Edwardsville Parks and Recreation

10/19/2026

We have lots of fab-boo-lous Halloween events coming up! Find more details on all of the events at: www.cityofedwardsville.com/halloween
Check it out:
🎃THIS SATURDAY (October 24): Trick-or-treat with local businesses and organizations from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Edwardsville City Park, 101 S. Buchanan. Then, enter our annual costume contest. Registration will open at 10 a.m. near the City Park bandstand. Categories include: ages 0-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-16, plus groups and pets. Judging starts at noon.
🎃THIS SATURDAY (October 24): Once you are done at the park take a stroll downtown! Participating businesses around Main Street will be out passing out candy to trick-or-treaters from 12:00-2:00 p.m.
🎃 THIS SATURDAY (October 24): Spooky Skate sessions are planned at the RP Lumber Center, 6289 Tiger Drive. Enjoy crafts, photo-ops, candy, and a costume contest. Admission fees apply for each session, which run from 12:30-2 p.m..
🎃 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29: Learn about Spooky Route 66 with the West End Service Station speaker series, featuring author and paranormal researcher Luke Naliborski, at 6:30 p.m. at the station, 620 St. Louis Street. Please note that the Station will be open during our downtown trick-or-treating AND during the Edwardsville Halloween parade.
🎃 FRIDAY & SATURDAY OCTOBER 30 & 31: Enjoy neighborhood trick-or-treating! Historically the most popular time for neighborhood trick-or-treating in Edwardsville is on October 30 from 5-8 p.m. (Please only visit houses with their outside lights illuminated.)
🎃 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31: Edwardsville | Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce will hosting the annual Halloween Parade starting at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Edwardsville! Learn more at: https://www.edglenchamber.com/.

10/16/2026

The Illinois Youth Sport Commission is seeking feedback about sports opportunities available to young people throughout the state. Would you consider taking the commission's survey to help ensure our region is represented? Please note: The survey deadline has been extended to OCTOBER 31.

🏀⚽ Help shape the future of youth sports in Illinois.

The Illinois Youth Sport Commission wants to hear from people across the state about youth sport access, barriers and opportunities.

Whether you’re a parent or caregiver, coach, educator, youth participant, community partner – or someone who cares about opportunities for young people – your perspective can help inform the commission’s work to expand equitable, safe and developmentally supportive youth sport opportunities.

The statewide survey takes about eight minutes to complete.

📋 Share your perspective by Sept. 29 and help shape the future of youth sports: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=nwgia7qOPEaE9TFxIQ-QBSm3jEjW-1ZAgBheiOuFMKZUNk01S0Y1M1NFT1VKT0RPUlZIMlY4STJGUS4u

Learn more about the Illinois Youth Sport Commission: dhs.illinois.gov/page.aspx?item=178572

10/10/2026

On any given Saturday or Sunday (or any other day of the week), you’ll see a lot of fun activities and people at Plummer Family Park! Special thanks this weekend to the One More Game Pickleball Club for filling the pickleball courts with teams taking part in the annual Harvest Classic!
We are grateful for all of the many clubs and organizations that host fantastic activities and opportunities for people of all ages to play and do what they love throughout the year!
Just to name a few: Glen Ed, Edwardsville-YMCA, SLYSA soccer, Madison County Challenger Baseball, GMB, OMG and many more! and of course, we appreciate our own Parks and Recreation staff for the many terrific programs they organize and run! Play on!

10/09/2026

Who’s hanging out with us in City Park tonight (Friday, October 9) to enjoy Mike Sonderegger for a free concert?!?! Don’t miss it — 7:30 p.m.! (And don’t miss the rest of the Weekend of Songs & Stories lineup!)

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT! Our upcoming Weekend of Songs & Stories will feature some fantastic performers from near and far at either The Wildey Theatre, 252 N. Main Street, or City Park, 101 S. Buchanan Street, between Friday and Sunday (October 9-11).
Let's put the spotlight on Friday night's FREE concert in City Park: It's none other than local fan favorite Mike Sonderegger Music, who will feature a fun mix of Illinois songwriters and bands in his performance at 7:30 p.m.
Why Illinois-based songs and bands? Edwardsville's Weekend of Songs & Stories is a celebration of Route 66, and Illinois is where you started (or finished) the famous Mother Road! Our six weekend events -- four of which are free -- are part of Great Rivers & Routes Last 100 Miles Festival, so we've got an Illinois twist with every performer or event. Find the full schedule and details at: www.cityofedwardsville.com/route66fallfun
You've got to LOVE this fantastic photo of Mike Sonderegger, shown performing on an obviously windy day, as captured by Scott Evers Photography!
Be sure to check out the AMAZING fall-themed food, beverages and great finds that our Edwardsville businesses are offering this weekend -- listed on the Fall Fun webpage! The list includes: 222 Artisan Bakery; Drunken Fish; Ed's Delicatessen; Edwardsville Flea Market; My Treasure House LLC; Keepsake Candle Company; Narwhal's Crafted; Petaled Pail & Co. Design House; Sacred Grounds Cafe; Nature Preserve Foundation at Watershed Nature Center!

