Art fairs, festivals and live music pack the Riverbend weekend
A busy Sept. 25-27 lineup includes the Edwardsville Art Fair, farmers markets, fundraisers, concerts and family festivals across the Riverbend.
From juried art and live music to community festivals, fundraisers, markets and family activities, the Riverbend has a packed slate of upcoming events. Find even more options on the complete RiverBender.com Events calendar.
RBGA LeadHERship Seminar will bring women of all ages and backgrounds together Friday, Sept. 25, at Enjoy Church in Alton for an annual half-day program designed to inspire, uplift and empower. Doors open at 11 a.m., with the seminar beginning at 12:30 p.m. and concluding by 4 p.m. Speakers Erin Bickle and Jackie Duty will focus on leadership, confidence and connection, and the event includes lunch, beverages, local business participation and a purse raffle. Individual tickets are $40 for RiverBend Growth Association members and $50 for the general public.
Alton Block Party for Good continues Friday, Sept. 25, at Soulcial Square in Alton as Soulcial Kitchen hosts its monthly fourth-Friday community event. The free gathering includes access to the St. Louis Area Foodbank's Food on the Move free grocery trailer, free health care services from OSF HealthCare Community Outreach Teams and free meals from the Big Meechie Food Truck while supplies last from 2 to 4 p.m.
2026 Edwardsville Art Fair returns to historic City Park in Edwardsville for a free, three-day outdoor juried arts celebration hosted by the Edwardsville Arts Center. The fair features approximately 100 local, regional, national and international artists, along with art for purchase, local performing arts, live demonstrations, a children's art gallery and food and drink vendors. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. A complimentary shuttle will run between the 2nd Street Public Parking Lot and the Kansas and Park Street Public Parking Lot near City Park.
Shotgun Creek Live at VFW Post 1308 brings live music to Alton from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25. The performance at VFW Post 1308 is open to the public.
Alton Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market 2026 Season! continues from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 26, at the corner of Landmarks Boulevard and Henry Street in downtown Alton. The rain-or-shine market features locally grown seasonal produce, grass-fed beef, pasture-raised poultry, farm fresh eggs, local honey, coffee, bread, baked goods, flowers, plants, handcrafted artwork and ready-to-eat food, with a Piasa Bird photo opportunity with Megyme Productions scheduled for Sept. 26.
30th Annual Wings-n-Wheels Fly-In lands at St. Louis Regional Airport in East Alton on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27. Visitors can walk the tarmac, tour aircraft and enjoy food trucks, vendors and a kids zone, with free admission for visitors. Saturday includes aircraft displays and the Speed Demons Car Show, while Sunday features free Young Eagles flights for youth ages 8 to 17, weather permitting and with online registration only, plus Bethalto's Farmers Market. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days, and car show entry is $20 per show car.
2026 Annual Hamilton Primary School Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, at Hamilton Primary School in Otterville. The community festival supports the restoration of the school and features live entertainment, school tours, a veterans tribute, bake-off, raffle, craft vendors and an outdoor church service. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Village of Godfrey Fall Festival brings seasonal fun to Robert E. Glazebrook Community Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. The Great Godfrey Maze and its attractions will be open, and the festival also includes food trucks, vendors and children's activities such as face painting, balloon art and inflatables.
Marquette Catholic Mega Raffle Homecoming Block Party 2026 will be held Saturday, Sept. 26, in front of Marquette Catholic High School in Alton. The annual event includes live music from The Yacht Rockets, food, drinks and the $50,000 Mega Raffle drawing. Mega Raffle tickets are on sale, with a buy two, get one free offer and weekly $1,000 drawings leading up to the event.
FREE Concert at the Grafton Vineyards, sponsored by the Jersey County Arts Council, will feature the New Horizons Band at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at Grafton Winery the Vineyards. The band will perform movie classics, Big Band favorites and popular American tunes, and visitors can plan a day trip to the Vineyards, which open at 11 a.m., for lunch, wine and music.
Friday, Sept. 25, 2026
Healthy Aging Panel at SSP - Sponsored by AARP - Sept. 25th will bring panelists from Alton Memorial Hospital, OSF St. Anthony's Hospital and Alton Physical Therapy to Senior Services Plus Inc. in Alton for a free program on healthy aging. Doors open at 11 a.m., lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m. and the presentation begins at noon. Registration is required.
IgniteHER Fire Program begins Friday, Sept. 25, at QEM Fire Protection District in Grafton for women ages 16 to 45 who want hands-on experience learning what it is like to be a firefighter. The three-day program runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, with participants wearing turnout gear and learning firefighting tactics under instructor supervision.
In Harmony with Nature will pair music and the outdoors at The Nature Institute in Godfrey on Friday, Sept. 25. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a picnic opportunity at the Skeet Range, followed by a 6 p.m. performance by the Alton High School Symphonic Orchestra on the Mississippi Bluffs. Fees are $12 for adults, $6 for students ages 13 to 17 and free for children 12 and younger.
September Sunset Series wraps up its September schedule from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the Alton Amphitheater with Borderline performing country music. The free riverfront concert also includes food from Pig on a Wing and Jewel Ice Cream, beverages available for purchase and space for guests to bring lawn chairs or blankets.
SIUE COUGARFEST - Rock the Quad! kicks off SIUE Homecoming and Family Weekend on Friday, Sept. 25, at the SIUE Stratton Quad in Edwardsville. The free event features live music from Jackson & Mars, food trucks, interactive activities and a Route 66-themed drone show, with registration strongly encouraged.
