Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. Valparaiso University
2025-09-12 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Hanson Field, Macomb, IL, 61455, United States
Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. Valparaiso University
🌟 Be part of history at Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. Valparaiso University, an extraordinary gathering that will captivate your imagination! 🏛️ The prestigious Hanson Field in Macomb, IL sets the stage for an unforgettable experience on September 12th, 2025 at 06:00 PM. ✨ They are bringing together the finest elements of entertainment and innovation to create moments that will take your breath away. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be immersed in an atmosphere of wonder and excitement. 🎯 This carefully planned event ensures every guest experiences something truly special. 🎊 Early booking is recommended for this must-attend event of the season!

7th Annual WIU Family Day BBQ Competition
2025-09-13 14:00 - 18:00 | WIU Q Lot, 1 University Circle , Macomb, IL, 61455, United States
WIU Family Day BBQ Competition
Join the WIU Office of Student Engagement, the WIU School of Agriculture, and the University Union Board as we look forward to the seventh annual Family Day BBQ Competition on Saturday, September 13, 2025.
Live music, activities for the entire family, bags tournament, and the battle for the best BBQ around followed by the Fighting Leatherneck game at 6 p.m. will make for a great day to be a Leatherneck!
**The event begins at 2:00 p.m. Food will be served while supplies last so don’t be late to the fun.**
Purchase tasting tickets, t-shirts & football tickets both ala carte and in packages via this link: https://www.wiu.edu/student_success/university_union_board/family-day/
Order early, supplies are limited!
Contact pigout@wiu.edu with any questions!

Wine & Wax!
2025-09-18 17:30 - 20:00, 2025-10-16 17:30 - 20:00 | The Wine Sellers
Sippin’ Wine and spinning’ Vinyl

Every third Thursday means it’s Wine & Wax time at The Wine Sellers!
So grab your favorite vinyl and join us beginning at 5:30.
For the Record, we hope to see you there!

"Big" Al Sears Music Fest
2025-09-19 19:00, 2025-09-21 15:00 - 17:00 | Western Illinois Museum, 201 S. Lafayette St. , Macomb, IL, 61455, United States
The Al Sears Music Festival returns this fall, September 19-21, with a dynamic weekend of jazz, R&B, and American songbook performances. This annual celebration honors Macomb native and musical trailblazer Al Sears (1910–1990)—a saxophonist, songwriter, and entrepreneur who played with jazz legends and helped shape the sound of early rock-and-roll.
The Al Sears Music Fest committee is pleased to present this year’s exciting lineup:

On Friday, Sept. 19, the festival kicks off at the American Legion Post 6 with WIU’s Jazz Symphony Orchestra, a longstanding favorite that’s played every year since the festival’s inception.
On Saturday, Sept. 20, acclaimed vocalist Bryan Anthony will present an evening of classic songs, made famous by singers like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Sammy Davis Jr. and written by Gershwin, Vernon Duke, and others, in an intimate performance at the Western Illinois Museum’s newly renovated Our Front Porchspace.
On Sunday, Sept. 21, the festival concludes with an afternoon of music and conversation at the Western Illinois Museum featuring Yoseph Henry—an acclaimed jazz, R&B, and gospel singer and WIU alum, who will also speak with local musicians on Al Sears’s musical legacy.

Throughout the weekend, there will be opportunities to learn about Al Sears’s remarkable career—from performing with Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton to producing records and shaping the music industry as an executive with ABC Paramount. The Western Illinois Museum will feature photographs, recordings, and artifacts related to his work.
Bring your family, invite your friends, and celebrate Al Sears and Macomb’s unique place in American music history. And enjoy delicious meals from Sandra’s Authentic Mexican Food Truck, available both Saturday and Sunday.

