adventure. For admission info and other details: letsgoshows.com.

▪ Kaskaskia College Spring 2023 Enrollment Day — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7. Kaskaskia College, 27210 College Road, Centralia, and all Education Centers. Event for all new and continuing students needing help with admissions, advising, course registration and financial aid. Courses for the spring 2023 semester start Monday, Jan. 9. Students should bring: high school transcripts, college transcripts, ACT/SAT scores, 2021 tax information, drivers license or ID. Anyone wishing to enroll for the Spring 2023 semester does not have to wait until Jan. 7. Services at the main campus and all education centers are available now. kaskaskia.edu

▪ Alton Eagle Ice Festival — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7. Flock Food Truck Park, 210 Ridge St., Alton. Enjoy a variety of activities in celebration of wintering American Bald Eagles returning to southwest Illinois during Eagle Fest. The celebration will take place at FLOCK Food Truck Park, National Great Rivers Museum and the Audubon Center at Riverlands. For details about the day’s events, visit riversandroutes.com.

▪ 1773 Twelfth Afternoon Ball — Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7. Gateway Arch Visitor Center, Gateway Arch, St. Louis. The Twelfth Afternoon Ball recognizes the completion of the Twelve Days of Christmas, which was a major celebration during St. Louis’ French colonial era. This year’s ball will highlight popular music and dances from 1773. The 1773 Twelfth Afternoon Ball will feature live music by talented singer and fiddler Dennis Stroughmatt, food demonstrations by esteemed culinary historian Suzanne Corbett, and dancing by living history interpreters dressed in authentic 1700s clothing. This event is free and open to all ages. Visitors may drop in to observe at anytime during the event. gatewayarch.com

▪ Millstadt Community Red Cross Blood Drive — 3-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11. St. James Catholic Parish & School, Parish Room, 412 W. Washington Ave., Millstadt. To make an appointment: 800-733-2767 or redcrossblood.org with code “Millstadt.”

Games

▪ Euchre — 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6. Smithton Senior Center, 711 S. Main St., Smithton. Doors open at 6 p.m. 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, Jan. 8. Granite City Township Hall, 2060 Delmar Ave., Granite City. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Cost: $1 admission and $1 for four cards. 618-444-6771.

▪ Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge Sunday Night Bingo — 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge, 2425 N. Illinois St., Swansea. Games start at 6:30 p.m. Early Bird at 6:15 p.m. Cards sold at 5 p.m. Open to the public. Bring a canned good for one free card.

▪ 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.

▪ Troy Senior Center Bingo — 12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9. Tri-Township Park, Wiesemeyer Building, 410 Wickliffe St., Troy. Includes light snack, cash prizes. No cost to play, no RSVP required. 618-667-2022.

▪ Friends of the Belleville Public Library Trivia Night — 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Althoff High School Heritage Hall, 5401 W. Main St., Belleville. Doors open at 6 p.m. Great trivia questions — read by MC Roger Schlueter — cash prizes, mulligans and more. BYO snacks. Soda available for purchase; no alcohol will be sold. Cost: $12 per person with 6-8 players per table. For reservations: friendsofthebellevillelibrary@gmail.com (confirmation by return email).

Theater/Concerts

▪ The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Music Director Stéphane Denève, and St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus Director Kevin McBeth invite the St. Louis community to join the SLSO for a concert honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., on the federal holiday this month. This one-hour concert is free. Ticket reservations are required. The concert will be broadcast live on KWMU 90.7 St. Louis Public Radio. 314-534-1700 or slso.org.

Clubs & Support Groups

▪ Diabetes Support Group — 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5. Frisse Conference Room, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland, 12866 Troxler Ave., Highland. Open to those with diabetes and their family members and/or caregivers. The group meets on the first Thursday of each month. Participants will be required to wear non-cloth, medical-grade masks, as masks are still required in health care facilities per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Registration is required. 618-526-5743 or lisa.ketchem@hshs.org to register or for more information.

▪ St. Clair County Genealogical Society — 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5. Online via Zoom. Program: “Lewis and Clark in the Illinois Country,” presented by Brad Winn, Superintendent, Lewis and Clark State Historic Site and others, as well as adjunct instructor of U.S. History and Humanities at Lewis and Clark Community College. Except for North Dakota, Lewis and Clark spent more time on the National Historic Trail in what would become the State of Illinois. It included recruitment and eventual formation of the Corps of Discovery, gathering of supplies and knowledge during their first Winter encampment at Camp River Dubois. The meeting is open to the public, but space is limited. Reservation information is at stclair-ilgs.org/events or facebook.com/STCCGSIL.