5th Annual 24-Hour Laps for Leaps brings nonstop endurance racing to Highland Speedway from 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, through 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. The Leaps of Love fundraiser supports families affected by childhood cancer and includes food trucks, kids zone activities and driver challenge hours. Grandstand admission is $10, kids 12 and under are free, and pit passes are $20, with admissions valid for all 24 hours.
The Carole King & James Taylor Story September 25, 7:30pm & 26, 2:30pm returns to the Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville with performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Phoebe Katis and Dan Clews present songs from the careers of Carole King and James Taylor, including favorites such as “Fire and Rain,” “Sweet Baby James,” “I Feel the Earth Move,” “Natural Woman” and “You've Got a Friend.”
Trails Closed notes that The Nature Institute in Godfrey will be closed to hikers Friday, Sept. 25, as staff prepare for In Harmony with Nature, the concert performed by the Alton High School Symphonic Orchestra.
Teen Movie Night at Hayner Library in Alton invites teens to gather for a movie on the big screen, snacks and a post-movie conversation about what they watched.
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
CHURCH INDOOR SALE will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, in the lower level of the Center at 101 W. Elm St. in Alton. The Church of the Living God event features clothing, furniture, toys, books, decor and other items in a family-friendly setting.
2026 International Coin Fair. World Coin Club of Mo. will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at St. Peter's Parish Center Annex in St. Charles, Missouri. The coin show offers free admission and free parking.
618 Precious Metals Public Buying Event comes to Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Alton on Saturday, Sept. 26, offering higher percentage payouts for gold, silver, coins, platinum and valuables. Guests who bring a friend can receive an extra $20 each when they complete a qualifying transaction.
Fall E-Cycle Event, hosted by the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce, will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, at Triad High School in Troy. Services include responsible electronics recycling, secure document shredding, tire collection, prescription medication drop-off and eyeglasses and hearing aids drop-off.
Veterans Stand Up Stand Down 2026 will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Soldiers Memorial Military Museum in St. Louis. The event offers veterans access to housing assessments, legal support, ID services, therapy animals, Department of Defense surplus supplies and more at no cost.
SIUE Cougars Unleashed Homecoming Run & Pancake Breakfast starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the SIUE Stratton Quad in Edwardsville. The 11th annual event offers a 10K, 5K and fun run as part of SIUE's Homecoming and Family Weekend, with proceeds supporting SIUE Alumni Association scholarships and programs.
Known & Grown Farm Tour at Three Rivers Community Farm invites visitors to Elsah on Saturday, Sept. 26, for a look at the farm's 20th season in operation. Guests can learn about local vegetable production, including Midwest-grown ginger and turmeric, and shop at the pop-up farm stand.
Model Train Open House - FREE will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Metro East Model Railroad Club's clubhouse in Glen Carbon's Old Town Hall/Firehouse. Visitors can watch trains run on the club's 18-by-27-foot HO scale model railroad, and admission is free.
Alton Art Expo 2 will bring art and mental health advocacy to The Old Bakery Beer Company in Alton from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. Presented by Mooneyham Art, Old Bakery Beer Company and Centerstone, the event features curated collections from more than 40 regional artists, workshops, expert-led programming and donations benefiting local citizens in need.
SIUE Cougar Fan Zone will fill Ralph Korte Stadium in Edwardsville with Homecoming and Family Weekend activities Saturday, Sept. 26. The event includes giveaways, food trucks, music, an Alumni & Friends Tent, a Family Fun Zone and the Paws on Route 66 Car Show before the SIUE men's soccer team faces the University of Southern Indiana at 7 p.m.
SIUE Paws on Route 66 Car Show will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, in the Ralph Korte Stadium east parking lot in Edwardsville as part of SIUE's Cougar Fan Zone. The show welcomes vintage, classic, custom, muscle, specialty and one-of-a-kind vehicles, with a $50 vehicle registration fee supporting the SIUE Alumni Association Scholarship Fund and alumni programming.
Mississippi Moon-A Tribute to the Doobie Brothers will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Herald Square Outdoor Amphitheater in Collinsville as part of the WSIE Music Series. A suggested $10 donation per entrant benefits WSIE 88.7 The Sound, and food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Riverside Flea Market is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, at The Loading Dock in Grafton.
Writers Circle at Hayner Library will meet from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 26, at Elysian Gallery, 419 E. Broadway in Alton. Writers from novice to experienced can respond to a prompt, receive constructive peer feedback and join a guided group discussion focused on “In Response.” Registration is available.
Sip & Stretch is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, at Grafton Winery & Brewhaus in Grafton.
Serapis is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, at The Loading Dock in Grafton.
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026
Annual Gold Star Mothers & Families Day will be observed Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Jersey County Courthouse War Memorial in Jerseyville with a ceremony honoring those whose loved ones paid the ultimate sacrifice for the country.
Behind the Glass Brewery Tours are offered every Sunday at 3 p.m. at Old Bakery Beer Company in Alton. The 40-minute tour explores the company, the historic 1800s Colonial Bakery building and the brewing process, with the $10 cost including a pint of beer and samples from the tank during the tour.
Moonlight Hike invites participants to The Nature Institute in Godfrey for a guided night hike through the Mississippi Sanctuary and Olin Nature Preserve on Sunday, Sept. 27. The hike is expected to be about 2 miles over light to moderate terrain, with registration required. Members are free, and nonmembers are $5.
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