Living History Days Festival to Combine Local History and Family-Friendly Fun
Madison County Historical Society is bringing history to the community during Living History Days Festival on Oct. 2–4, 2026. The weekend includes family-friendly stops, performances and hands-on activities.
EDWARDSVILLE/GLEN CARBON - The Madison County Historical Society will once again host their annual Living History Days Festival.
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On Oct. 2–4, 2026, community members can enjoy demonstrations, live music, games, displays, reenactors and more fun throughout the weekend. Cindy Reinhardt, one of the organizers, noted that the goal of Living History Days weekend is to bring history to the community and help people understand how the past shaped today.
“With all of our events, and especially the Living History Days weekend, what we’re trying to do is make history accessible to everyone, to have something for people of all ages, and to grow an appreciation of how much history we have in this area. It’s abundant,” Reinhardt said. “Everywhere you go in Madison County, they’ve got something that they can call their own that is a wonderful history.”
The fun starts on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Col. Benjamin Stephenson House. You can pay to enter the main house or enjoy the free activities in the gardens and outdoor space. These activities continue through Saturday, Oct. 3.
Reinhardt encourages people to begin their day on Oct. 3 at the Goshen Community Market from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. You can check out the Edwardsville Public Library’s annual Book Fair from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring dozens of local authors.
The Yanda Log Cabin in Glen Carbon will feature demonstrations, music, festival food, craft vendors and more fun from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 3. Guests are also encouraged to stop by the Edwardsville Children’s Museum, where you can pay an entry fee for the main museum attractions or enjoy free activities and access to the Nickel Plate Station from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On Sunday, Oct. 4, everyone is invited to Chautauqua from 1–4 p.m. for live music, craft vendors, a used book sale and reenactors. Mark Von Nida will portray Hooper Warren, an Edwardsville newspaper editor and abolitionist who owned a print shop in the building that now houses Samm’s Last Chance Saloon in Edwardsville.
Dolley Madison, portrayed by Cara Lane, was the fourth First Lady of the United States. She was a highly influential woman who impacted the politics of the time. John Meehan will portray Elijah Lovejoy, an Alton-based abolitionist who was killed while protecting his printing press from a pro-slavery mob.
The Wildey Theatre will feature YesSongs, a tribute band for the group Yes, on Friday, Oct. 2. This will be followed by Black Magic: The Santana Experience on Saturday, Oct. 3. The concerts start at 8 p.m. both nights and tickets cost $25 each.
The Living History Days Festival weekend promises to be a lot of fun for local history buffs, but Reinhardt believes everyone can enjoy the experience. She noted that the Madison County Historical Society worked hard to make it a family-friendly weekend where people of all ages can learn about the historical significance in our region.
“We want to celebrate all kinds of historic venues throughout the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area,” she said. “There’s really something for all ages.”
For more information about the Living History Days Festival, visit the official Madison County Historical Society website or their official Facebook page.
This featured article is sponsored by the Madison County Historical Society. To get your business or organization featured on www.RiverBender.com, contact us at sales@riverbender.com.
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