Highland Around Town - July 5 edition

Noon Friday, July 7, 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. Submissions will be edited and appear in the week before the event date.

Email: lifestyle@bnd.com. Mail to: Highland Around Town, Belleville News-Democrat, P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.

Wednesday, July 5

▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness: NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group — 6:30-8 p.m. Online via Zoom. Free peer-to-peer support group for adults with a mental health condition working towards recovery. Every Wednesday. Open the Zoom app and enter 3914844542. For information: kelly.nami.swi@gmail.com or 618-798-9788.

Thursday, July 6

▪ Diabetes Support Group — 4 p.m. 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.

▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness: Family Support Group — 7-8:30 p.m. Online via Zoom. The Family Support Meetings are for family members, significant others, and/or friends of persons with a mental health condition. First Thursday of every month. Facilitators will vary. For information: kelly.nami.swi@gmail.com or 618-798-9788.

Friday, July 7

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

▪ Peanut Butter & Jam Festival — 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Downtown Square, Highland. Spend time with family and friends on Fridays during the summer. There will be free PB&J sandwiches, popcorn, family entertainment, food vendors. This week featuring music by Josef Polach & the St. Louis Express. For more info, visit the Highland Parks & Recreation Facebook page.

▪ Aviston Legion Fish Fry — 4:30-7 p.m. 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 or avistonlegion.com.

Saturday, July 8

▪ The World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival — 11 a.m. Herald Square, 119 E. Clay St., Collinsville. The family fun starts at 11 a.m. and continues all day. Festivities include the Little Princess Tomato and Sir Catsup contest, Brooks Ketchup tasting, hot dogs smothered-in-ketchup eating contest, games, mascot madness dance-off, al-ages hula hoops competition, water balloon toss, live music into the evening. catsupbottlefestival.com

▪ Great Illinois River Raft Race — 3 p.m. Hardin. Two raft races and a kayak race will highlight a full day of river-focused activities starting at 3 p.m. and ending at midnight. The raft races – featuring two separate classes of homemade rafts – begin at 4 p.m. Entry fees are $20 per person before July 8 and $30 the day of the race. Registration is on-going through July 8. Participants can register online at illinoisriverraftrace.com. Day includes a bags competition, a kayak raffle, a basket drop, live music, bounce houses, food, beer garden, vendors and games. Radio station 92.3 will also do a live remote from the Hardin riverfront from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will also be a fireworks show taking place at dark. The event is free and open to the public.

▪ St. Damian Church Picnic — 3:30 p.m. St. Damian Catholic Church, 1 W. Main St., Damiansville. Chicken and sauerbraten dinner 3:30-7 p.m. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, sauerbraten, homemade noodles, homemade dressing, slaw, corn, dessert. Dine in or carryout. Quilt bingo 6:30 p.m. country store and raffle, bounce house and games, margaritas, beer and soda, homemade ice cream. Mass at 4 p.m.

Monday, July 10

▪ Marine Historical Society — 7 p.m. Marine Citizens Center, 101 W. Silver St., Marine. The meeting and membership are open to the public.

Tuesday, July 11

▪ Highland Farmers’ Market — 4-8 p.m. Highland Square, 914 Main St., Highland. Local farmers, cottage food makers, and crafters will be present to sell a variety of produce, meats, desserts and more. Each Tuesday morning a map will be posted on the Highland Parks and Recreation Facebook page showing what vendors will be present.

▪ 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. Free and open to all. For info or to join the Zoom meeting, contact Craig at 618-567-6095. palgroup.org

Other area happenings

▪ Madison County Historical Society Summer History Camp — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 17-20. Center for Educational Opportunities, 201 Staunton Road, Troy. For kids aged 9-12. The 2023 theme is “From Farm to Factory” and will include a day at a Centennial farm, a day studying the coal mining industry, including a trip to the Illinois Coal Museum in Gillespie, a day looking at commerce on the Mississippi River, and a day touring the former Village of Leclaire that was built around the N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company factories in Edwardsville. Campers are accompanied by professional teachers and educators and transportation is via school bus with experienced bus drivers. The cost of registration is $150 per child and includes transportation, entrance fees, tours, educational materials and snacks. Campers are asked to bring a sack lunch. To register for the camp, visit the Regional Office of Education website at: bit.ly/madcohistorycamp. 618-656-1294.

This story was originally published July 5, 2023 at 7:00 AM.