Posted on Leave a comment

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

Posted on Leave a comment

Changing Seasons

November is here. There is (sometimes) a chill in the air. People have been covering and bringing in plants in hopes of keeping them alive. Many leaves are changing colors and falling to the ground like yellow, green, brown, orange, and red confetti. We are in the midst of football and marching band weather.

Above: a maple leaf

Below: an oak leaf

As part of my physical rehabilitation from COVID-19, I have to make sure to get some walking in to strengthen muscles, rebuild lung capacity, prevent blood clots–all that stuff that you have to deal with after the virus. Even if I’m still having to use the cane or rollator for now, I’ve been going around the trees to pick up fallen pinecones and acorns. Scavenging for craft supplies has become necessary and therapeutic… (Don’t worry. I leave plenty of acorns for squirrels.)

Strong winds propelled many pinecones and acorns to the ground.

Seeing the fallen symbols of autumn on the ground brought to mind the old saying that “the nut doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Well, in nature, that may not always be the case. I found pinecones under maple trees and acorns under pine trees. Although I didn’t see them fall, I’m very certain that they started out with a different tree. I don’t know if I found them where they initially fell, or if the wind carried them. However they got there, each was beautiful and uniquely created. Forgive me if I sound a bit like Phoebe Buffay at a Christmas tree lot, but these pinecones and acorns will now “fulfill their destinies” as part of Fall or Christmas decor.

The leaves above were from last fall. I haven’t seen many red ones yet this year…

The trees themselves reminded me of the old saying that “a leopard can’t change its spots.” Be that as it may, a leopard shouldn’t need to change his or her spots if we really focus on what’s inside the heart rather than outward appearances. As for trees, they DO go through changes with the seasons. We could probably all stand to learn a few things from them.

This beautiful pinecone and several acorns were under a maple tree located several feet from where the pine and oak trees stood. They are proof that the nut or fruit can fall far from the tree…