Raritan, IL (Henderson County)

July 4th Star Spangled Program: Raritan Opera House, a historic venue, was the site of a program based on John Trumball’s famous painting of the second Continental Congress, “The Declaration of Independence.” A short biographical sketch was given of each member as the actors took the stage and joined the painting.

Canton, IL (Fulton County)

Art on Main Annual Art Festival: Annual juried event with more than 30 vendors of the arts, activities for families, musicians, and local food.

Havana, IL (Mason County)

Tales of the Timeline Exhibits and Companion Presentations: Arts and cultural programming in conduction with First Fridays and also as stand alone events. Guest lecturers and performers.

Canton, IL (Fulton)

Community Concert Series: High-level professional musical entertainment is brought to the Canton area. Programs range between genres such as opera, orchestra, folk music and more.

Carthage, IL (Hancock County)

4-H Cloverbud Visual Arts Camp: Young 4-H members, ages five to seven, are introduced to a variety of hands-on artistic experiences. Interactive stations included working with chalk/carbon/pigment, food decorating, visual arts in nature, and mixed media/3D design.

Macomb, IL (McDonough County)

The Blind Swine Speakeasy: Voices of the Great Migration Series that focuses on the Great Migration and how music of the 1920’s created cross-genre opportunities for Black musicians while highlighting inequity.

Havana, IL (McDonough)

First Fridays 2026: Art exhibits, live demonstrations, and music within the historic downtown business district to elevate arts and culture in the community. August event featured Vickie Trello, who works in pyrography (which means writing with fire) on natural materials such as leather and wood.

Griggsville, IL (Pike County)

Celebrating America - Stepping Stones. Pike County area families are invited to create a patriotic stepping stone to celebrate America’s 250th. The mosaic projects will be displayed at the park.

Rushville, IL (Schuyler County)

Night Market Night of curated fine crafters and artisans featuring live music and performances by The HUB’s Historic Dancers and Ukulele Club.

Macomb, IL (McDonough)

McDonough Choral Society nurtures and cultivates classical choral music in McDonough County. Concerts are held throughout the seasons.

Lewistown, IL (Fulton County)

Artists in Residence (AIR) Program: Artists immerse themselves in the local community and habitat at the Emiquon Preserve and create nature inspired works of arts. Science of the floodplain restoration is joined with artistic perspectives. (Painting “Emiquon Sunrise” by AIR artist Basia Krol)

Winchester, IL (Scott County)

Music and Storytelling about Scott County. Musician and songwriter Dan Eilers, along with Cyndi Helling, shared songs and tales about Scott County from the Tales From Two Rivers book series.

Kampsville, IL (Calhoun)

Wild Clay and Kiln Building Workshop Participants learned pottery making techniques once used in ancient Illinois and around the world during a one week workshop. They harvested their own clay, made functional vessels, and fired them under the guidance of ceramics artist Kyle Bird.

Mt. Sterling, IL (Brown County)

Art at the Market and Creative Connections for Mental Wellness: Free, Inclusive arts programming by integrating creative activities into the Mt. Sterling Farmers Market. Also, a community arts initiative focused on mental health and emotional well being through a series of workshops.

Macomb, IL (McDonough County)

Moving Minds: Sensory-friendly family event designed to explore creativity, advocacy, sustainability and human rights through interactive and low-pressure arts activities.

Lewistown, IL (Fulton County)

Edgar Lee Masters Day Art Show and Spoon River Anthology Cemetery Tour. Junior and adult art show and live readings of selected poems at historic Oak Hill Cemetery.

Bryant, IL (Fulton County)

Princess Whatsername: Musical Youth Theater. An annual summer program where children learn stagecraft: acting, singing, blocking and movement culminating in a performance at Lewistown High School.

Frederick, IL (Schuyler County)

Posters and Pies: An event to showcase local artists who are printmakers. Also, the community shared their own collections of fine art posters and prints. Performances by local musicians.

Canton, IL (Fulton County)

Twentieth Anniversary Concert of Handel’s Messiah and Olio. Sixty volunteer singers, Western IL University International String Quartet and instrumentalists.

Biggsville, IL (Henderson County)

25th Anniversary Celebration of the HCPL: The day long event featured local authors, artists, and musicians . Families enjoyed free arts and crafts hands on stations.

Beardstown, IL (Cass County)

Beardstown Park District is more than a provider of athletic opportunity. For decades, they have provided arts programming for their diverse population. This year’s show featured 30 children from the Beardstown Park District Summer Park Program Theater class under direction of Racquel Jensen.

Rushville, IL (Schuyler County)

Schuy-PAC has been busy! Tobias Washburn in concert on the “Mighty Wurlitzer” during Rushville Smiles Day. Tours of RIHS Performing Arts Center and the 1924 Wurlitzer Theater Organ.

Macomb, IL (McDonough County)

Rising Stars: Youth Theatre Experience. A three week summer camp where children create stories, scripts, original music, dance and costumes. It culminates in a full production.

