Although it would be impossible to list everything happening south of I-70, an effort is made to try to list some highlights. If you have an even or know of onLightse to submit, please email it to: asliceofsouthernillinois@gmail.com
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, SIGHTS, & SOUNDS:
ALTON
Christmas Wonderland https://www.riversandroutes.com/listing/christmas-wonderland/5845/
https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasWonderlandAlton/
BELLEVILLE
The Way of Lights at The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows https://www.facebook.com/323693377655128/posts/3792037167487381/
BENTON
12/19/20 3rd Annual Spirit of Christmas Light Parade https://fb.me/e/1ISyDYV2I
CARBONDALE
12/5/20-12/6/20 Lights Fantastic Float Display https://www.facebook.com/763733763750003/posts/3294996293957058/
CARLYLE
11/27/20-1/10/21 Carlyle City Park Drive-Through Christmas Light Show https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2789433601295460&id=1548256528746513
CARRIER MILLS
12/19/20 Living Hope Church presents a Dtive Thru Nativity https://fb.me/e/1NZS99aQV
CENTRALIA
Fantasy of Lights 2020 at Centralia Foundation Park https://fb.me/e/1lO728cXn
11/28/20 Holi-YAY Festival of Lights- Centralia IL Downtown District https://fb.me/e/1YUELREcE
COLLINSVILLE
Woodcock Family Light Display https://www.christmaslightfinder.com/displays/display-details/?id=2656
Woodford Way Wonderland https://www.facebook.com/WWWHolidayLights/
COULTERVILLE
Coulterville Holiday Light Display https://www.facebook.com/Coulterville-Holiday-Light-Display-184976148000/
DUQUOIN
11/28/20-12/30/20 DuQuoin Holiday Lights Fair https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3493683257367848&id=163396890396518
12/1/20-1/1/21 Lewis Light Show http://lewislightshow.com/
EFFINGHAM
Wonderland in Lights 2020 https://fb.me/e/CPx99gAD
FAIRFIELD
Huber Family Light Display https://www.facebook.com/Huber-Family-Christmas-Light-Display-107116551220134/
Phelps Family Christmas Display https://www.facebook.com/phelpsfamilychristmasdisplay/
HERRIN
Timbercreek Drive
Reis Lane https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10223808728023209&id=1144860062
12/19/20 Angels / Snowmen / Christmas Tree Earring and/or Pendant at
CottingTree Beads
11a-1phttps://buff.ly/2LD3VUU
JOHNSTON CITY
Coulson’s Fantasy of Lights https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10218701530511583&id=1298474960
Southern Illinois Christmas Santa and Anya Claus House https://www.facebook.com/groups/263268040373679/?ref=share
14806 Christmas Tree Road
12/5/20-12/6/20 Treasure Trail (Pickers Outlet Mall-Johnston City, Rosebud Antique Mall-Colp, and Southern Estate Antiques) https://fb.me/e/KWCZmpok
“Discount deals and holiday joy”
MARION
Cherry Valley 7066 Cherry Valley
Yost Family Lights https://www.facebook.com/yostfamilylights/
11/27/20 Farm Fresh Christmas Trees Opening Day Black Friday at The Patch https://fb.me/e/AJ5dEcg3
12/5/20 Frosty the Snowman and Home Alone at Oasis Drive-In Theater, fundraiser to benefit Marion Unit 2 Foundation, $30 per vehicle https://fb.me/e/3ELz5GiLG
12/18/20-12/20/20 Carriage Rides, Downtown Marion
https://buff.ly/3n8NCwT
12/19/20 Drive Thru Visit with Santa
The Pavilion
3p-6p
https://buff.ly/38angEM
12/20/20 Christmas Celebration/ Celebracian de Navidad
Union Street Arts
4p-7p
https://buff.ly/37u1Umu
MARYVILLE
Christmas on the Compound https://www.facebook.com/Christmas-on-the-Compound-101753961312442/
