Events in Charleston, IL

This Friday Night Lights Series event features a one run rule. If you can run in Open and your aged class, your aged class will roll over. A full concession stand will be available until the show ends. Camping is first come, first served, with electric sites at $25 and primitive sites at $15. Overflow parking will be located in the hayfield to the east of the arena, and generator camping in that field is free. Added money and the show bill will be announced soon. This event is approved by IBRA IL, IL-BRA, and NPBA IL.

Emberline brings a high energy modern country show to The Castle, delivering live favorites that keep the dance floor moving. The atmosphere centers on cold drinks, a lively crowd, and a bar scene built for a party from start to finish.

MUMFEST 2026 features a fall themed celebration with plenty of pumpkins, mums, and seasonal floral arrangements. Explore vendors offering shopping opportunities, enjoy live music, and find activities designed for children. Food trucks will be available.

The 2026 Special Olympics Family Festival will take place at Lake Land College with the theme "There's No Place Like SOFF", inspired by The Wizard of Oz and Wicked. The community celebration is supported by First Mid Bank & Trust and Sarah Bush Lincoln and their employees, whose expanded backing helps sustain the event. Organizers will share details on how to register as a general volunteer or Friend-For-A-Day.

A welcoming chess club for young players to practice strategy, learn new techniques, and enjoy friendly matches in a relaxed setting. Recommended for students in grades 2 through 12, and open to all experience levels from first-time players to seasoned competitors. Meetings occur every other week in the program room on the second floor.

Mattoon Masonic Lodge hosts a community blood drive sponsored by Coldwell Banker Classic Real Estate. The event centers on collecting blood donations at the lodge.

Each month, this history-focused book club meets for a conversation about a selected title. Monthly picks are available at the first floor circulation desk. The discussion is open even to those who have not read the book. Meetings take place in the lower basement Kinzel Room. The theme alternates by month, with general history selections in even months and World War II titles in odd months.

Celebrate the 4th annual homestead gathering with shared meals and flexible ways to take part. Dinner will be served on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. Guests can pitch a tent, park an RV, sleep under the stars, or choose to attend only for the meal.

Memento Mori Ice Cream Run brings people together to remember the fallen while raising funds for Cunningham Children’s Home. Held at VFW Mattoon, it features a refreshed route with familiar highlights, including a return to a favorite ice cream stop in Casey, Illinois, a small town celebrated for its larger than life spirit. The day also includes a raffle and the event’s signature lottery board. Entry is $15 for a single participant or $20 for a couple.

Monday Night Wings and Football returns to American Legion with the third Wing Night as the Eagles meet Da Bears. The venue opens in advance of the matchup and wings are served in the pregame window, giving time to settle in before kickoff. It is a relaxed evening centered on football and wings.

In partnership with the Lifespan Center, Mattoon Public Library hosts an A.S.K. (Ask, Share, Know) session focused on Your Medicare Health. Get practical guidance to prepare for open enrollment and take part in a Q&A to have specific concerns addressed. The A.S.K. series offers approachable conversations on everyday topics to help attendees learn and find clear answers. Registration is encouraged.

Explore creative journaling with a focus on repurposing everyday materials. Participants will experiment with layering, texture, and composition to craft pages that reflect personal style while giving new life to overlooked items. This adult session is free, and donations are appreciated.

Witches and daring warlocks are invited to a returning block party filled with spooky fun. Guests in full witch attire receive two entries into a gift basket giveaway valued at $100, and those wearing just a witch hat receive one entry. Complimentary black raspberry Midnight Margaritas and Lavender Martinis will be served with treats like chocolate cake, a Voo Doo doll charcuterie board, a skull cheese head, and Deathwatch chocolate beetles. A tarot card reader will be available for fortunes, and EC Eats will be on site for hearty bites. The celebration continues at Treehive with karaoke and drinks, and the first 12 purchases receive fall and Halloween swag bags. Expect lotions, potions, candles, magic, and plenty of fortunes.

