Macomb.com

Post 6 Big Band
2024-01-31 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Macomb American Legion Post 6
MARK YOUR CALENDAR American Legion Post 6 Big Band New Season Beginning Wednesday, August 30, 2023 Bring your dancing shoes and/or just come to enjoy the tunes from the past with the Post 6 Big Band, directed by John Cooper. We play from 7-9 p.m. the last Wednesday of every month (except December) August—April. Admission is free, but there will be a free-will donation to help in the completion of a Jeff Holtz Scholarship, and to support the band. Cold Drinks Available for Purchase 221 East Washington Street Macomb, IL

Shelby Shadwell "EMERGENCY BLANKETS"
2024-01-18 16:30 - 18:00 | WIU Art Gallery, Macomb, IL, 61455, United States
Shelby Shadwell “EMERGENCY BLANKETS”
On View: January 18 – February 16, 2024
Reception: Thursday, January 18, 4:30-6:00
Drawing Demo: Thursday, January 18, 10:00-4:00
University Art Gallery
Western Illinois University
Macomb, Illinois

Wyoming artist Shelby Shadwell will have his solo exhibition, “EMERGENCY BLANKETS”, on display January 18 through February 16 at the Western Illinois University Art Gallery.
A reception for the artist will be held Thursday, January 18, 4:30-6:00 p.m. The artist will speak about his work at 5:00 pm. Shadwell will also be giving a drawing demonstration in the Gallery 10:00 am – 4:00 pm before his reception.
Shelby is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Wyoming. Born and raised in Springfield, Missouri, Shelby received his BFA in 2003 from Washington University in St. Louis and his MFA in 2006 from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
A two-time recipient of the Visual Arts Fellowship from the Wyoming Arts Council, Shelby actively exhibits across the nation. His more recent exhibitions include LIKE AND SHARE IF YOU AGREE!!!, a solo show at the South Bend Museum of Art, DRAWN at Manifest Creative Research Gallery in Cincinnati, OH, and Drawing Discourse at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Shelby was awarded a solo exhibition at the APEX Space at the Portland Art Museum in OR in 2016, and his work is included in their permanent collection. For his research sabbatical from 2021 – 2022, Shelby accepted the Manifest Artist Residency Award, and he spent the year making new work at their Gallery and collaborating on educational opportunities at their Drawing Center in Cincinnati, OH.
Shelby was recently honored with the Stone & Deguire Contemporary Art Award in the amount of $25,000 from his alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis. Current and upcoming 2023 solo exhibition venues include Artworks Contemporary Art Center in Loveland, CO, STRATA Gallery in Santa Fe, NM, the Firehouse Art Center in Longmont, CO, and the Kentler International Drawing Space in Brooklyn, NY.
Admission is free and open to the public.

Winter Solstice Lantern Walk
2023-12-21 14:00 - 15:30 | Lakeview Nature Center, 10050 N 1500th Rd, Macomb, IL, United States
Bundle up and join us in the prairie for the Winter Solstice! This solstice marks the longest night and shortest day of the year, as well as the official beginning of winter. To celebrate, we’ll gather together at dusk with lanterns to enjoy the beauty of the season and the return of the sun. We encourage you to bring your own handmade lantern illuminated with an LED light or borrow one of ours and walk with us through the Lakeview Prairie Labyrinth.
Bring your friends and family, but please leave your pets at home. This walk is held entirely outside, we encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather and walking. The Lakeview Prairie Labyrinth is a half mile to the center and a processional path is available for a faster exit from the center. For everyone’s safety, we ask that you only use LED lights and no live flame candles. We can’t wait to celebrate the solstice with you in the prairie!

Sunday Funday Music Bingo
2023-12-17 15:00 - 17:00, 2023-12-10 15:00 - 17:00, 2023-12-03 15:00 - 17:00, 2023-11-26 15:00 - 17:00, 2023-11-19 15:00 - 17:00, 2023-11-12 15:00 - 17:00, 2023-11-05 15:00 - 17:00 | Forgottonia Brewing, 324 N. Lafayette St., Macomb
Date: Every Sunday unless otherwise noted.
Time: 3-5 PM
Cost: Free to play
How it works: Each week will have a musical theme.
The host will describe what pattern of bingo (standard, letter X, 4 corners, etc.) is being played that round.
A playlist from that theme will randomly play 45 seconds of each song.
You mark off the band’s name if they are on your bingo card.
The round ends when someone yells BINGO! and is verified by the host.
4 rounds of musical bingo will be played each week.