Festival Schedule
Friday, September 19th
WIU Jazz Symphony Orchestra
American Legion Post 6
221 E. Washington St, Macomb, IL 61455
7:00 to 9:00 pm
Saturday, September 20th
Bryan Anthony: The American Songbook
Western Illinois Museum
201 S. Lafayette St, Macomb, IL 61455
5:00 pm Doors open/Social Hour (Sandra’s at 11:00 am TBC)
7:00 to 9:00 pm Music
Sunday, September 21st
Yoseph Henry in Concert
Western Illinois Museum
201 S. Lafayette St, Macomb, IL 61455
(Sandra’s at 11:00 am TBC)
2:00 pm Conversation: Yoseph Henry, Whitney Ashe, Bill Maakestad, and John Cooper
3:00 to 5:00 pm Music

Contact: Whitney Ashe WE-Ashe@wiu.edu or Bill Maakestad wj-maakestad@wiu.edu

Movies In The Park: WICKED
2025-09-19 19:00 - 22:00 | Veteran’s Park, Macomb, IL, 61455, United States
FREE and Open to the Public

Movies in the Park at Veterans Park!
Bring your camping chairs and picnic blankets to enjoy Wicked – FREE – under the stars!
Free popcorn and drinks provided by First Bankers Trust Company, NA and Refreshment Services-Pepsi of Macomb
Brought to you by the Macomb Park District
See you September 19 – – Movie starts at dusk! (Around 7:00 PM)
—————————————————
Wicked (2024) PG
Elphaba, a young woman ridiculed for her green skin, and Galinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads.

"Big" Al Sears Music Fest
2025-09-20 17:00 - 21:00 | Western Illinois Museum, 201 S. Lafayette St. , Macomb, IL

Biennial Faculty Exhibition
2025-09-23 16:30 - 18:00 | Western Illinois University Art Gallery, 1 University Cir, Macomb, IL, 61455
Biennial Faculty Exhibition
Reception: Tuesday, September 23, 4:30-6:00 pm
On view: September 15 – October 24, 2023
University Art Gallery
Western Illinois University
Macomb, Illinois
The Western Illinois University Department of Art and Design will have their Biennial Faculty Exhibition on display September 15 through October 24 at the Western Illinois University Art Gallery.
A reception for the artists will be held Tuesday, September 23 from 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Admission is free and open to the public.
For more information about the Gallery, visit wiu.edu/artgallery.
image: One of Many Mansions (Tullis-Toledano Manor), Tim Waldrop, charcoal and charcoal pencil, 40 x 30 in.

Eastern Illinois at Western Illinois Leathernecks
2025-09-27 18:00 - 21:00 | Hanson Field, Macomb, IL, 61455, United States
Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. Eastern Illinois Panthers

