Fallen Soldiers 5K
2025-10-04 09:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | 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, 2025-11-01 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, 2025-11-04 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.

Wine & Wax!
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!

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).

Autumn Guided Tour
2025-10-20 10:30 - 11:30 | Lakeview Nature Center, 10050 N 1500th Rd, Macomb, IL, United States
This outdoor tour will explore the history , biodiversity, & some of our favorite autumnal sights! There will even be a taste of harvested honey from our community apiary on-site!

Noticing Nature: A Curious Guide for Sprouts
2025-10-24 16:00 - 17:00 | Lakeview Nature Center, 10050 N 1500th Rd, Macomb, IL, United States
The seasonal rhythm of the natural world is full of wonder and can be a constant companion that offers new surprises every day! Come out to Lakeview for this FREE nature-based learning program!

Stargazing at the Park
2025-10-24 18:30 - 20:30 | Argyle Lake State Park, 640 Argyle Park Rd. , Colchester, IL, 62326, United States
Join us for three evenings of stargazing with retired WIU astronomy instructor Tom Van Heuklon and hobby astronomist Larry Knicl. Depending on the date, we will have the opportunity to observe planets and the Moon and Mars (June), Mars, Pluto and the Moon (August), Saturn, Pluto and Neptune and possibly remnants of the Orionids meteor shower (October); and many deep sky objects including star clusters, nebulae, other galaxies; and the varying seasonal constellations. These programs will be held at the parking lot near the park’s Sunset shelter (1st left turn upon entering the park). For your comfort, bring a chair or blanket, insect repellent, and a flashlight. To make viewing safer, observing will be done using a telescope connected to a video screen, rather than a telescope eyepiece. In the event of inclement weather or poor visibility, these programs may be canceled, so call before heading out if the sky isn’t clear. For more information, please call (309)776-3422 or email Bridget.Hinchee@illinois.gov

Moon Over Macomb
2025-10-25 | Courthouse square, IL, 61455, United States
More details to come!

Atkinson McCord Cemetery Tour
2025-10-25 10:00 - 12:00 | Argyle Lake State Park, 640 Argyle Park Rd. , Colchester, IL, 62326, United States
Join park staff for a historical walking tour of the Atkinson/McCord Cemetery located on the park’s property. Participants should be able to walk ½ mile on moderate terrain to access the cemetery. Meet at the park visitor center or at the trap range area. For more information, please call (309)776-3422 or email Bridget.Hinchee@illinois.gov

Fall Western Illinois Fiber Festival
2025-10-25 10:00 - 16:00 | McDonough County 4-H Center
Come out to the fall Western Illinois Fiber Festival on Sat., Oct. 25th from 10am-4pm at the McDonough County 4-H Center in Macomb, IL. Get the chance to meet & shop with fiber farmers, dyers, and artisans, and learn to needle felt! Carding and spinning demonstrations will be going on throughout the day, bring your wheel and spin along if you’d like! Alpaca Pines LLC Farm & Fiber Mill will be accepting mill orders, for information and forms for fiber processing please visit their website: www.alpacapines.com
Farm to table meals from C&N Farms and Aly’s Bakehouse Kitchen, there will be tables to eat and/or craft at, or you can get your food to-go.Stay tuned for more details and the vendor list!

Post 6 BIG Band
2025-10-29 19:00 - 21:00 | American Legion Post 6, 221 E. Washington Street, Macomb, United States
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
POST 6 BIG BAND
American Legion 221 East Washington St., Macomb, IL
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 August—April
Except November and a Special Christmas Edition presented on the 2nd Wednesday, December 10
Admission is free, but there will be a free-will donation to support the band.
Cold Drinks Available for Purchase

Intro To Pastel
2025-11-01 10:00 - 13:00 | Macomb Arts Center
Whether you’re a beginner or looking to explore a new medium, this Macomb Arts Center class will introduce you to the fundamentals of pastel painting while giving you the tools and confidence to create your own artwork.
Learn about the properties of soft pastels from Tracey Mara, including application techniques, blending methods, and layering for depth and texture.
Gain insight into how pastels can be used for everything from sketching to fully developed paintings.

Day in Clay: Speckled Grater Dish
2025-11-01 12:00 - 16:00 | Macomb Park District Ceramic Studio, 1406 N Randolph St. , Macomb, IL, United States
Join us in the studio this month as we create a speckled grater dish that you can enjoy using year after year! *Day in Clay Workshops are open to all ages, all skill levels, and we request that young children be accompanied by an enrolled adult.

Conservation Book Club
2025-11-03 18:00 - 20:00 | The Wine Sellers
Join PLC’s Conservation Book Club as we read Winter World: the ingenuity of animal survival by Bernd Heinrich. Learn with us how animals adapt to survive the unique challenges of winter as we enter this season ourselves this fall!
The book club meets at The Wine Sellers in Macomb from 6-8pm on Monday nights.
​Please register at the link below for this three-part event. Can only attend one of the days? Then we’d still love to have you join us!
prairielandconservancy.org/events

Wednesdays Wine Run/Walk
2025-11-05 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

First Friday
2025-11-07 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.