Noticing Nature
2023-12-15 15:30 - 16:30 | Lakeview Nature Center, 10050 N 1500th Rd, Macomb, IL, United States

Small Dishes & Ornaments for Gifting
2023-12-14 17:30 - 19:30, 2023-12-07 17:30 - 19:30 | Macomb Park District Ceramic Studio, 1406 N Randolph St. , Macomb, IL, United States
Love sharing handmade gifts at the holidays? We do, too! In this course, we will help you create some of our favorite simple and sweet studio projects that are perfect for gifting!
Within this two week hand building mini-course, we will create four small dishes and four ornaments! We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate the handmade in this relaxing course geared towards students of all skill levels!
Dates: December 7, 14
Course Fee: $50.00 for Macomb Park District Residents, $65.00 for Non-Residents
Registration is required
Deadline to register: December 6
3 ways to Register :
Follow the Link: tinyurl.com/mpdregister
Call 309-833-4562
or stop by the Macomb Park District office to register in person!

Stuff your Stockings
2023-12-14 10:00 - 18:00 | Nostalgia, 129 N Randolph, Macomb, IL, 61455-0248, United States
Stuff your Stockings Event at Nostalgia Decor + Gifts

Winter Woodland Wonders Nature Hike
2023-12-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Argyle Lake State Park, 640 Argyle Park Rd. , Colchester, IL, 62326, United States
On Saturday, November 11, 2023 – 10 – 11:30 a.m. Explore the wonders of nature and discuss how wildlife and plants prepare for the cold winter months to come on this morning hike on one of Argyle’s most popular trails. Hike will begin at 10 a.m. at the visitor center and conclude by noon. ___________________________On Saturday, December 9, 2023 – 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Join the site interpreter as we explore the trails of the park in search of the many wonders of winter just waiting to be discovered. Hike topics may include how animals survive in winter, identifying tracks and other wildlife signs, winter tree ID and the mysteries of snow and snowflakes. Hike will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the park visitor center. For more information, please call (309)776-3422 or email Bridget.Hinchee@illinois.gov.

Planted Paperwhites: Nature Makers Workshop
2023-12-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Lakeview Nature Center, 10050 N 1500th Rd, Macomb, IL, United States
Let’s fill an upcycled glass jar with welcoming paperwhite bulbs! This project will be perfect for brightening your home for the holiday season and into the New Year! Join us as we use basic materials to force your bulbs into brilliant white blooms!
*Nature Makers Workshops are open to ages 16 and up as well as all skill levels. All materials are included in the workshop fee. When applicable, social distancing and safe mask wearing is recommended for our Nature Makers Workshop Series.
Fee: $12.00 per person for Macomb Park District Residents or $14.00 per person for Non-Residents
Registration is required
Deadline to register: December 7
3 ways to Register :
Follow the Link: tinyurl.com/mpdregister
Call 309-833-4562
or stop by the Macomb Park District office to register in person!

Shimmering Snowflake : Day in Clay Workshop
2023-12-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Macomb Park District Ceramic Studio, 1406 N Randolph St., Macomb
Join us in the studio this month as we create a shimmering porcelain snowflake ornament to celebrate the approach of winter! In this workshop, we’ll use textured and stacked slabs to create a snowflake with sparkle and dimensionally!
2 sessions available : 12:00pm-1:00pm or 1:30pm-2:30pm
*Day in Clay Workshops are open to all ages, all skill levels, and we request that young children be accompanied by an adult who is also enrolled. When applicable, social distancing and safe mask wearing is recommended.
Fee: $10.00 per person for Macomb Park District Residents or $12.00 per person for Non-Residents
Registration is required
Deadline to register: November 30
3 ways to Register :
Follow the Link: tinyurl.com/mpdregister
Call 309-833-4562
or stop by the Macomb Park District office to register in person!

"Arts in Nature" Painting Classes
2023-12-02 10:00 - 12:00 | Argyle Lake State Park, 640 Argyle Park Rd. , Colchester, IL, 62326, United States
The Friends of Argyle Lake State Park will be hosting ‘Arts in Nature’ painting classes at Argyle Lake State Park at the park’s visitor center shelter. December class will be held at maintenance building. West Prairie high school Art instructor, Jennifer Cordell will share her passion for painting while instructing participants in creating a nature painting. The program fee is $20, as all materials and supplies will be provided. Locally handcrafted Amish frames will be available for $10 if you’d like to frame your one of a kind masterpiece afterwards. Please email Bridget.Hinchee@illinois.gov or call the park office at (309)776-3422, registration is limited to the first 20 people. All ages welcome with parental help. . For more information, please call (309)776-3422 or email Bridget.Hinchee@illinois.gov

Young VanGogh
2023-12-02 09:30 - 10:30 | Create Art Studio for Kids, 133 S Randolph St, Macomb, IL, 61455, United States
Introduce your child to the world of art. Your child will begin to explore the different types of art and process through out this class. Some weeks the project will be related to a story and others they will get to explore on their own. Parents/guardians attend with the child.