Alpaca Beach Party - Season Finale
2025-09-28 13:00 - 16:00 | Little Creek Alpacas
Come out to Little Creek Alpacas Sunday, October 19th from 1pm-4pm for our 2025 Alpaca Beach Party Season Finale! It’s the last Alpaca Beach Party of 2025, so don’t miss out!
30 alpacas roaming in a free range setting, a 2 acre pond you can fish in, and a small white sand beach filled with toys for the kids, and more! Trail’s End Concessions will be here with their tasty tenderloins, loaded fries, wraps, pulled pork, fruit smoothies, blended coffee drinks, etc.. Lake Hill Winery will be joining us with all your favorite local wines to taste, sip, and enjoy. Hickry Ridge Homestead will have Fluff the Angora rabbit, and will also be doing spinning demonstrations, so you can see how our alpaca fiber is spun into yarn! DJ Megan will be providing our beach party tunes, and there will be several other artisans to shop with too – stay tuned for the full list of vendors!Cups of grain to hand feed the alpacas with will be available for $5/cup, and we’ll have all of our alpaca products for sale in the red shelter. Fishing is allowed, our pond is stocked with mostly bass, but there are a few catfish in there somewhere. Bring your own fishing pole, we don’t have any available. The beach has lots of toys for the kids to play with, this is a family friendly environment. There is no swimming in the pond because I can’t afford a lifeguard, but you can still get your feet wet and get water for your sand castles. We do recommend dressing the kids in swim attire, and/or bringing extra clothes and a towel, so they can get wet and have fun in the sand. We’ve added an additional play area away from the pond, near the food and vendor area.No pets, no smoking, and no chasing the alpacas. Please be kind and respectful to others. Hand wipes & disinfectant wipes are available, there is no hand sink. We have a sprinkler for rinsing off. There is a port-a-potty but it is not handicap accessible.**Please note, this is not a petting zoo. Alpacas are similar to a timid cat, they like to get to know you on their own terms. If you insist on trying to pet them before you’ve earned their trust, they will walk or run away from you – the more you insist, the more they will retreat. Be patient, and let them come up to you on their own for the best experience. Hand feeding grain always helps with the introduction, and will entice them to come up to you.Free admission for all of our 2025 Alpaca Beach Parties! Donations are always appreciated, but never expected.
“Granma said, when you come on something good, first thing to do is share it with whoever you can find; that way the good spreads out where no telling it will go. Which is right.”
– Forrest Carter from the Education of Little Tree
Sunny Beach is dedicated to my best friend, Sunny, who spent her life celebrating kindness and advocating for children, social justice, and world peace. Her last letter to me arrived the day she passed away, and inside it was the quote above from Forrest Carter. The Alpaca Beach Parties came about all because of my beautiful friend, it’s my way of honoring her and my attempt to bring as much joy to the world as she did.Little Creek Alpacas is within 20-35 minutes of 3 different campgrounds! A great way to take an affordable mini vacation that the kids will love! Spring Lake in Macomb, IL also has cabins for rent if you’re not a tent camper and don’t have an RV. Spring Lake is approx. 35 minutes from our farm. Argyle Lake State Park is approx. 20-30 minutes from our farm. Weinberg-King State Fish and Wildlife Area is approx. 20 minutes from our farm.
Not a camper? No problem, Plymouth Rock Roost Bed & Breakfast is just 5 minutes from our farm, or you can find a few different hotels in Macomb, IL (just 30 minutes from our farm).

Conservation Book Club
2025-09-29 18:00 - 19:30 | The Wine Sellers
Join Prairie Land Conservancy’s next Conservation Book Club as we read How to Love a Forest: the bittersweet work of tending a changing world by Ethan Tapper.
​Please register for this event at prairielandconservancy.org/events
​
Didn’t attend the first two events but you did finish the book? Then we’d still love to have you join us for an informal discussion!

Wednesdays Wine Run/Walk
2025-10-01 18:00 - 20:00 | The Wine Sellers
Wednesdays Wine Run/Walk
Meet at The Wine Sellers at 6:00 pm and go for a group run.
You can run any distance at any pace – walkers are welcome too.
End your run/walk at TWS and enjoy a beverage with your running friends.
This is a weekly event – weather permitting.
Let’s get outside and run!
www.facebook.com/thewinesellersmacomb

Macomb Farmers Market
2025-10-02 08:00 - 12:00 | Chandler Park, Macomb, IL, 61455, United States
Macomb’s weekly outdoor Farmers Market operates every Saturday morning from 8:00 a.m. to Noon in Chandler Park (May 3 through October 18. (Weekly Thursday Farmers Market begins Thursday, May 29.) Come join us for our 50th consecutive year of sharing locally grown produce, plants, & fresh flowers; local pasture-raised meat & eggs; ready-to-eat homemade baked goods, honey, flavored popcorn, breakfast sandwiches, & more; personal care products & hand-crafted goods made by talented local artisans; on-site knife & blade sharpening; children’s activities, dog training sessions, & live music; and so much more!

First Friday
2025-10-03 09:00 - 14:00 | Lakeview Nature Center, 10050 N 1500th Rd, Macomb, IL, United States
During these open house hours we welcome you to explore Lakeview! Explore nature-based learning stations, invitations for imaginative play, favorite seasonal books, and creative enrichment activities.