10/07/2026

We've got a great lineup of concerts and events at The Wildey Theatre and City Park this Friday through Sunday, October 9-11! Check out the lineup in the accompanying post -- four of the six scheduled events are FREE to attend! Get more details at: www.cityofedwardsville.com/route66fallfun

WEEKEND OF SONGS & STORIES: The forecast for this weekend is warm & sunny! We've got great events to entice you out (and Edwardsville's restaurants, shops and organizations have some fun fall delights, too!). 🍂
👉 FRIDAY, October 9: It's a Friday night concert redux with Mike Sonderegger performing at 7:30 p.m. for FREE in City Park, 101 S. Buchanan Street. OR, check out Chicago band the Buckinghams at The Wildey Theatre; get tickets for the Buckinghams at www.wildeytheatre.com
👉 SATURDAY, October 10: Illinois Poet Laureate Mark Turcotte will headline a FREE appearance at The Wildey Theatre at 2:30 p.m., with featured local poets Kirk Schlueter and Lauren Ge**er; doors open at 1:45 for this general admission event! THEN, shop, eat and enjoy local before heading to City Park for a FREE 7:30 p.m. concert by the Blooze Brothers (you're going to want to see the photo-op they bring! Vroom, vroom!)
👉 SUNDAY, October 11: The Edwardsville Municipal Band will be back in City Park with some swingin' selections (think Miami Sound Machine, Blues Brothers, Beach Boys and more!) for a FREE concert at 2 p.m. THEN, at 7 p.m., the Ides of March will perform at The Wildey Theatre; it includes Jim Peterik, a founding member of Survivor and co-author of "Eye of the Tiger." Grab Ides of March tickets at www.wildeytheatre.com
If you need some fall inspiration (or food, drinks or decor), we know some Edwardsville businesses that can serve it up! They include 222 Artisan Bakery; Drunken Fish; Ed's Delicatessen; Edwardsville Flea Market; Keepsake Candle Company; My Treasure House LLC; Narwhal's Crafted; Petaled Pail & Co. Design House; Sacred Grounds Cafe; Nature Preserve Foundation at Watershed Nature Center!
Find details on our Weekend of Songs & Stories and some featured fall items at Edwardsville businesses at: www.cityofedwardsville.com/route66fallfun
This great weekend is brought to you by the City of Edwardsville, Edwardsville Parks and Recreation, Great Rivers & Routes, Edwardsville Public Library, The Wildey Theatre and Enjoy Illinois tourism as part of the continuing celebration of Route 66 and the Last 100 Miles Festival!
(Photos courtesy of Scott Evers Photography; the Buckinghams, the Blooze Brothers, the Illinois Humanities; the Ides of March)

09/30/2026

Fall fun and concerts in City Park and at The Wildey Theatre? Yes, please! (And bring on the pumpkin spice everything!)

✅ Pumpkin spice drinks. ✅ Chunky sweaters. ✅ Flannel "shackets."
Yep! We're ready for fall! And what better way to "fall" into fun than with some high-energy performances and spirited Illinois-tinged events in downtown Edwardsville? Save the dates -- Friday, Saturday and Sunday (October 9-11) -- for our Weekend of Songs & Stories, a Route 66 centennial celebration featuring great performers, poets and more at either The Wildey Theatre, 252 N. Main Street, or City Park, 101 S. Buchanan Street. It's a good opportunity to grab a bite or a drink or shop at one of our terrific restaurants and retailers (particularly downtown between City Park and the Wildey)!
FRIDAY, October 9: Local favorite Mike Sonderegger will rock the night away for free at 7:30 p.m. in City Park; The Buckinghams will take the stage at the Wildey at 8 p.m. ($66 per ticket, all fees included).
SATURDAY, October 10: Don't miss a FREE afternoon appearance by Illinois Poet Laureate Mark Turcotte, with local poets Kirk Schlueter (EHS teacher) and Lauren Ge**er (SIUE instructor), from 2:30-4 p.m. at the Wildey Theatre (general admission seating, no ticket needed!); Then, head to City Park at 7:30 p.m. for the horn-driven rock of the Chicago-based Blooze Brothers in a FREE concert.
SUNDAY, October 11: If you're already missing the Edwardsville Municipal Band, you can hear some swingin' selections in a free concert at 2 p.m. in City Park; Round out this fun weekend with the Ides of March (featuring "Eye of the Tiger" co-author Jim Peterik!) at 7 p.m. at the Wildey ($66 per ticket, all fees included).
Get details at: www.cityofedwardsville.com/route66fallfun
Nobody does fall weekends better than Edwardsville!

09/29/2026

It was a high-flying weekend on the sand volleyball courts for the AVP Midwest Open professional volleyball tournament! We can't wait to do it again next year!

09/28/2026

Our youth basketball program is just around the corner! Registration has been extended to Sunday October 11, so act fast and secure your spot. Our program includes:
🏀 Rookies : Kindergarten - 1st graders
🏀Rising Stars: 2nd-3rd graders
🏀All Stars Co-Ed Basketball: 4th-5th graders
Games will be hosted at the new 618 facility located at Plummer Family Park starting on Monday, October 19! For registration and more information visit: https://secure.rec1.com/IL/edwardsville-il/catalog.

09/28/2026

Thank you to our friends at the Metro East Humane Society, Whisker Bones Supply Co. and Rae’s Cafe for being part of the Dog Days adoption event at the West End Service Station on Saturday, September 26!
We enjoyed a wonderful couple of hours with an adorable trio of puppies available for adoption and one VERY lovable adult dog!
Rae's Cafe offered some delicious human treats, while Whisker Bones provide some great dog treats! Our friends at Great Rivers & Routes organized and hosted this great event!
If you didn't know, the West End Service Station once had its own dog during its Route 66 heyday, so seeing our furry friends find a forever home is near and dear to us! Visit the Metro East Humane Society on Facebook or its webpage to learn more about that. You can learn about the station's dog, Hank, plus the history of Route 66 across the nation and in Edwardsville, at our free visitor center, which is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at 620 St. Louis Street. Parking is available on site ONLY on Friday through Sunday. There are a few nearby parking spots, including a fully accessible space for those with special needs, at Hadley House, 708 St. Louis Street. Learn more at: www.cityofedwardsville.com/westend