An Old Fashioned Christmas
2023-11-25 15:00 - 19:00 | Downtown Blandinsville
This year’s 2023 Blandinsville Christmas will include a Festival of Trees, a Vendor Blender, Letters to Santa, a Soup Supper, a Drawing, Santa Claus and much, much more!

12th Annual Good Hope Turkey Trot
2023-11-23 14:00 - 17:00 | Good Hope, IL
The 12th Annual Good Hope Turkey Trot is on Thursday November 23, 2023. It includes the following events: 10K, 5K Run/Walk, and 1K Walk.

Shop, Sip & Socialize 2023
2023-11-18 17:00 - 20:30 | Macomb Dining Company
We are very excited to announce that we will be hosting a 3rd Annual {Shop, Sip & Socialize} Event! This year, the event will be held at the ~NEWLY RENOVATED~ Dining Co. building in Macomb, IL. on Saturday, November 18th from 5:00pm – 8:30pm.
We will have 15+ amazing LOCAL businesses for you to shop from!
This is a {Ticketed Event} which means you MUST have a ticket to enter!
TWO types of tickets (VIP & General Admission), will be available for purchase in LIMITED QUANTITIES! Tickets will launch online on Sunday; October 1st!
>>> VIP: $50.00 each; this includes Coupon Book (filled with a coupon for each vendor to use at the event or future purchases), a drink ticket, socialize with your besties while munching on a delicious SPREAD from Spreadz, all while listening to and enjoying some LIVE MUSIC by a local WIU baseball player — Kalen Reardon and EARLY ACCESS to shopping from 5-6!
>>> General Admission: $20 each; this grants you access into the event at 6pm, where you will still be able to shop ALL of our amazing vendors, sip on a drink or two, socialize with your besties while munching on a delicious SPREAD from Spreadz, all while listening to and enjoying some LIVE MUSIC by a local WIU baseball player — Kalen Reardon!
Ticket’s will launch October 1st.

Dried Citrus Garland: Nature Makers Workshop
2023-11-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Lakeview Nature Center, 10050 N 1500th Rd, Macomb, IL, United States
Let’s transform a collection of dried orange slices and a length of string into a sun-filled garland that will keep your home feeling extra cozy all winter long! As a bonus, this light catching and luminous garland can be stored and used year after year!
*Nature Makers Workshops are open to ages 16 and up as well as all skill levels. All materials are included in the workshop fee. When applicable, social distancing and safe mask wearing is recommended for our Nature Makers Workshop Series.
Fee: $12.00 per person for Macomb Park District Residents or $14.00 per person for Non-Residents
Registration is required
Deadline to register: November 16
3 ways to Register :
Follow the Link: tinyurl.com/mpdregister
Call 309-833-4562
or stop by the Macomb Park District office to register in person!

West Prairie Class of 2024 Fundraiser Lunch
2023-11-18 11:00 - 14:00 | Colchester Lion’s Den, Colchester, IL

6th Annual Macomb Merchant Mingle
2023-11-16 16:00 - 19:00 | Downtown Macomb
Step out in Macomb for a festive evening full of fun, giveaways, and shopping local. This is the perfect time to visit your favorite shops and find gifts for your friends & family or treat yourself. Stay tuned for participating retailers!

Talent Grant and Tuition Waiver Exhibition
2023-11-06 16:30 - 18:00 | Western Illinois University Art Gallery, 1 University Cir, Macomb, IL, 61455
The Department of Art and Design’s “Talent Grant and Tuition Waiver Exhibition” will be on display November 6 through November 28 at the Western Illinois University Art Gallery.
A reception for the artists will be held Monday, November 6 from 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Exhibiting Artists: Rivers Ashton, Molly Borth, Ashlee Bullock, Jae Corales, Alexis Danner-Clark, Claire Degraaf, Delaney Egan, Abigail Ehrenberger, Vanessa Ellis, Carolyne Foster, Conor Geigner, Kendra Hallberg, Grace Lessen, Clarissa Lopez, Francesca Magalang, Bailey Mckean, Michelle Narvaez, Xavier Patton, Julia Riley, Emily Sharon, Ashley Sikes, Mackenzie White
image: Molly Borth, It’s All Piling Up, 2023, serigraph, 41 x 29 x 7
Admission is free and open to the public.

