Leclaire Parkfest Promotes Local History and Community with Fun Day of Events
Friends of Leclaire will host the 34th annual Leclaire Parkfest on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, bringing neighbors together around local history. Learn how the festival combines community traditions with food, music and activities.
Friends of Leclaire preview the 34th annual Leclaire Park Fest in Edwardsville
EDWARDSVILLE - Community members can stop by Leclaire Parkfest for a day of local history, food, live music, artisans, trolley tours and more fun.
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From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, Friends of Leclaire will host their 34th annual Leclaire Parkfest at Leclaire Park in Edwardsville. The event promises to share more about the history of the Leclaire neighborhood while bringing people together for a fun day and raising money for the beautification of the park.
“We call it a family reunion. Every year, you’re seeing a lot of your neighbors and friends all in one place. It’s a neighborhood family reunion,” said Rebecca Reardon with Friends of Leclaire. “There’s a lot of tradition wrapped up into this event, and there’s a lot of new quality things introduced as well. It’s just very welcoming.”
Reardon and Elizabeth Krause have helped organize Parkfest for over a decade. They come back every year because they believe in the value of sharing the neighborhood’s history with the community. They also have a lot of fun making sure the event is enjoyable for all.
This year, Parkfest will feature live music and festival food, from lemon shake-ups and kettle corn to chicken and dumplings and Italian beef. A few food trucks will be onsite, and a local restaurant will offer beer, wine and cocktails throughout the day. Vintage cars and tractors will be on display.
Several craft vendors will sell their wares. Krause and Reardon noted that it’s a great time to start your holiday shopping, as there will be many unique items available for sale.
A used book sale will benefit the American Cancer Society. A few local authors will also be present with their books. Most of these vendors are native to Edwardsville, which allows people to support local entrepreneurs and creatives.
Plenty of children’s games and activities will round out the day. Krause and Reardon are especially excited for the trolley tours of the Leclaire National Historic District. Kids pay $1 and adults pay $2 for a trolley ride, during which a guide will share information about the Leclaire neighborhood.
Founded by entrepreneur N.O. Nelson in the 1890s, Leclaire was “a city built on kindness,” as Nelson created the neighborhood as a home for his employees to promote work-life balance. The schoolhouse — now the Edwardsville Children’s Museum — and the houses were occupied by the families of employees. The neighborhood was eventually adopted by the City of Edwardsville.
Leclaire Parkfest celebrates that history. There will be several displays and historians available to answer questions. Reardon and Krause added that they enjoy hearing from attendees, many of whom share their own memories of Leclaire and help round out the picture of the community.
All proceeds from Parkfest go back to the beautification of the neighborhood, the fund for next year’s festival, and the Edwardsville Children’s Museum.
The “wholesome” event promises to be a lot of fun while promoting local history. Krause, Reardon and the other Friends of Leclaire hope to welcome a big crowd on Oct. 18.
“We get to be a part of that legacy and its current history,” Krause added. “When you’re there on that day, it just feels like Mayberry.”
For more information about the 34th annual Leclaire Parkfest, click here. For more about Friends of Leclaire, check out their official website.
This featured article is sponsored by Friends of Leclaire. To get your business or organization featured on www.RiverBender.com, contact us at sales@riverbender.com.
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