Alton Expo Planned For Spring 2027, Amphitheater Agreement Extension Advances
Alton Committee of the Whole Discusses Park Alton TIF Request and Public Comment Rules
ALTON – The Alton Expo is expected to return next spring as the Alton Amphitheater prepares for another season of entertainment.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
Alton Committee of the Whole members voted unanimously to send two resolutions to the City Council for final approval this Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. These include an extension of the city's 2026 agreement with Contemporary Productions regarding the Alton Amphitheater’s 2027 season and an agreement with Luehr’s Ideal Rides for the Alton Amphitheater Commission to host a Spring Expo.
The city previously announced the Alton Expo would not be held in 2026 or 2027 due to a “scheduling conflict with the carnival company,” Luehrs’ Ideal Rides. Instead, the city hosted a First Responders Springfest Carnival from April 10-19, 2026.
City Council Coordinator Beth Bear said the new agreement with Luehrs’ Ideal Rides seeks to bring the expo back while working around the scheduling conflict by setting the 2027 expo to run in the spring before returning to the event’s traditional fall schedule starting in 2028.
Under the agreement, Luehrs’ Ideal Rides would provide carnival rides music, food and game concessions in the parking lot of the Alton Amphitheater from April 9-18, 2027. The city would agree to provide all required permits, as well as a water source, dumpsters, restrooms and police protection. The Alton Police Department previously announced certain enhanced security measures implemented for the Springfest Carnival.
Also approved was an extension to the city’s 2026 agreement with Contemporary Productions for the company to provide concert booking and production services for the 2027 Alton Amphitheater season.
The agreement covers two to four concerts for the 2027 season with an event budget of $200,000. Programming could include a combination of national, regional and/or local artists, though the final number and variety of concerts will depend on artist availability, budgeting and other factors.
Both items are now set for final consideration and approval by the Alton City Council at their next meeting this Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. A recording of the Oct. 26, 2026 Alton Committee of the Whole meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.
More like this:
- Most Popular
- Top Stories
- Most Recent
