Yahoo Sports Twenty-one holiday season events to choose from in this week’s southwest IL calendar
Noon Friday, Dec. 9, is the deadline to appear in next week’s What’s Happening. We must receive your event in writing with a contact phone number for questions.
Due to the number of submissions received, events may run only one time in print, will be edited and appear the week before the event date.
Email: lifestyle@bnd.com. Mail to: Lifestyle, Belleville News-Democrat, P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.
Holiday Happenings
▪ Forever Vintage Christmas Market — 3-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. Belle-Clair Fairgrounds & Expo Center, 200 South Belt East, Belleville. A buying weekend to Find the most perfect Christmas gifts. Vendors from all around the country vending repurposed, industrial, vintage, architectural salvage, antiques, primitives, handmade, furniture, boutique and more. Admission: First Pick Friday $10 (good for all weekend), $5 Saturday and Sunday, kids 12 and under free. bcfairgrounds.net
▪ Christmas Cookie Walk — 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 10. Trinity Lutheran Church, 503 E. Washington St., Millstadt. Stock up on all your favorite homemade holiday cookies, which will be sold by the pound — $12 per pound for mixed cookies, $13 per pound for fancy cookies. Advance orders welcome. For info or to place an order: 618-476-1113.
▪ Second annual Share-A-Toy Drive — Through 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13. Office of State Rep. David Friess, 143 S. Main St., Red Bud. Each year there are hundreds of children that have minimal or no gifts under the tree. Please help us keep this from happening again. Toys collected will be donated to local organizations in Monroe, Randolph and Perry counties that include House of Neighborly Services, DuQuoin JC’s and Toys for Tots. 618-282-7284.
▪ Holiday Food Drive — 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday through Wednesday, Dec. 21. Office of State Rep. Amy Elik, 192 Alton Square Mall Drive, Suite C, Alton. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off during operating hours. All collected items will be donated to the Crisis Food Center in Alton. 618-433-8046.
▪ Belleville Christkindlmarkt — 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 22; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23. Public Square, Downtown Belleville. Features unique European and handcrafted items, food, photos, petting zoo and much more. 618-233-6769 or bellevillechristkindlmarkt.com.
▪ Gateway Arch Park Foundation Seventh annual Winterfest — 4-8 p.m. Fridays and noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through Sunday, Jan. 1. Kiener Plaza, 500 Chestnut St., St. Louis. Family-friendly activities include ice skating, s’mores stations, igloos underneath 100,000 twinkling lights and more. archpark.org/winterfest
▪ Hiking Through the Holidays — 5-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Friday, Dec. 23. Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Road, Godfrey. Hike the campus trail behind the Andy Simpson Tennis Complex. The lighted trail is open to the public. Hike at your own risk. Trail is not ADA compliant. Blazer the Newfie appearances from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 10, 17 and 23. 618-468-6003 or facebook.com/events/510677284435160.
▪ Christmas Wonderland Light Display — 6-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 5-9 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through Tuesday, Dec. 27. Rock Spring Park, 2100 College Ave., Alton. More than 4 million lights will twinkle against the beautiful backdrop of Rock Spring Park, lighting the way toward another illuminating holiday season. The popular Enchanted Forest will also be open this year for visitors. Holiday trees are decorated by community organizations, schools and scout groups. Visitors to the park vote on their favorite and the organization’s tree with the most votes receives a cash prize. Santa will once again be back at the Santa House. Family members are encouraged to take their own photos with Santa at no charge. Admission to Christmas Wonderland is a suggested donation of $7 for cars and small vans or $1 per person for vehicles holding more than 10 people. 800-258-6645 or riversandroutes.com.
▪ Santa’s House — Hours vary by day. Through Saturday, Dec. 24. Public Square, downtown Belleville. Santa’s House is always bright, clean and shiny each Christmas season, ready for children to come and visit Santa. Santa’s House resides at Belleville’s public square as a safe place for children and families of the community to visit Santa Claus. Santa is in his house from Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve each year. For hours: facebook.com/SantasHouseBelleville.