Fallen Soldiers 5K
2025-10-04 09:00 - 17:00 | Western Illinois University, 1 University Circle , Macomb, IL, United States
Each year, Western Illinois University hosts the Fallen Soldiers 5K to raise money for the WIU Fallen Soldiers Scholarship Fund, which supports veterans and service members currently enrolled at Western.
Before the race, a special program is held to honor our Fallen Soldiers for whom the scholarship was established and recognize the current scholarship recipients. This race typically brings in 400 – 500 participants to WIU’s campus.
The event is designed as a fundraiser for the Fallen Soldier’s Scholarship Fund in honor of two WIU alumni who were killed in the line of duty. Capt. Derek Dobogai and Lt. Col. Robert Baldwin.
Dobogai, who graduated from Western in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement and justice administration, was among the 14 U.S. soldiers aboard a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed Aug. 22, 2007 in northern Iraq.
Baldwin, who earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from WIU in 1993, was killed Sept. 21, 2010 when his Blackhawk UH-60 helicopter carrying Navy SEALs crashed during combat operations in the Zabul province of Afghanistan.
Can’t attend this year’s event? Consider making a donation directly to the
Fallen Soldiers Scholarship Fund.

Fall Colors Nature Hike
2025-10-04 10:00 - 11:30 | Argyle Lake State Park, 640 Argyle Park Rd. , Colchester, IL, 62326, United States
As the breezes become a little brisk and the days begin to shorten, nature begins the process of preparing for the cold winter months ahead. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy nature and the magnificent colors of autumn throughout the park. We will meet at the visitor center at 10:00 a.m. and hike 1-2 miles on moderate terrain. For more information, please call (309)776-3422 or email Bridget.Hinchee@illinois.gov

Kayaking at Argyle Lake
2025-10-04 10:00 - 15:00 | Argyle Lake State Park, 640 Argyle Park Rd. , Colchester, IL, 62326, United States
Join us for a morning or afternoon of paddling and enjoying nature on beautiful Lake Argyle. Kayaks paddles, and life jackets are being provided by the Friends of Argyle. Ten adult kayaks and 2 youth kayaks (for ages 5+) are available, so space is limited to the first 12 people to register for each tour. Two times are being offered each day (10 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.) and each outing will be about 2 hours. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the parking area near the dam/spillway for this program. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Register by calling (309)776-3422 or email Bridget.Hinchee@illinois.gov
General Program Information:
• Meet at the park visitor center for all hikes and programs unless otherwise indicated in above program descriptions.
• All programs are free and open to the general public unless otherwise noted in the program description. Participation in any program involving the use of FOA equipment (skis, kayaks, paddleboards, etc.) will require participants to become a member of the Friends of Argyle organization. Annual membership fees are $10 per individual, $15 for a single parent family and $20 for a
two parent family.
• Please contact park staff with any special needs or concerns p

Stitchin' Time
2025-10-04 10:30 - 12:00 | Macomb Public Library, 235 S Lafayette St , Macomb
Macomb Public Library presents Stichin’ Time. Meets the first Saturday of each month from 10:30AM-Noon. Beginners through experts; limited supplies available or bring your own.

Touch A Truck
2025-10-04 11:00 - 14:00 | Veteran’s Park, E University Drive, Macomb, IL, 61455, United States
This FREE event will be a fun day for families to explore and learn about various vehicles in their community! You will get to sit in, touch, and ask questions while exploring first responder vehicles, busses, community vehicles, and more!

Jason Franz "Figure Ensō: Twenty-Two Years of Life Drawings"
2025-10-07 16:30 - 18:00 | WIU Art Gallery, Macomb, IL, 61455, United States
Jason Franz “Figure Ensō: Twenty-Two Years of Life Drawings”
On View: October 7 – November 14, 2025
Reception: Tuesday, October 7, 4:30-6:00 pm
University Art Gallery
Western Illinois University
Macomb, Illinois

