Tag: alto pass

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Fall Events in Southern Illinois 2024

Note:  There may be additions amd updates to this post throughout the season.

If you follow the A Slice of Southern Illinois page on Facebook, you’ve probably noticed the hashtag #FallinSouthernIllinois on some posts. This is to hopefully make it easier to locate posts about events in our region.

The unofficial beginning of fall in Southern illinois is signified by the last day of the DuQuoin State Fair and multiple Labor Day parades.

It might not be sweater weather just yet, but the rustle of colorful leaves paired with football games and marching band shows is just around the corner.

Music & Motion at Saluki Stadium

The first weekend in September welcomes back regional favorites such as the Carterville Lions Club Fair and the Marion County Antique Power Days in Salem. Cedarhurst Art & Craft Fair on the grounds of Mitchell Museum in Mt. Vernon draws many talented artisans and visitors.

Popular autumn activities are visiting mum and sunflower fields,  picking apples, and visiting farmer’s markets. Among the tastes that represent the season, like apple cider and pumpkin spice just about anything, are drinks and dishes featuring local products. Pumpkin patches and corn mazes entertain people of all ages.

Fall in Southern Illinois is a wonderful time to venture out with those you love and make some memories. Enjoy!

LINKS

14th Annual Big Muddy Monster Brew Fest at Murphysboro https://facebook.com/events/s/14th-annual-big-muddy-monster-/1149067939696274/

Antique Power Days at Salem https://www.facebook.com/share/p/AhqSgGpZE72jVtBx/?mibextid=qi2Omg

Bandy’s Pumpkin Patch at Johnston City https://bandyspumpkinpatch.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0JedJOOvEdBbs9WFBH98v3DvNAZkJb_qYAz_Goxt3C7qxtr6HUn-0_5YQ_aem_NupR9eDBTnffoGH-rZMS6A

BIG Baldridge & Bonfire 2024 at Patoka https://facebook.com/events/s/big-baldridge-bonfire-2024-pat/316101388112242/

Big Muddy Farmer’s Market at Murphysboro https://www.facebook.com/share/pds2UUZoPfjQVURi/?mibextid=qi2Omg

Carbondale Off the Rails 9/7/24 https://facebook.com/events/s/carbondale-off-the-rails-conce/3794764354102859/

Carterville Lions Club Fair https://www.facebook.com/LionsClubFairPageant?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Cedarhurst Art & Craft Fair at Mt. Vernon https://facebook.com/events/s/cedarhurst-art-craft-fair/3911763782429925/

Chalk It Up to Art in O’Fallon https://facebook.com/events/s/4th-annual-chalk-it-up-to-art-/1513410899379304/

Eckert’s Country Store & Farms at Belleville https://www.facebook.com/share/Zu94eSRuRR4x7Fzr/?mibextid=qi2Omg

Effingham Farmer’s Market https://www.facebook.com/effinghamfarmersmarket?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Eleven Years of Good Times: Anniversary Block Party with Diamond Dog at Murphysboro https://facebook.com/events/s/eleven-years-of-good-times-ann/1444928426224384/

Elverado Farmer’s Market, LLC https://www.facebook.com/ElveradoFarmersMarket?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Fairfield’s Annual Fall Fun Fest https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063501134509&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Fall Begins at Pierce Farms! https://www.facebook.com/share/mu2XZBfMtmzBeerH/?mibextid=9VsGKo

Fall Colors at the Cross at Bald Knob Cross, AltoPass https://facebook.com/events/s/fall-colors-at-the-cross/925121726089576/

Fall Farm Events at SIU Center for Sustainable Farming at Carbondale https://www.facebook.com/share/p/cYtGYJ1pMujphFw1/?mibextid=qi2Omg

Fall Fest Block Party in Anna https://www.facebook.com/share/p/yzypUjuqPVdVDuwt/?mibextid=qi2Omg

Family Fun Day for Herrin House of Hope https://facebook.com/events/s/13th-annual-family-fun-day-fun/8018569988262675/

Flamm Orchards https://flammorchards.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2uqqzSnQYVGOWkIWrLAArZGRoyRdQB1dw0f6HCCdkQYB7hsQ4P088H410_aem_ErE2JIgINxR3bzUYr-GNDw

Golconda Shrimp Festival https://facebook.com/events/s/golconda-shrimp-festival-sept-/1154245849152803/

Golconda’s 52nd Annual Fall Festival https://facebook.com/events/s/golcondas-52nd-annual-fall-fes/3380207708947916/

Haunted Trails & Cabins at Kinmundy Log Cabin Village https://www.facebook.com/share/fHPBuyTAcHNE34eZ/?mibextid=qi2Omg

Kinmundy Log Cabin Village’s Annual Fall Festival https://www.facebook.com/share/fHPBuyTAcHNE34eZ/?mibextid=qi2Omg

Marion Farmer’s Market https://www.facebook.com/share/TRZH1x8vjuyBqa19/?mibextid=qi2Omg

Murphysboro Apple Festival https://murphysboroapplefestival.org/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR36-EcfiErg877ogSDokBKmIpXc4xPGEwXtougbgOT53DmVkDTq8WL7TLs_aem_34E8H4qgJC7Vy9GQtGOjeg