▪ 53rd annual Way of Lights Christmas Display — 5-9 p.m. nightly through Saturday, Dec. 31. National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, 442 S. De Mazenod Drive, Belleville. Wintertime sparkles at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows as the Annual Way of Lights Christmas display illuminates the grounds. This breathtaking display focuses on the birth of Christ, the one true light of the world. Come inside to experience the Twelve Days of Christmas Tree Room, Wreath Auction, Shrine Gift Shop, community music performances and LEGO Brick Display. Free admission to the outdoor light display. Paid features include camel, donkey and pony rides, petting zoo, kettle corn, food booth, carriage rides, and more. 618-397-6700 or snows.org/wayoflights.
▪ Lebanon’s Winter Wonderland — 5-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 5-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Saturday, Dec. 31. Horner Park, 11113 Widicus Road, Lebanon. Enjoy a mixture of colorful lights with beautiful cut-outs depicting scenes and whimsical adventures. lebanonswinterwonderland.org
▪ 10th annual Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden — Hours vary by date. Through Saturday, Jan. 7. Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis. Immerse yourself in a wonderland of more than 1.5 million lights, including spectacular new shows and favorite holiday tradition. New this year: A spectacular new show fills the pools in front of the Climatron with more than 100,000 lights. Advanced tickets are strongly encouraged to guarantee the date/time of your choosing. Tickets range from $3 to $22. Family Nights, which include $3 children’s tickets, are Wednesday nights through Dec. 14. Garden Glow is closed December 24 and 25. For more information, visit mobot.org/glow.
▪ U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo — 5-8:30 p.m. on select nights only through Friday, Dec. 30. Saint Louis Zoo, 1 Government Drive, St. Louis. ‘Tis the season for holiday lights and sweaters! The dazzling holiday event features brand-new light displays and themed areas. Warm up with winter-themed treats, and say hello to the animals at Penguin & Puffin Coast and the Insectarium. For tickets and info: stlzoo.org/wildlights.
Events
▪ Free New Book Giveaway — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays the month of December or until all books are distributed. YWCA Southwestern Illinois, 304 E. Third St., Alton. YWCA has 80 plus titles of books with multiple copies of each title. The majority of the books are hard back. All books are in excellent condition and are suitable for holiday gift giving. Books will be distributed on a first come first served basis. 618-465-7774 or altonywca.com.
▪ KSHE Blood Drive — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. The Gallery, Hatheway Cultural Center, Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Road, Godfrey. For an appointment: blooddrive.kshe95.com.
▪ Rummage Sale — 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 10. Township Building, 801 E. State St., O’Fallon. Men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, plus household items will be available.
▪ Metals & Electronics Recycle Drive — 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 10. Public Parking Lot, 227 W. Main St., Collinsville. Accepting office equipment, vehicles, electronics, batteries, appliances, machinery. Fees for TV/Monitor, CRT. No paper, glass, plastic, wood, cardboard or tires. 618-344-7232.
▪ 219th Anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11. Lewis and Clark State Historic Site Interpretive Center, 1 Lewis and Clark Trail, Hartford. Reenactors and demonstrators will interpret what life was like for members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition while wintering at Camp River Dubois from December 1803 to May 1804. Visitors will see how the training and preparation at Camp River Dubois forged the Corps of Discovery and prepared it for a strenuous journey. Free and open to the public. campdubois.com
▪ Belleville Main Street Diva’s Night Out — 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15. Register at Abe’s Gourmet Popcorn, 101 E. Main St., Belleville. A $10 passport includes merchant raffles and prizes drawn at 8 p.m. at Margarita’s Mexican Restaurant. Join your friends dressed at favorite Christmas characters. Proceeds go to the Friends of the Belleville Public Library. bellevillemainstreet.net
Games
▪ Mahjong — 12:30 p.m. Fridays. PSOP, 201 N. Church St., Belleville. Join the group and play this popular tile game. American version. 618-234-4410, ext. 7034 or ext. 7044. Sponsored by the St. Clair County Office on Aging.
