Kampsville Old Settlers Days

Kampsville Old Settlers Days will celebrate its 45th annual festival with frontier history, crafts, and family fun along the Illinois River.

Kampsville Old Settlers Days is held on the Illinois River waterfront in Kampsville, Illinois, and is a celebration of local history, pioneer life, and community traditions. The festival dates are:

 October 10, 2026   10a.m.- 5 p.m.

October 11, 2026    10a.m.-4 p.m.

 Admission is free

Festival Highlights:

Historical Reenactments: Reenactors camp in authentic lodges along the river, providing a living-history experience.

Craft Demonstrations: Artisans showcase period crafts such as soap making, pottery throwing, blacksmithing, woodworking, flint knapping, jewelry making,  bow building, and grist milling.

Food and Drink: Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of foods including turkey legs, pulled pork, buffalo burgers and chops, kabobs, coney dogs, baked goods, chicken and dumplings, ham and beans, fried pies, homemade sauerkraut, pork skins, kettle fries and karmel korn cooked in iron kettles, homemade root beer, lemon shakeups, fried fish, fire fries, funnel cakes, candy, bloomin’ onions, Becky’s pickles, and much more.

Entertainment: Flag raising at noon followed by “Back in the Saddle Band.

Activities: The festival offers carriage rides, children’s activities, face painting, candy cannon, and shopping in the many tents.

• Cultural Experience: The event emphasizes a historical setting allowing visitors to experience pioneer life, traditional crafts, and historical demonstrations at one of the “friendliest” events along the bluffs of the Illinois River.

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