Cincinnati, Ohio artist, Jason Franz, will have his solo exhibition, “Figure Ensō: Twenty-Two Years of Life Drawings”, on display October 7 through November 14 at the Western Illinois University Art Gallery.
A reception for the artist will be held Tuesday, October 7, 4:30-6:00 p.m. The artist will speak about his work at 5:00 pm.
Jason Franz is a Cincinnati, Ohio based artist, educator, and director/cofounder of the nonprofit arts organization Manifest. He received a BFA degree from the Art Academy of Cincinnati in 1988, and an MFA from the University of Cincinnati in 1998, and taught at both schools as well as Xavier University from 1997 through 2012. He continues to exhibit his drawings nationally, and his work is held in multiple museum and private collections across the U.S. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife, Brigid O’Kane, and daughter, Alexandra Franz, who are both artists as well.
Admission is free and open to the public.
Parking will be allowed near the gallery starting at 4:00 pm.
Image:
2025-4-6 (Resolution Forty-Five), walnut ink, India ink, and gouache on watercolor paper, 12” x 9”, 2025

Trivia Night
2025-10-07 18:30 - 20:30 | Sports Corner @ 124
Sports Corner Presents? TRIVIA NIGHT
Looking for some mid-week excitement? We got you covered EVERY Tuesday from 6:30-8:30

Oktoberfest
2025-10-11 12:00 - 16:00 | Macomb Food Co-op, 211 S. McArthur St., Macomb, 61455, United States
!
Macomb Food Co-op 211 S. MacArthur St.
Join us for Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 11 from Noon to 4PM — a family-friendly celebration to help purchase the building that houses your community grocery store!
We’re bringing back the fun:
Stein holding
Corn shucking
Nail driving
…plus more activities for all ages!
$20 Cover | Kids 12 & Under FREE
Can’t attend but want to support the cause?
All donations are tax deductible! Give here: https://www.prairiehillsrcd.org/macomb-food-co-op…
Every dollar helps secure a permanent home for your local, community-centered market. Let’s do this together!
Shop hours: Tues & Thurs 12–6PM | Sat 10AM–3PM

Moonlight Meander
2025-10-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Lakeview Nature Center, 10050 N 1500th Rd, Macomb, IL, United States
Together we’ll celebrate the arrival of Autumn! We’ll fill the evening with engaging learning stations, an illuminated trail, a prairie pumpkin hunt, lantern walks, outdoor games, a warm campfire, and tons of FREE family fun!

Paint the Paws
2025-10-14 11:30 - 14:00 | Western Illinois University, 1 University Circle , Macomb, IL, United States
Students, alumni, faculty and staff are invited to take part in Western Illinois University’s Homecoming tradition, Paint the Paws. Hosted by the Western Illinois University Alumni Association, the Paint the Paws event involves the painting of more than 200 paws along University Drive and Western Avenue to welcome Alumni back to campus and display school spirit. Student groups, as well as campus faculty, staff and alumni, interested in participating should contact the Alumni Association at A-Association@wiu.edu or call 309-298-1914.

Exploration Pontoon Cruise
2025-10-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Argyle Lake State Park, 640 Argyle Park Rd. , Colchester, IL, 62326, United States
Come enjoy beautiful Lake Argyle while taking a relaxing morning pontoon boat ride on the lake as we watch for wildlife. Life jackets, binoculars and field guides will be available, or you’re welcome to bring
your own. PRE-REGISTRATION is REQUIRED, and space is limited to 6 participants. Please email Bridget.Hinchee@illinois.gov or call (309)776-3422 for more information or to register.
Programs MOST Fridays – 10:00-11:00 a.m. (Begins 6/6/25 thru 11/7/25). No Program: 6/20, 6/27 or 10/10
GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION:
• Meet at the park visitor center for all hikes and programs unless otherwise indicated in above program descriptions.
• All programs are free and open to the general public unless otherwise noted in the program description. Participation in any program involving the use of FOA equipment (skis, kayaks, paddleboards, etc.) will require participants to become a member of the Friends of Argyle organization. Annual membership fees are $10 per individual, $15 for a single parent family and $20 for a two parent family.
• Please contact park staff with any special needs or concerns prior to the program date, so requested arrangements /accommodations can be made.