Barbarotto Lane
MT. VERNON
Christmas in the Park at Veteran’s Memorial Park https://facebook.com/events/385127925734572/?ti=as
MURPHYSBORO
12/5/20 Murphysboro Hometown Christmas 4th Annual VIRTUAL Tree Lighting Ceremony https://fb.me/e/3YJxzWmsK
12/5/20 Drive In Movie-The Polar Express https://fb.me/e/YAWZMxPk
OLNEY
11/27/20-12/30/20 Olney Christmas Light Display at Olney City Park https://www.facebook.com/1514176182157098/posts/2777584685816235/
SALEM
11/28/20-1/3/21 Lewis Family Christmas Display https://fb.me/e/1JRLC6ife
12/4/20 The Perfect Man (snowman) Sale at The Rusty Nail https://www.facebook.com/209071005779777/posts/3776583969028445/
12/4/20 Twilight Christmas at Country Creek Treasures https://fb.me/e/y9oi4OZa
TROY
Troy ToyLand Christmas Display https://fb.me/e/CPx99gAD
VIENNA
Elliotts Christmas 2020 https://www.christmaslightfinder.com/displays/display-details/?id=3706
WEST FRANKFORT
11/28/20-1/1/21 Candy Cane Lane https://fb.me/e/7Fx2qufEI
12/17/20 Santa’s Virtual Storyline LIVE https://fb.me/e/1qxNp0MEt
https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasTownWestFrankfort/
12/19/20 Drive-In Movie Night-Christmas Classics https://fb.me/e/38uWHfHyE
Please note that the following annual events have been cancelled or postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19:
-Christmas Tree Lighting and Craft Fair with Santa at Walker’s Bluff
-Christmas in Carterville
-Brunch with Santa at Legends
-Antique Power Days (Salem)
-Centralia Halloween Parade
-Golconda Shrimp Festival
-HerrinFesta Italiana
-Murphysboro Apple Festival (events postponed until 2021 but some food may be available through the website)
-Salem Little Egypt Festival
-The DuQuoin State Fair
-The Cobden Lions Club Peach Festival
-The Missouri Valley Conference (Saluki Football) may try a spring schedule
UPCOMING AND ANNUAL EVENTS:
BELLEVILLE
12/14/20 Annually in December Way of Lights Anniversary-A Family Tradition at National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows https://facebook.com/events/1020107164999845/?ti=as
BENTON
12/19/20 3rd Annual Spirit of Christmas Light Parade https://fb.me/e/1ISyDYV2I
CARBONDALE
1st Saturday each December
Carbondale Lights Fantastic Parade-MODIFIED FOR 2020 DUE TO COVID-19: //lightsfantasticparade.com/#activities 12/5/20-12/6/20 Lights Fantastic Float Display https://www.facebook.com/763733763750003/posts/3294996293957058
4/5/24 2024 Total Solar Eclipse at SIU Carbondale https://facebook.com/events/s/2024-total-solar-eclipse-at-si/734918499874299/?ti=aseclipse.siu.edu
February Annual Taste of Blackness hosted by New Zion Missionary Baptist Church https://facebook.com/events/s/25th-annual-taste-of-blackness/985522888501123/?ti=as
March Annual Celebrate Women Event at Morris Library, SIU-C https://facebook.com/events/s/24th-annual-celebrate-women-ev/988639771521276/?ti=as
Saturdays, April through November: Carbondale Farmer’s Market https://www.farmersmarketcarbondale.com/
CARRIER MILLS
12/19/20 Living Hope Church presents a Dtive Thru Nativity https://fb.me/e/1NZS99aQV
CARTERVILLE
12/4/20 CANCELLED Christmas in Carterville (1st Friday in December) https://www.facebook.com/Christmas-in-Carterville-317982874885302
12/12/20 Cookies with Santa presented by Bloom Boutique & Deliciously Ordinary https://fb.me/e/5lqvhyDZO from the event page: “We are closely monitoring state and local mandates as our event approaches. We have so much interest in this event that we may have to set appointments.
