Southern Illinois has a tradition of ghost stories with mysterious lights seen on the fields of the ancient Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, a crossing at Renchler Road between Marissa and Belleville where a stopped, idling car set in neutral on an old railroad bed will roll forward (it really works unlike hundreds of other sites with similar claims), and the haunts of the Old Slave House in Equality.
It also has a strong Halloween tradition of celebration of a successful harvest and spooky holiday fun and shenanigans. Trick or treaters fill the streets in all communities. The region itself abounds with haunted house events complete with chainsaws and screaming victims (the one in Benton is highly regarded), patches filled with pumpkins, corn mazes, and holiday parades. Here is an assortment of upcoming Halloween events gathered together for the Southern Illinois daytripper.
Oct 4. Haunted Fall Festival. (Madison Co.). Noon to 5pm at History and Hauntings bookstore, Alton. An annual free event sponsored by the American Ghost Society. Speakers offer entertaining presentations on ghost hunting techniques, Lincoln-related ghosts in New Salem, cemetery art and burial customs, and more. Free admission. For more information, go to http://www.prairieghosts.com/festival.html
Oct 5. "War of the Worlds" and "The Lost Continent." LA Theater Works live radio theatre production presented at The Hett at McKendree University. Lebanon.
Oct 9-11, 17-18, 24-25. Haunted Creole House. Haunted house tour at historic log Creole House. Located in a small village, it is easily found. People warm themselves at a bonfire at the side of the cabin and share small talk and jokes or just enjoy the evening as they wait their turn for the tour. Prairie du Rocher.
Oct 11. Highland Civic Women's Club Pumpkin Patch (Madison Co.). Highland.
Oct 17-18. Haunted Trail/Little Prairie Nature Trail (Clinton Co.). Annual outdoor haunted house-style event Carlyle Lake. Carlyle.
Oct 31. Halloween Parade. (Madison Co.). Starts at 1pm from 7th Street Park. Includes firetrucks, floats, bands, and kids walking and on bicycles. Hartford.
Oct 25. Fall Festival and Halloween Parade (Marion Co.). Numerous floats and marching units mark the season in the well-attended event parade. Centralia
Oct 25-26 Halloween Festival (Union Co.). Blue Sky Vineyard. Live music, costumes encouraged, costume prizes awarded. Makanda.
Oct 26. Lion's Club Annual Children's Halloween Parade (Washington Co.). The Sunday event involves a change in location this year. The costumed children will gather to parade at the Community Center of Nashville at 3pm. Nashville.
Oct 26. Witch's Night Out (Madison Co.). Come shopping in a witch costume! Lebanon.
Oct 30. Vandalia Lion's Club Halloween Parade (Fayette Co.). Vandalia.
Oct 31. Annual Halloween Party (Randolph Co.). Red Bud.
Oct 31. Chamber of Commerce Halloween Parade (Madison Co.). Edwardsville.
Oct 31. Alton Halloween Parade. (Madison Co.). More than 80 units in this big annual event. Starts at 7pm at Washington and Broadway in Alton and winds down Broadway. Alton.
For more information on upcoming events, visit my Southern Illinois Road Trip website at http://home.midwest.net/~howes/southernillinoisroadtrip/.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 4
http://friendsofdanh.gather.com.
Our goal is to help you further your exposure and to support other gather members.