Illinois Bats: Facts and Myths
2025-10-17 18:00 - 19:30 | Argyle Lake State Park, 640 Argyle Park Rd. , Colchester, IL, 62326, United States
Join us at Argyle Lake as we learn about our only true flying mammal….BATS!!! Local educator and outdoor enthusiast, Mary McMahon will dispel many myths about bats during this informative and entertaining presentation about these mysterious mammals. Participants will have the opportunity to listen to nearby bats feeding on flying insects using an echolocation detection device.
Many informative handouts will be available. Meet at the park’s visitor center shelter for this program.
For more information, please call (309)776-3422 or email Bridget.Hinchee@illinois.gov

Bluegrass at The Wine Sellers
2025-10-18 17:00 - 20:00 | The Wine Sellers
A great venue to come relax and listen to some Bluegrass music! Troublesome Ridge has been playing together since 2014 performing both traditional bluegrass and modern bluegrass music.

Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Western Illinois Leathernecks Football
2025-10-18 18:00 - 21:00 | WIU Hanson Field

Alpaca Beach Party
2025-10-19 13:00 - 17:00 | Little Creek Alpacas
Come out to Little Creek Alpacas Sunday, October 19th from 1pm-4pm for our 2025 Alpaca Beach Party Season Finale! It’s the last ALPACA BEACH BASH of 2025, so don’t miss out!
30 alpacas roaming in a free range setting, a 2 acre pond you can fish in, and a small white sand beach filled with toys for the kids, and more!
Trail’s End Concessions will be here with their tasty tenderloins, loaded fries, wraps, pulled pork, fruit smoothies, blended coffee drinks, and more.
Lake Hill Winery will be joining us with all your favorite local wines to taste, sip, and enjoy.
Hickory Ridge Homestead will have Fluff the Angora rabbit, and will also be doing spinning demonstrations, so you can see how our alpaca fiber is spun into yarn!
A Tangled Mess Angoras & Crafts will be offering needle felting (ages 8 & up), and you can make your own felted Christmas ornament for just $8! Carol Jean & Jera will be providing live music for our beach party tunes, and there will be several other artisans to shop with too – stay tuned for the full list of vendors!
DJ Megan will be providing our beach party tunes, and there will be several other artisans to shop with too!
Cups of grain to hand feed the alpacas with will be available for $5/cup, and we’ll have all of our alpaca products for sale in the red shelter. Fishing is allowed, our pond is stocked with mostly bass, but there are a few catfish in there somewhere. Bring your own fishing pole, as we do not have them available.
The beach has lots of toys for the kids to play with, this is a family friendly environment. There is no swimming in the pond because I can’t afford a lifeguard, but you can still get your feet wet and get water for your sand castles. We do recommend dressing the kids in swim attire, and/or bringing extra clothes and a towel, so they can get wet and have fun in the sand. We’ve added an additional play area away from the pond, near the food and vendor area. No pets, no smoking, and no chasing the alpacas.
Please be kind and respectful to others. Hand wipes & disinfectant wipes are available, there is no hand sink. We have a sprinkler for rinsing off. There is a port-a-potty but it is not handicap accessible.
FREE ADMISSION for all of our 2025 Alpaca Beach Parties! Donations are always appreciated, but never expected.
**Please note, this is not a petting zoo. Alpacas are similar to a timid cat, they like to get to know you on their own terms. If you insist on trying to pet them before you’ve earned their trust, they will walk or run away from you – the more you insist, the more they will retreat. Be patient, and let them come up to you on their own for the best experience. Hand feeding grain always helps with the introduction, and will entice them to come up to you.
Little Creek Alpacas is within 20-35 minutes of 3 different campgrounds! A great way to take an affordable mini vacation that the kids will love!
Spring Lake in Macomb, IL also has cabins for rent if you’re not a tent camper and don’t have an RV. Spring Lake is approx. 35 minutes from our farm.
Argyle Lake State Park is approx. 20-30 minutes from our farm. Weinberg-King State Fish and Wildlife Area is approx. 20 minutes from our farm.
Not a camper? No problem, Plymouth Rock Roost Bed & Breakfast is just 5 minutes from our farm, or you can find a few different hotels in Macomb, IL (just 30 minutes from our farm).