Be the first to receive event updates by joining our VIP text group.
To join text “BBVIP” to 22452
Receive 20% off your next one order and 10% off just by joining.
Please share this post so others who are interested dont miss important details!”
12/20/20 CANCELLED Brunch with Santa at Legends https://fb.me/e/3oXQiGV26
Sundays, May through October, Carterville Farmer’s Market https://www.facebook.com/CannonParkCommunityMarket/
/
CENTRALIA
12/4/20 Downtown Centralia Christmas Stroll https://fb.me/e/3H4MeSXNC
Annually in August: Centralia Balloon Fest https://facebook.com/events/s/centralia-balloon-fest-2020/739798669831734/?ti=as
https://facebook.com/events/s/drive-through-balloon-glows-at/696493427875553/?ti=as
CISNE
Annually in August, The Cisne Reunion https://www.facebook.com/CisneReunion/
COBDEN
Annual Cobden Event, Lions Peach Festival https://facebook.com/events/s/the-cobden-lions-club-peach-fe/466605840691183/?ti=as
EFFINGHAM
December Wonderland in Lights https://facebook.com/events/576438539770870/?ti=as
GOREVILLE
May-October Goreville Farmer’s Market https://www.facebook.com/events/294036421288296/?ti=as
GRAFTON
Riverside Flea Market http://www.graftonloadingdock.com/flea-market
HARRISBURG
HERRIN
11/27/20 Opening Night of Herrin’s Hometown Christmas https://fb.me/e/31PgWbddX
Annually, Memorial Day Weekend, HerrinFesta Italiana 2020 CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19
JOHNSTON CITY
12/5/20-12/6/20 Treasure Trail (Pickers Outlet Mall-Johnston City, Rosebud Antique Mall-Colp, and Southern Estate Antiques) https://fb.me/e/KWCZmpok
“Discount deals and holiday joy”
MAKANDA
December, Annual Christmas with the Alpacas at Rolling Oak Alpaca Ranch https://facebook.com/events/523824575043139/?ti=as
1st Annual Makanda Mushroom Festival https://www.facebook.com/MakandaMushroomFestival/
MARION
11/27/20 Farm Fresh Christmas Trees Opening Day Black Friday at The Patch https://fb.me/e/AJ5dEcg3
MCLEANSBORO
MT. VERNON
Christmas in the Park at Veteran’s Memorial Park https://facebook.com/events/385127925734572/?ti=as
September, Annual Cedarhurst Art & Craft Fair https://facebook.com/events/s/cedarhurst-art-craft-fair/731107887703042/?ti=as
MURPHYSBORO
12/5/20 Murphysboro Hometown Christmas 4th Annual VIRTUAL Tree Lighting Ceremony https://fb.me/e/3YJxzWmsK
12/5/20 Drive In Movie-The Polar Express https://fb.me/e/YAWZMxPk
Annual September Event, Murphysboro Apple Festival https://murphysboroapplefestival.org/shop/
–event postponed until 2021, but food may be available on the website.
SALEM
Little Egypt Festival (1st Saturday in October) https://www.facebook.com/Little-Egypt-Festival-259946837352356/ 2020 CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19
TAMMS
December, Annual Light Up Tamms Parade https://facebook.com/events/2471088646284054/?ti=as
ULLIN
White Crane Canoe Rental & Guide Service Monthly Full Moon Tour https://www.whitecranecanoes.com/book-online
VANDALIA
December, Christmas Open House and Candlelight Tours at the Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site https://facebook.com/events/927257600978069/?ti=as
WALTONVILLE
WEST FRANKFORT
December, Candy Cane Lane https://www.facebook.com/candycanelanewestfrankfort/
2020 Fantasy of Lights Parade-CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19