Music and Motion at Saluki Stadium https://music.siu.edu/festivals/music-motion.php?fbclid=IwY2xjawFG9O9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYSDOtzJaadIOGASKx7qpzly0P0vlYGg3_PH5R-LZvuBNvedCiFnivteLQ_aem_BwbxXkuxr2YpgfQ5KDm5gQ

New Baden Farmer’s Market https://www.facebook.com/newbadenfarmersmarket?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Pierce Farm https://www.facebook.com/piercefarmbandyville?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Rendleman Orchards https://rendlemanorchards.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR37tDN00S6wbpqPKmmtJTFzMP_hwnx-rlf8sJ8ohspNGAxvMnSHBpmOgKI_aem_GuwTkmd_bXtTGKNDOMU7XA

Salem AppleFest https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555405224470&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Saluki Football 9/12/24 https://www.facebook.com/share/g1iLFbJqvmJJMkTT/?mibextid=9VsGKo

Super City Brew Fest at Metropolis https://www.facebook.com/supercitybrewfest?mibextid=ZbWKwL

SIU School of Music-September https://www.facebook.com/share/p/5z7J1LHQfchNgixt/?mibextid=qi2Omg

Swansea Farmers Market  https://www.facebook.com/SwanseaFarmersMarketInc?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Sweet Southern Market at Johnston City https://facebook.com/events/s/sweet-southern-market/771173318506819/

The Farmer’s Market of Carbondale https://www.facebook.com/farmersmarketcarbondale?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Vine Street Market at O’Fallon Station https://www.facebook.com/vinestreetmarketofallon?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Wayne City Bean Days https://www.facebook.com/share/p/8A2FGNnu5gtAq6yB/?mibextid=xfxF2i

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A Tradition of Serving Continues

Since approximatelty 2017, #ServeSoILL has been an annually anticipated event by Cornerstone Church of Southern Illinois. The church’s Western Kentucky campus has now joined the fun. Of course 2020 was the exception due to COVID-19 precautions, but #ServeSoILL 2021 returned strong.   Hundreds of volunteers worked at sites throughout Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky on May 1.

Garden work in Cannon Park, Carterville
Volunteers working with Carterville Garden Club members

I did not visit every site, but I did have the privilege of traveling with a wonderful group to some of the Williamson County sites as part of the social media team. 

Fence construction at Cannon Park, Carterville
Work at Anne West Library in Carterville
Anne West Library

Cannon Park

One thing illustrated in the photos is how adults and children of all ages and abilities worked together to fill some needs and serve within the community.  It was a gorgeous day for a beautiful expression of the Biblical  commandment to “love your neighbor as  yourself.”

Carterville High School Bus Wash

Deep cleaning at Herrin House of Hope

Some of the other work sites were Bald Knob Cross of Peace at Alto Pass, various schools, and the Square in Marion..

Helping prepare the new Boys and Girls Club building in Marion
Restoring floors at Herrin House of Hope

Volunteers assisting the Marion Boys and Girls Club in building preparation

Search Facebook and Instagram for #servesoill to see additional photos.

Contact info for Cornerstone Church:  https://cornerstonechurch.community/

@cstone.central

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Sunday Drive: Alto Pass and Pomona

Yesterday after church, my daughter, her boyfriend, and I headed to Alto Pass for the first, hopefully annual, Cinco de Mayo Festival.

When we got to the celebration, we were greeted by smiling faces and people enjoying the warm sun. A mix of music, Latin American blended with hit radio songs, filled the air. Bright, beautiful color was everywhere from the piñatas to food and items offered for sale. Two words could describe all of the authentic Mexican food for sale along the blocked off street: ¡Que rico!

There were seasoned mangos on sticks, elote, and agua frescas of tamarind and horchata. People were preparing fresh tacos of bisteq and carnitas and more. So good!

The Union County Sheriff car kicked off the parade. First responders, pageant queens, traditional dancers, and others followed. Horses brought up the end. It may not have been a long parade, but it was nice.

A

After leaving the Cinco de Mayo Festival, we headed on to Bald Knob Cross. Thankfully, the road up to the cross is much better these days than when I was a child. It does still twist and wind for a few miles upward. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to get materials to the building site.

A nice visitor’s center sits by the cross with restrooms, information, souvenirs, and an observation deck with a gorgeous view of the Shawnee National Forest.

At the base of the cross, there is a timeline as well as signs to tell you what you might be able to see in that direction if conditions were right. Each side has a name : Faith, Hope, Charity, and Love. There are benches for sitting and picnic tables for eating and enjoying the view.

Leaving the cross, we decided to head to Pomona to see the Natural Bridge. It was a short distance, but part of the drive into the part of the Shawnee National Forest that has the rock formation is still gravel…

There is a small picnic area by the parking lot for the trail to the Natural Bridge. The trail itself does require some mobility as it is fairly natural and not accessible.

We could hear the sounds of running water as we approached the bridge. A faint mint smell was in the air. All of the lush, green foliage was beautiful. It was the perfect way to cap off a wonderful afternoon in Southern Illinois.

Related Links:

Cinco de Mayo Festival at Alto Pass

https://www.facebook.com/events/848378758828955/?ti=cl

Bald Knob Cross of Peace

Home

Pomona Natural Bridge

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/shawnee/recarea/?recid=10678

Shawnee National Forest

https://www.fs.usda.gov/shawnee