Halloween festivals, live entertainment, community fundraisers and outdoor adventures offer plenty of ways to spend Oct. 23-25, 2026, across the Riverbend. Explore the highlights below and visit RiverBender.com Events for the complete calendar.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
Food and community support come together at Alton Block Party for Good from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 23 at Soulcial Square in Alton. Hosted by Soulcial Kitchen, the free gathering offers groceries through the St. Louis Area Foodbank's Food on the Move trailer, free health care services from OSF HealthCare Community Outreach Teams and free meals from the Big Meechie Food Truck while supplies last. The event is part of a monthly series held every fourth Friday in 2026.
The wit and determination of journalist Molly Ivins take center stage in RED HOT PATRIOT on Oct. 23 at Farley's Music Hall in Elsah. Written by twin sisters Margaret Engel and Allison Engel, the one-woman show blends personal stories with the Texas journalist's outspoken political commentary, capturing the humor that made her a distinctive voice in American journalism.
Costumes, downtown shopping and free family activities fill Jerseyville's Halloween Festival on Oct. 24. Shopping at participating businesses starts at 9 a.m., followed by the library's costume contest at City Center Park at 10 a.m., with cash prizes including group and pop culture categories. Downtown State Street trick-or-treating runs from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Free activities available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. include hot dogs courtesy of Royal Banks of Jerseyville, crafts, hayrides, inflatables and a petting zoo. Participating shops remain open until 3 p.m.; the library building opens late at 2 p.m.
Four-legged companions get their own October outing at Bark-tober Fest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 24 at Raging Rivers WaterPark in Grafton. Entry is free for the dog day, and attendees are invited to dress up for a festive visit with their dogs.
Shopping and community activities mark the True North Boutique & Medspa Grand Opening Celebration on Oct. 24 at 16 E. Ferguson in downtown Wood River. An 11 a.m. ribbon-cutting launches the celebration, with the She Means Business Market showcasing women-owned businesses from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Live music, local food specials, door prizes and a grand prize raffle round out the day. Bringing an item from the local Child Advocacy Center's Christmas Wish List is one way to earn raffle entries.
Seven national comedians bring laughs to a fundraiser for the Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Laugh 4 a Cause / Because EVERYONE Needs A Laugh on Oct. 24 at Wood River Moose #1349. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the Comedy Showdown begins at 6:30 p.m. The adults-only evening includes a Best Comic Standing competition, an auction and a raffle for a replica 1600s globe bar filled with mixers and spirits, valued at more than $1,500. General admission is $35, and VIP tickets are $50.
After dark, Haunted Trails at Raging Rivers! offers a spooky nighttime trail adventure at Raging Rivers WaterPark in Grafton. The Oct. 24 event runs from 6 to 11 p.m., part of a Saturday series continuing through Oct. 31.
Friday, Oct. 23
Explore neighboring libraries through The 2026 Illinois Heartland Library System Library Crawl (Oct. 1-31), with Hayner Library in Alton participating throughout the weekend. Nearly 200 libraries are taking part. Hayner cardholders can collect a passport at any Hayner location, earn stamps at five or more participating libraries and return it for a chance at a grand prize drawing. Only Hayner patrons are eligible for Hayner's grand prize drawings; visiting participants receive a small prize while supplies last.
Help prepare Heartland Prairie at Gordon Moore Park for winter during Volunteer: Heartland Prairie Clean Up. The Nature Institute in Godfrey manages the prairie, where volunteers will remove invasive species and cut back aggressive growth.
Six Mile Regional Library District in Granite City invites readers to its Annual IHLS Library Crawl! Visit five libraries by Oct. 31 for entry into a QuikTrip gift card drawing, and return passports by Nov. 3.
Find a free, gently used costume at Hayner Library's Costume Swap at KidsSpace in the Alton Square Mall location. Shopping runs from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 23 and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 24. All ages are welcome, with a limit of one costume per household member.
Teens can settle in for a scary movie and buttery popcorn at YA Spooky Movie Night at Hayner Library in Alton. The teens-only program requires registration by calling Megan at 618-433-2872.
Decorated vehicle trunks, free candy, food, games and live music await at Church of the Living God Trunk or Treat in Alton from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Children are encouraged to wear costumes, and everyone is welcome.
Honor veterans, first responders and community partners at the First Annual Riverbend Patriots Heroes Gala at Vera Lee Meeting and Event Venue, 1854B E. Broadway in Alton. Tickets are $50 per person for adults 18 and older. The fundraiser includes dinner catered by Santino's, an open bar, music, a silent auction and awards recognizing service to the community.
Saturday, Oct. 24
Cars and tractors gather for Cans 4 Cars Cruis'aide - Rain out date! at Sinclair Food Mart in Jerseyville. Rescheduled after an August cancellation, the event benefits the Diane Stumpe Food Pantry. Entry is six cans of food, with free pork chop sandwiches, trophies, a gift raffle and dash plaques for the first 75 cars.
Slow down with Forest Bathing at The Nature Institute in Godfrey. Certified guide Jess Thenhaus leads a gentle, sensory-focused outdoor walk rather than a strenuous hike. Registration is required; the fee is $35 per person, with a 15% membership discount. Bring a water bottle.
The Riverside Flea Market is scheduled for Oct. 24 and 25 at The Loading Dock in Grafton.
Support Pink Ribbon Good through the Riverbend Jeeps "Rubber Duck Hunt". Registration starts at 10 a.m. at Edwardsville Fire Station No. 1, 333 S. Main St., before the 11 a.m. departure. The 35-mile route travels through Edwardsville, Hamel, Troy and Maryville, ending at Bobby's Frozen Custard. The registration donation is $20 per Jeep with one Duck Hunt card, plus $10 for each additional participant wanting a card.
Historian Charlotte E. Johnson presents The Underground Railroad in the Alton Area with Charlotte E. Johnson at 10 a.m. at Hayner's Genealogy & Local History Library. Registration is full, but the presentation will be recorded and posted on the library's website when available.
Downtown Alton hosts The Great Haunted Alton Halloween Festival from noon to 6 p.m. at Third and State streets. The free celebration features a noon Howl-a-Ween Pet Parade, music from The Steve Ewing Band and Psychedelic Symphony, more than 30 vendors and a costume contest with cash prizes. Costume contest registration at Mooneyham Art closes at 5 p.m.
Serapis is scheduled at The Loading Dock in Grafton.
Sunday, Oct. 25
Sip & Stretch is scheduled at Grafton Winery & Brewhaus in Grafton.
The Loading Dock in Grafton hosts Pirates in Paradise.
Learn about brewing and a historic Alton building during Behind the Glass Brewery Tours at Old Bakery Beer Company at 3 p.m. The 40-minute guided tour costs $10 and includes a pint of beer and samples from the tank. Preregistration is not required, but groups of eight or more are asked to call 618-463-1470.
Explore the Mississippi Sanctuary and Olin Nature Preserve during The Nature Institute's Moonlight Hike in Godfrey. The family-appropriate outing covers about 2 miles of light-to-moderate terrain, with stops along the way. Registration is required; admission is free for members and $5 for nonmembers. Meet in front of Talahi Lodge, park in the lower rock lot and check email that day for weather-related cancellation information.
Have an event to promote? Sign in now and add it free to the RiverBender.com Events Calendar.