Sara Dismukes Solo Exhibition, "Mishearing Mnemosyne "
2023-11-06 16:30 - 18:00 | Western Illinois University Art Gallery, 1 University Cir, Macomb, IL, 61455
Montgomery, AL artist Sara Dismukes will have her solo exhibition, “mishearing Mnemosyne “, on display November 6 through December 15 at the Western Illinois University Art Gallery.
A reception for the artist will be held Tuesday, November 6, 4:30-6:00 p.m. The artist will speak about her work at 5:00 pm.
Sara Dismukes is a multidisciplinary artist and educator currently living in Montgomery, Alabama. She is a member of the art and design faculty at Troy University. Her studio practice includes drawing, painting and graphic design, as well as traditional bookbinding.
“We all move back and forth between public and private spaces. Rather than call attention to the origin or the destination, I pay attention to what is found along the way. I am compelled by the social mediation of landscape, and how desire and disregard are manifested in objects and spaces over time.
My work celebrates the things we pass by, often unnoticed, while moving about our day. I am interested in entropy as well as the growth that is its companion. Close observation of the patterns and structures in nature, as well as the rhythm of its seasonal cycles, is an enthusiasm and an influence. I see tenacity and resilience within these systems and feel deeply connected to them.”

Acorn Dish : Day in Clay Workshop
2023-11-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Macomb Park District Ceramic Studio, 1406 N Randolph St. , Macomb, IL, United States
Join us in the studio this month as we create a memorable and charming acorn dish that you can enjoy using year after year! In this workshop, we’ll combine speckled clay, slab rolling and impressed textures to create a useful dish perfect for your autumn table!
2 sessions available : 12:00pm-1:00pm or 1:30pm-2:30pm
*Day in Clay Workshops are open to all ages, all skill levels, and we request that young children be accompanied by an adult who is also enrolled. When applicable, social distancing and safe mask wearing is recommended.
Fee: $10.00 per person for Macomb Park District Residents or $12.00 per person for Non-Residents
Registration is required
Deadline to register: November 2
3 ways to Register :
Follow the Link: tinyurl.com/mpdregister
Call 309-833-4562
or stop by the Macomb Park District office to register in person!

Western IL Fall Fiber Fest
2023-11-04 11:00 - 16:00 | Little Creek Alpacas
Join us Sat., Nov. 4th from 11am-4pm at the McDonough County 4-H Center for the Western IL Fall Fiber Fest! A day full of fiber fun with fiber demonstrations, sales, and hands on fiber activities. Meet fiber farmers and fiber artists, learn about the different animals that produce fiber, and all the different things you can create with it. Raw fiber, carded fiber, batt blends, roving, hand-spun yarns, hand-dyed yarns, felting supplies, felted items & art, crocheted items, knit items, woven items, and much more! Free admission. Stay tuned for more details!
Hands on Fiber Activities (so far):
Make a Felted Picture – ages 10 & up – $10 – use natural fibers to create your own felted masterpiece! You’ll learn the basics of needle felting and use a barbed felting needle to “poke” fiber into a 5×7 piece of alpaca felt to design your own picture. It’s like painting, but with fiber and a needle instead of paint and a paintbrush!
Rug Hooking – more details coming!

Vendor List (so far):
Little Creek Alpacas
Frankie Girls
Jubilee Farms
AriBo Arts
A Tangled Mess Angoras & Crafts
Noumea Hand Dyed Yarn & Fiber
Leaf Livestock Wool Co.
Macomb Fiber Arts Guild
Heirloom Fiber Arts Studio

Pumpkin Smash!
2023-11-04 10:00 - 14:00 | Macomb Park District
SAVE YOUR PUMPKINS AND RECYCLE THEM ON NOVEMBER 4th!
FREE EVENT!
This is a community effort to keep pumpkins out of our landfills. Recycle your pumpkins during this event by SMASHING THEM in a fun way or dropping off at our recycle station! We will compost them as soil for farmers!
We’re excited to be partnering on this event with University of Illinois Extension Henderson, Knox, McDonough, & Warren Co. and SCARCE
Don’t trash it, smash it! Mark your calendars for November 4th – Rain or Shine – 10am to 2pm
All pumpkins must be contaminant free- NO candles, stickers, googly eyes, plastic, paint or Non-biodegradable materials
