Mark your calendars: Belleville City Council approves long list of 2026 events
The new year always brings a flurry of applications for permits, services, street closures and banner displays related to festivals, parades, 5K runs and other events in the city of Belleville.
This list covers 2026 events that received approvals from Belleville City Council at meetings in January or in late 2025. More are expected to be added to the city’s schedule in the coming months.
Saturday, Feb. 7 – Bierstacheln Winter Festival. Shoehorn Brewing will host the festival on Paderborn Square. A portion of North Church Street will be closed for food trucks. The city will provide picnic tables, cones, barricades, no-parking signs and trash toters. Fire pits will be allowed following Belleville Fire Department guidelines.
Saturday, Feb. 14 – Mardi Gras celebration. Charlie’s Off Main will host the celebration outside its restaurant and bar. A portion of Mascoutah Avenue will be closed. The city will provide barricades, no-parking signs, picnic tables and trash toters.
Sunday, Feb. 15 – St. Teresa Parish Centennial opening celebration. St. Teresa Catholic Church will host the celebration at the church. Banners will be displayed downtown with the slogan “100 Years of Great Love.”
Friday through Sunday, Feb. 27-March 1 – Home Builders and Remodelers Expo. Banners will be displayed downtown in advance of the expo, which will be held at Belle-Clair Fairgrounds Park.
Saturday, March 14 – St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The Ancient Order of Hibernians will host the parade in downtown Belleville. A portion of North Third Street will be closed, along with rolling closures on the route. The city will provide trash toters, barricades, no-parking signs, picnic tables, cones, personnel and clean-up services.
Saturday, March 14 – Lucky Leprechaun 5K. Belleville Main Street will host the run. There will be rolling street closures along the route. The city will provide police personnel, barricades and no-parking signs.
Tuesday, March 24 – Belleville Fire Department blood drive. It will be held that afternoon at Engine House No. 4.
Saturday, April 11 – Main Street Kid’s Day. Belleville Main Street will host the event at Paderborn Square and the southeast and northeast quadrants of Belleville Public Square. A portion of East Main Street also will be closed. The city will provide picnic tables, trash toters, no-parking signs and police personnel.
Friday, April 24 – Main Street Senior Days. Belleville Main Street will host the event downtown.
Saturday, April 25 – Belleville HomebrewFest. Shoehorn Brewing will host the festival on Paderborn Square. A portion of North Church Street will be closed for food trucks. The city will provide picnic tables, cones, barricades, no-parking signs and trash toters.
Saturday, April 25 – Keep Belleville Beautiful City-Wide Litter Pick-Up. The city will provide personnel, trash bags, gloves and safety vests.
Monday, May 25 – Memorial Day Parade. A portion of North Third Street will be closed, along with rolling closures on the route. The city will provide barricades, no-parking signs, portable toilets, clean-up services and police and public works personnel.
Monday, May 25 – Honoring the Legacy Memorial Day 5K. Trail Life Troop IL-0078 will sponsor the run. One lane of West Main Street will be closed, along with rolling closures on the route.
Friday and Saturday, June 26-27 – Freedom Fest 2026. The Freedom Fest organization will host concerts at The Campus football stadium (former Belleville West). Alcohol will be served. The city will provide barricades, cones, no-parking signs, picnic tables, trash toters and police assistance.
Saturday, June 27 – Craft Beer Walk. Belleville Main Street will host the event in downtown Belleville.
Saturday, Aug. 29 – St. Teresa Parish Picnic. St. Teresa Catholic Church will host the picnic on church grounds. The city will provide picnic tables and trash toters.
Saturday, Sept. 12 – Queen of Peace Parish Festival. Queen of Peace Catholic Church will host the festival on church grounds. The city will provide barricades, trash toters, picnic tables and police personnel.
Saturday, Sept. 26 – Belleville Main Street Marathon and Half Marathon. Belleville Running Club & Toolen’s Running Start will host the run. Portions of West Main Street and West 95th Street will be closed. The city will provide trash toters, portable toilets, picnic tables, electric, no-parking signs, cones, personnel and a fire truck with flags. Banners will be displayed across North Illinois Street and on streetlight poles.
Saturday, Sept. 26 – St. Augustine Parish Picnic. St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church will host the picnic on church grounds. The city will provide picnic tables and trash toters.
Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9-10 – Belleville Chili Cook-Off. Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce will host the festival. Street closures will include Belleville Public Square, a block on each side of it and an additional portion of East Main Street. The city will provide picnic tables, barricades, trash toters, personnel, no-parking signs and electric services. Banners will be displayed across East and West Main.
Saturday, Oct. 10 – Chili Chase 5K and Kids Pepper Dash. Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce will host the runs. Street closures will include portions of North and South Church streets and East Main. The city will provide barricades, no-parking signs and police personnel.
Friday, Oct. 16 – Main Street Senior Days. Belleville Main Street will host the event in downtown Belleville.
Saturday, Nov. 14 – Art & Wine Walk. Belleville Main Street will host the event in downtown Belleville.
Thursday, Nov. 26 – Thanksgiving 5K and Turkey Chase. Belleville Township Ice Hockey Club will sponsor the run. A portion of West Main Street and Belleville Public Square will be closed, along with rolling closures on the route. The city will provide barricades, no-parking signs, trash toters, cones, electric and police personnel.
Friday, Nov. 27, to Wednesday, Dec. 23 – Belleville Christkindlmarkt. Belleville Cultural Enrichment Organization will host the market on the southeast and northeast quadrants of Belleville Public Square. It will be open Thursdays through Sundays. The city will provide chalets, trash toters, picnic tables, portable toilets, water barriers, electric, vendor parking at Belleville City Hall and no-parking signs for trolley boarding area. Banners will be displayed downtown.
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 11-12 – Downtown Cookie Stroll. Belleville Main Street will host the event in downtown Belleville. The city will allow access to Belleville City Hall as a cookie stop.
Thursday, Dec. 17 – Downtown Cookie Stroll. Belleville Main Street will host the event in downtown Belleville. The city will allow access to Belleville City Hall as a cookie stop.