▪ Euchre — 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9. Smithton Senior Center, 711 S. Main St., Smithton. Doors open at 6 p.m. Partner night. Snacks welcome. Water, soda and coffee will be available for purchase. Masks not required. 618-791-8769 or 618-698-3785.
▪ Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge Sunday Night Bingo — 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge, 2425 N. Illinois St., Swansea. Games start at 6:30 p.m. Early Bird at 6:15 p.m. Cards sold at 5 p.m. Open to the public. Bring a canned good for one free card.
▪ Metro Cribbage Club — 12:30 p.m. Mondays. American Legion Post 365, 1022 Vandalia St., Collinsville. For more information, contact Yvonne Bright, 618-344-1521 or ybrightmail@gmail.com.
Theater/Concerts
▪ Christmas in St. Louis: A Gift to the City, featuring Erin Bode — 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8. Missouri History Museum, Lee Auditorium, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis. Happy hour and pop-up activities at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, and guests are encouraged to come early as seating is first-come, first-served. mohistory.org
▪ Golden Anniversaries: ‘The Godfather’ — 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. St. Louis Public Library, 1301 Olive St., St. Louis. Winner of the Oscar for Best Picture — and now widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time — “The Godfather,” based on Mario Puzo’s novel of the same name, focuses on the powerful Italian-American crime family of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). Intro and discussion by Vincent Casaregola, professor of English and director of the Film Studies Program at Saint Louis University. cinemastlouis.org/godfather
▪ Alton Symphony Orchestra: Ride, Rhythm and Razzle Dazzle — 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. Ann Whitney Olin Theatre, Hatheway Cultural Center, Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Road, Godfrey. Tickets available at altonsymphonyorchestra.org.
▪ Heartland Community Chorus presents ‘Celebrate Christmas Joy!’ — 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. St. Paul Catholic Church, 1411 Main St., Highland. The concert will feature new and old Christmas music with a brass ensemble, percussion, and woodwinds. It’s a perfect way to start your Christmas festivities. Tickets are $15 each; ages 16 and under are free. heartlandcommunitychorus.org
▪ Holiday Pops Christmas Spectacular — 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. Lincoln Theatre, 103 E. Main St., Belleville. Make the most of the Belleville Christmas with this Pops Concert for the whole family, featuring the Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale and Bob Heil at the theater organ. Admission: $15 adults, $5 children. bellevillephilharmonic.org
▪ Metro East Community Chorale — 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 115 W. B St., Belleville. The concert includes a variety of holiday favorites including “Breath of Heaven”, “Mary’s Little Boy Child” and many more. Directed by Stephen Wilson, accompanied by Carol Brookshier and a 15-piece orchestra, it promises to be a musical afternoon to help usher in the Christmas season.
▪ Masterworks Chorale and Children’s Chorus: Christmas at the Cathedral — 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. Cathedral of St. Peter, 200 W. Harrison St., Belleville. Guest performers: Gateway Brass Quintet; Dr. Stephen Mager, Artistic Director. Tickets are available at singmasterworks.org.
▪ McKendree Presents: It’s Okay to Be Different — 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12. Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, 400 N. Alton St., Lebanon. Three contemporary stories by New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Todd Parr adapted and staged by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. For very young audiences, the hour-long production features three books from his collection. For tickets and info: thehett.com.
▪ Christmas Presence, featuring Terry Barber — 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14. Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, 400 N. Alton St., Lebanon. A classically-trained countertenor with an extremely broad range and versatile voice, Terry Barber breathes new life into beloved Christmas songs and world-favorites. For tickets and info: thehett.com.