Rushville IL (Schuyler County)

Annual summer children’s theatrical production where youth are involved in all aspects of production: acting, costume, set design for a large and loyal group of community followers.

Canton, IL (Fulton County)

The Spoon River Mussel Trail: Art and tourism initiative featuring ten large-scale mussel sculptures installed across Fulton County communities. Artists painted designs reflecting local history and culture.

Hardin, IL (Calhoun County)

Annie, the Musical: A full performance of the play Annie by the community-based performing arts group led by Jerry Sievers. This rural county goes all out with 60+ people from children to senior citizens involved in putting on a show. Four performances in Kampsville were attended by 400+.

Pittsfield, IL (Pike County)

2026 Spring Semester Art Courses: art experiences for local youth where art education is not provided in school or is very limited.

Jerseyville, IL (Jersey County)

Classes, trips, art galore! Community arts organization provides outlet for regional artists to display, instructional and educational opportunities for all ages.

Beardstown, IL (Cass County)

Freaky Friday the Musical: Beardstown Grand Opera House, a historic venue, was the site of a performance of Freaky Friday the Musical during summer programming.

Macomb, IL (McDonough County)

64th Annual Gazebo Art Festival featured 30+ artists, children’s activities, live entertainment, local foods in historic park.

White Hall, IL (Greene County)

Youth Art for Community Garden: Art signage that combines public art with education. Local youth design colorful signs.

Ellisville, IL (Fulton County)

Hickory Ridge Concert Series offers live folk music programming at the historic Ellisville Opera House.

Canton, IL

Into the Woods, the Stephen Sondheim musical. was performed as a highlight of year 17 of the chorus, under the auspices of the SRC Foundation. Visual artist David Gregory designed and painted the scenic background.

Canton, IL

Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development and Canton Main Street sponsor the annual fine arts festival with art sales, music, local foods and children’s activities.

Rushville, IL

The Hub Arts and Cultural Center’s annual outdoor Night Market, featuring arts and crafts vendors, live music, and local foods.

Macomb, IL

“Forgottonia” planning grant to create a show based on rural Illinois. Show will include original music by Vallillo enhanced with visual artwork created by local artists featuring images of the region.

Canton, IL

Monthly outdoor Art Gatherings with a venue packed with regional artists, local food vendors, outreach by nonprofit organizations, and activities for families.

Frederick, IL

Local songwriters and musicians are showcased at the annual event held outdoors at the historic Farwell House.

Havana, IL

Mason County Arts Council worked with community to present programs such as Christmas Holidays Around the World in December and a series of readings from the autobiography The Last of the Market Hunters, written by local author Dale Hamm.

Beardstown, IL

“Happily Never After” was performed by 15 youth during the park district’s annual summer theater and arts programs.

Havana, IL

The Riverfront Concert Series is a free, family friendly, Americana music series held monthly during the summer in a park overlooking the Illinois River.

Mt. Sterling, IL

Art supplies were purchased for the 2nd Annual Brown County Summer Bash, co-sponsored with Action Brown County.

Pittsfield, IL

Abe Lincoln Project and Looking for Lincoln in Pike County annual event featuring Civil War era music by Chris Vallillo and the Alton jaeger Guard Fife and Drum Corps.

Pittsfield IL

Pike County Art Guild works with community projects such as the Pike County Art Center and Picture Pittsfield to provide arts activities for all ages, including children.

Carthage, IL

Chris Vallillo presented a music and history program called Abraham Lincoln in Song. The program included story-telling anecdotes specific to Hancock County, along with an exhibit about Lincoln’s extended family who resided in the area.

Kampsville, IL

Annual Event Center for American Archeology and Calhoun Art Guild sponsor the annual event to share anthropology education and traditional arts.

Oquawka IL

A community-wide event was held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the burial of a circus elephant named Norma Jean in the town park. Citizens of all ages created freestyle paintings of elephants, along with other arts and history activities.

Macomb, IL

Rising Stars summer program for children in grades 1-8 offers creative and collaborative theater and arts performance activities.

Smithfield, IL

The legacy of Harold Kee Welch (painter, sculptor and illustrator) is celebrated in his hometown. Chico Welch, musician and artist, gives tours and demonstrations. Events include the Spoon River Scenic Drive, with activities featuring area visual and musical artists.

Hardin, IL

Calhoun Entertainment Company, with Director Jerry Sievers, presented four performances of The Little Mermaid. CEC has been performing musicals and other productions since 1989.

Rushville, IL

Pandora's Playhouse is a not-for-profit organization is dedicated to bringing live theater and entertainment to the area with 3-4 shows a year. A summer production is geared toward youth participation.

Macomb, IL

Music On Our Front Porch family friendly summer programming with live music, cultural exchange, children’s activities and local foods.

Jerseyville, IL

Musical theater program at the public county-wide high school in Jerseyville. Rural high school students performed The Addams Family, a musical comedy.

Canton, IL

The Playhouse offers three performances per year, including a children’s musical performance of Snow White and a mystery theater show called Music in the Key of Murder.