Highland Around Town — Nov. 3 edition
Noon Wednesday, Nov. 3, is the deadline to appear in next week’s “Around Town” listing. We must receive your event in writing with a contact phone number for questions. Due to the number of submissions, events may run only one time in print, will be edited and appear in the week before the event date.
Email: lifestyle@bnd.com. Mail to: Highland News Leader Around Town, Belleville News-Democrat, P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.
Thursday, Nov. 4
▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois (NAMI SWI) — 7-8:30 p.m. Online via Zoom. Virtual support meetings for family members and other caregivers of individuals with mental illness. Meetings are peer-led and rely on the knowledge and experiences of the group to help one another. Registration is required in order to receive the link to these meetings. For more information or to register, contact Pat Rudloff at silverlining6@charter.net.
Friday, Nov. 5
▪ Book Sale — 9 a.m. to noon. Tri Township Library, 209 S. Main St., Troy. Book donations are 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.
▪ Highland Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. VFW Post 5694, 1900 VFW Road, Highland. Fish, chicken, shrimp, sides. Carryout and limited indoor dining. Masks required for customers going through the serving line. No call-in orders. facebook.com/vfwpost5694
▪ Aviston Legion Fish Fry — 4:30-7 p.m. 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 or avistonlegion.com.
▪ St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Mozart, Brahms and Nikolaj — 7:30 p.m. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, frequent guest conductor and soloist, plays alongside SLSO musicians for a night of enchanting chamber music. W.A. Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet glides through Powell Hall, beaming all the while. Johannes Brahms‘ String Sextet is an emotional tour—loving, lamenting, excited, and serene. For tickets and information, visit slso.org.
Friday, Nov. 5, through Saturday, Nov. 6
▪ St. Andrew’s Fall Book Fair — 3-8 p.m. (by reservation only) Friday, Nov. 5, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 6. St. Andrew’s Eposcopal Church, 406 Hillsboro Ave., Edwardsville. Featuring more than 20,000 used books, well organized and priced to sell. Categories include fiction (hardcover and paperback), children’s books, history, literature, pets, sports, regional history, cookbooks, gardening, art, biography, music, humor, large print, religion, reference, science fiction and much more. For Friday reservations: 618-656-1294 or standrews-edwardsville.com.
Saturday, Nov. 6
▪ 39th annual Perry Biggs Memorial Fiddle Contest & Bluegrass Show — 5 p.m. Civic Center, 210 W. Bond, Patoka. Featuring George Portz & Friends of Bluegrass, country vocalist Caitlyn Richards, and Midwest Region Premier Fiddle Contest. Cost: $7 adults, $3.50 children. Sandwiches, suppers and refreshments. 618-632-1384.
▪ The Trophy Mules — 7-10 p.m. The Fainting Goat, 408 W. Johnston St., Pocahontas. Corey and Josh from The Trophy Mules perform acoustic. facebook.com/events/1804654883052014
Saturday, Nov. 6 & Sunday, Nov. 7
▪ Drive-thru Whole Hog Pork Sausage Dinner — 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7. Marine United Church of Christ, 111 N. Center St., Marine. A fresh meat sale will take place 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, and during the event Sunday. Sausage links, ribs and backbones will be available in five-pound packages. Also available will be liver sausage and head cheese. Sunday dinner menu: whole hog pork sausage, mashed potatoes and gravy, sauerkraut, green beans, apple pie. There will also be raffles for a quilt, side of beef, whole hog and four dinners for 2022. 618-887-4465 or marineucc.org.
▪ St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Stéphane Conducts Shostakovich — 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Stéphane Denève believes in the healing power of music. James Lee III processes the grief of his father’s death in “Emotive Transformations.” Dmitri Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony responds to stinging criticism with defiance and renewal. Jean Sibelius’s Violin Concerto, with soloist Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, is an intimate conversation between close musical friends. For tickets and information, visit slso.org.
Sunday, Nov. 7
▪ City of the Sun 5K Trail Run — 9 a.m. Cahokia Mounds, 30 Ramey St., Collinsville. Join this rain-or-shine event to help raise funds to preserve Cahokia Mounds. Please be aware that this is a trail run and that the ground may be wet and uneven. Entry fee: $30. For more information: cahokiamounds.org.
Monday, Nov. 8
▪ Red Cross Blood Drive — 2-7 p.m. American Legion Hall, 601 S. Clinton St., Aviston. Appointments are recommended but not required. To make an appointment for the upcoming blood drive visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
▪ Marine Historical Society — 7 p.m. Marine Township Senior Citizens Center, 101 W. Silver St., Marine. The meeting is open to the public. All are welcome.
Tuesday, Nov. 9
▪ Parents of Addicted Loved Ones — 7-8:30 p.m. 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. If you would like to join the teleconference, please call/text 618-567-6095 or email craigloddeke@yahoo.com. palgroup.org
Other area happenings
▪ Highland Arts Council Youth Arts Expo — 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13. Highland Masonic Lodge 583, 721 9th St., Highland. Visual artists, musicians, vocalists, actors and writers in grades 6-12 are encouraged to apply to be a part of this exciting event. The exposition will give young artists an opportunity to showcase their emerging talents with the public. All applicants will be featured, and it is free to participate and attend. Anyone interested should contact Shannon at dramamamamall3@gmail.com.
▪ Polar Express Train Ride — Wednesday, Nov. 17, through Thursday, Dec. 30. St. Louis Union Station, 201 S. 18th St., St. Louis. Tickets are now on sale for the Polar Express Train Ride holiday attraction at St. Louis’ Union Station. Tickets start at $35. Prices will vary by day and time. stlthepolarexpressride.com