WHAT'S HAPPENING: Fire Prevention Celebration; Fit-2-Serve Fall Gala and more! (2025)

Season's last Cruising Broadway Downtown

MATTOON — The final Cruising Broadway Downtown Mattoon for the year will be Friday, Oct. 11. Melissa M. Harden with Studio 21 will be taking photos of attendees in front of the Historical Time Theater.

Start time has been moved up to 5-9 p.m. due to it getting dark earlier.

Charleston Fire Prevention Week celebration

CHARLESTON — Charleston Fire Department’s 2024 Fire Prevention Week Celebration will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Linder Sports Complex, south of Sister City Park, in Charleston.

Activities include Touch-a-Truck, Air Evac 145 Medical Helicopter, Bounce Houses, K-9 Demo with Charleston Police Department, SBLHC Healthy Kids, DJ Mike James, Concessions, Camp New Hope Train and more. Admission is free.

Stewards work dayat Lake Charleston

CHARLESTON — The Embarras Volunteer Stewards will hold a work day from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at Lake Charleston. Meet at parking lot by pavilion.

All are welcome and no prior experience is necessary. Sturdy footwear and gloves are recommended. Tools are provided. Events may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.

Fit-2-Serve annual Fall Gala set

MATTOON — Fit-2-Serve's annual Fall Gala will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, at 1320 Lafayette Ave., Mattoon, featuring refreshments, silent auction, cornhole, crafts and their first grade program "Farm-2-Table" in the greenhouse. Free admission.

Oscar Mayer Wienermobile to make appearances

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile will make the following appearances in the area:

Fall festival at Maranatha Christian Academy

MATTOON — Maranatha Christian Academy, 3516 W. Powell Lane, in Mattoon, will hold its Fall Festival from 4-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13.

The event will include monster truck rides, food vendors, touch-a-truck, hot air balloon rides, local shop vendors, live music, indoor silent auction, paint-a-pumpkin for kids, fire pit, shuttle service from parking, and school tours for anyone interested in learning more about our facilities.

Final pickers market of season

LITCHFIELD — The final Litchfield Pickers Market of the season will be held Sunday, Oct. 13, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. in downtown Litchfield.

The market is the largest open-air pickers market of its kind in the region, and includes antiques, collectibles, vintage items and refurbished items.

Arts and craft vendors, as well as a farmers market, will be on Monroe Street.

Music will begin in Carnegie Park at 8 a.m. with Nick Davio, followed by The Tangents at 11:30 a.m.

The "Together Litchfield Can!" youth group will have kids’ games and entertainment by Professor Longhair in Carnegie Park from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Limited picnic tables are provided in the park area, but the public is encouraged to bring a lawn chair. Food vendors will be onsite.

Corey Durham to perform at Doudna

CHARLESTON — Corey Durham will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, in the Doudna’s Recital Hall as part of the Visiting Artists series.

Durham is a soloist, proficient with the tuba and euphonium. He will be performing a small selection of pieces that show his expertise.

This show is free and open to the public.

History of fire service presentation set

SULLIVAN — The history of great fires and the fire service in Moultrie County will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Moultrie County History Center in Sullivan.

Current and retired fire chiefs Gary Smith, Chris Wright and Jeff Waite will discuss memorable fires from the past in Sullivan and Lovington and how lessons learned from those fires have been implemented to improve the fire service, and prevent fires in the future.

The public is invited to attend. The center located at 1303 S. Hamilton in Sullivan.