▪ Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion Christmas Show — 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15. The Fabulous Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Also available Livestream. Take a break from the whirlwind of holiday shopping and cooking and decorating and planning, and schedule some plain old fun. We’ve got just the thing for you — and your visiting relatives too: Garrison Keillor takes his Prairie Home Companion Christmas Show to the Fabulous Fox. For tickets and info: https://bit.ly/3BbTnTS
▪ US Air Force Band of Mid-America: ‘Spirit of the Season’ — 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. Mascoutah High School, 1313 W. Main St., Mascoutah. This is a family-friendly, all-ages event. This year’s event features a special guest reading of “Hababy’s Christmas Eve” by Santa himself. This is the first year this particular story has been featured in one of their concerts. It is based on the book by Jamie Farr (Klinger from MASH) and will be accompanied by music written by the Band of Mid-America’s Staff Composer and Arranger, Master Sgt. Jeremy Martin. Free admission, but tickets are required: https://bit.ly/3glDGlO.
Clubs & Support Groups
▪ Parents of Addicted Loved Ones — 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Online via Zoom. The PAL group provides education, support and hope to family members and loved ones of someone who has an addiction of substance use disorder. Free and open to all. For info or to join the Zoom meeting, contact Craig at 618-567-6095. palgroup.org
▪ O’Fallon Sunrise Rotary Meeting — 6:45 a.m. Wednesdays. O’Fallon Township Building, 801 E. State St., O’Fallon. 618-210-8156 or ofallonsunriserotary.org
▪ Bible Study Fellowship Women’s Classes — 9:30-11 a.m. and 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. St. Matthew Church, 1200 Moreland Drive, Belleville. Morning classes include teaching for newborn through Pre-K. Together with other women, we will be studying the later history of Israel. For info or to register, call or leave a message with Jane at 618-520-8357 or Candy at 618-363-3285.
▪ The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern IL (NAMI SWI) — 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14. Heights Community Church, 2227 Vandalia, Collinsville and online via Zoom. For family members or other caregivers of someone who has a mental illness. Meetings held the second Wednesday of each month. For information, contact Kelly at kellyjefferson@charter.net or call NAMI at 618-798-9788.
▪ Belleville Community Band — 7:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays. Belleville Philharmonic Hall, 116 N. Jackson St., Belleville. Currently seeking new members, particularly woodwinds, percussion and tuba. Visit the Belleville Community Band Facebook page for more info.
Food
▪ O’Fallon Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Fridays. Knights of Columbus Hall, 402 E. U.S. 50, O’Fallon. Traditional menu of cod, tilapia, catfish, hamburgers, hot dogs, pork steaks and several side dishes. Dine-in and carryout. Credit cards accepted. Orders can be called in at 618-632-6229. facebook.com/KnightsOfColumbus4239
▪ Swansea Fish Stand – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 216 Service St., Swansea. Cod, walleye, catfish, shrimp and more. Saturday: fried chicken. Open for carryout, call-in and dine-in orders. 618-222-7171. facebook.com/swanseafishstand
▪ Aviston Legion Fish Fry — 4:30-7 p.m. Fridays. American Legion Post 1239, 601 S. Clinton, Aviston. Cod (baked or fried), catfish, shrimp, chicken strips, fries, baked potato, slaw, applesauce. Dine-in and carryout. 618-228-7311. avistonlegion.com
▪ Okawville American Legion Fish Fry — 5-8 p.m. Fridays. American Legion Post 233, 205 N. Hanover St., Okawville. Dine in or carryout. Also serving lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday with a salad bar. Pizza made fresh and served every day. facebook.com/OkawvilleLegion
Reservations Required
▪ Virtual Saturday Morning Yoga — 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. Online via Zoom. Get fit and healthy when you join us for an energizing session of yoga with instructor Sarah Hartwig. Space is limited. Registration required. Register at glencarbonlibrary.org.
▪ ImpactLife Blood Drive — 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13. HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, 3 St. Elizabeth’s Blvd., SLU Conference Room, O’Fallon. Appointments are required. 800-747-5401 or bloodcenter.org/group and use code 10155.
▪ Virtual Evening Flow Yoga — 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14. Online via Zoom. A Slow Flow mixed levels practice that will lead you through a series of yoga poses that focus on strengthening, lengthening, and stretching. Requires Registration. Instructed by Anne Hughes. Register at glencarbonlibrary.org.