▪ St. Clair Woman’s Club — Noon Tuesday, Jan. 10. Bellecourt Place, 120 N. Jackson St., Belleville. Programs and Services for Older Persons (PSOP) of Belleville will showcase their programs for seniors.

▪ Grief Share Seminar/Group — 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesdays starting Jan. 10 through April 4. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, lower level, 1300 Beltline Road, Collinsville. 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 experienced the death of a loved one. There will be 13 sessions that can be started any session. Fee: $20 for the workbook. For info or to register: 618-344-3151 or bklee54@yahoo.com.

▪ 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

▪ National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Alvin G. Bohley Chapter 1019 — 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11. Eckert’s Belleville, 951 S. Green Mount Road, Belleville. Speaker (TBD) at noon followed by meeting. All active and retired federal employees are welcome. 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.

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. Fridays. American Legion Post 1239, 601 S. Clinton, Aviston. Cod (baked or fried), catfish, shrimp, hush puppies, 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

▪ Quail Club Fish Fry — 5-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6. Quail Club, 8303 Concordia Church Road, Belleville. Cod cut-ups, walleye, shrimp, burgers, sides and desserts. Carryout available. No phone orders.

Reservations Required

▪ Virtual Evening Flow Yoga — 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11. 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.

▪ Breastfeeding Class — 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12. HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, 1 St. Elizabeth Blvd., O’Fallon. This class provides information on preparation for feeding, feeding techniques and common concerns, Additional topics include information on which type of breast pump will best meet your needs, discussion on returning to work and other everyday issues. This class is open to expectant and new mothers. Support persons are welcome. The class is taught by an RN certified lactation counselor. Recommended time to attend is after 28 weeks. Space is limited. Cost: $10. Deadline to register is one week prior to class date. For additional dates and info or to register: steliz.org.

▪ Virtual Saturday Morning Yoga — 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14. 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.

▪ ‘Cracking the Code: The Book of Revelation’ — 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Jan. 14, 21, 28 and Feb. 4. National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Visitors Center, 442 S. De Mazenod Drive, Belleville. Revelation is perhaps the most misunderstood book in the entire Bible. The “fulfillment” of things “prophesied” in Revelation has been claimed for centuries. The strange imagery found in Revelation makes it all the more mysterious. In this four-part series we will ‘crack the code’ of the Book of Revelation by examining who wrote it, for whom it was written, why it was written — and the meanings of those weird images. Presented by Mark Etline, Ph.D. Fee: $40 for the series or $10 per individual session. Pre-registration is required. 618-394-6281 or snows.org/ministries/spiritual-programs.

▪ Beginning Knitting Group — 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, Jan. 14 and 28. Glen Carbon Centennial Library, 198 S. Main St., Glen Carbon. Experience how easy it can be learning to knit through our structured, interactive, social knitting group. Perfect for true beginners or those looking for an easy refresh project. Different intermediate skills will be introduced on a project by project basis. Set up as a multi-day class, with “homework” in between. Registration required. glencarbonlibrary.org

▪ Art with Greta — 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15. Glen Carbon Centennial Library, 198 S. Main St., Glen Carbon. Each month different mediums will be explored – may include acrylics, watercolors, pastels, mixed media and more. Registration required. glencarbonlibrary.org

▪ 40th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Luncheon — 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18. Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville. In collaboration with campus and community partners, The Inclusive Excellence, Education and Development Hub (The Hub) will host the luncheon in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The luncheon will include a keynote speaker, a musical performance and the presentation of the SIUE Student Scholarship Award, Local Youth Awards, and Humanitarian Award. Event proceeds will support the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Endowment. Registration closes Monday, Jan. 9. To purchase tickets, visit mlk-luncheon.eventbrite.com.

▪ 2023 Gateway Green Conference — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 8. Gateway Convention Center, 1 Gateway Drive, Collinsville. The educational program will feature three tracks: building sustainable landscapes, conservation stewardship, and tree care. Join us for new ideas and research-based information. Registration is now open and costs $80 per person. There is a discounted rate for active Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists. To register or for more info: https://bit.ly/3YRkD4h.

Worth the Drive

▪ Green Door Art Gallery: ‘Atmospheric, Art that sets a Mood’ — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11. Green Door Art Gallery, 21 N. Gore, Webster Groves, Missouri. This new exhibit features oil paintings by Candice Canessa, Robin Leibovich and Kathryn Mitter, and silver and stone jewelry by Joe Bova Conti. The artwork will be available for sale January 11 through March 4. Opening reception: 5-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. 314-202-4071 or greendoorartgallery.com.

This story was originally published January 4, 2023 at 7:00 AM.