Enjoy a Movies in the Park screening of Casper at Lytle Park, running 100 minutes. The film begins at dusk, and the exact start will vary with the sunset. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and your own refreshments. Complimentary popcorn is provided by Rural King while supplies last.

The focus is on archery, making this a standout moment in the KOZ year. A verse from 1 Timothy 4:12 shapes the theme, encouraging young people to lead by example through their words, behavior, love, and faith, with an emphasis on personal integrity.

Families can explore a new focus on a different story or author each month through independent activity stations. Everything is arranged on the library’s second floor so participants can move from one activity to the next at a comfortable pace. This is a free family program.

Explore how the planets may influence everyday life in a hands-on, beginner-friendly astrology workshop led by Llewellyn Worldwide author Charlie Rainbow Wolf. Learn the distinct personalities attributed to each planet and how these ideas can shape character and daily experiences. The session introduces core astrology concepts and clarifies how they differ from astronomy, then moves into practice as participants examine their own natal birth charts. By the end, attendees will understand what astrology can and cannot do, know how to use a planetary ephemeris for personal insight, and have suggestions for further independent study. Charlie Rainbow Wolf is an internationally recognized astrologer, regularly featured in periodicals, with more than 40 years of experience teaching the mystic arts. Please bring a smartphone or tablet to look up a birth chart during class, and consider bringing a notebook with a pen or pencil. No prior experience is required, and enrollment is limited to seven students.

Now in its eleventh year and keeping the spooky spirit alive, this long-running grassroots gravel grinder returns to the rough-and-ready roads around Kansas, Illinois. Formerly known as Ill Kanza, it starts and finishes in town and sticks to its roots with demanding terrain. Riders can expect a mix of very rough gravel, stream crossings, rolling hills, and remote scenery. The 104 mile option is especially rocky and rugged, and none of the routes are easy. Planned distances include 104, 72, 46, 33, and 22 miles, subject to change. All routes are timed, and the three longest courses feature prizes for the top three finishers in each category. Divisions include Open and Women’s fields for 46, 72, and 104 miles, plus a 104 mile Singlespeed field, 33 and 22 mile categories, and a Tandem option at any distance. Every participant receives three raffle entries. Place a ticket from each pair in front of the prize you want and keep the matching tickets. After the ride, winning numbers will be posted on the prizes for pickup. This is largely a self-supported day. Riders should bring spare tubes, a pump or CO2, basic tools, and ideally chain quick links. A supply table is planned, with details to be announced. On-course resupplies include a gas station at mile 52.8 on the 104 mile route and a soda machine in Grandview at mile 48.3 on the 72 mile route. Course markings include signs, pavement paint on paved sections, and flags placed on the right side just before intersections. Pink flags indicate right turns and blue flags indicate left turns. Maps and cue sheets will be available, and loading the route to a GPS device is strongly recommended. The 104 mile course will not be marked. These are public roads, so follow traffic laws and stay alert. A neutral roll out applies until the first gravel at 1.3 miles for all routes except the 104 mile. The timed finish sits 1.4 miles before the end of each course near the final stretch of gravel, marked with a checkered flag and an official recording times. Timed distances are approximately 44.4 miles for the 46, 70.7 miles for the 72, and 102.1 miles for the 104. Make sure your number is visible to the timers as you cross, and confirm if there is any uncertainty. Recommended equipment includes a minimum tire width of 32 mm, with 45 mm or wider suggested. A post-ride meal will be available for purchase at the Presbyterian Church, and restrooms there will be open. Limited parking is available near the start, with additional street parking nearby. Please avoid parking at the bank while it is open. On-site registration is offered for a small additional fee of 5 dollars, and a portion of proceeds supports the Kansas Food Pantry.

Celebrate Halloween at The Triple Nickel Saloon in Mattoon.

Black Vinyl brings a high-energy set to Speakeasy, spinning alternative favorites and big hits from the 90s and 2000s. The bar keeps the drinks flowing while the room buzzes with energy, and there is plenty of space to dance, move, and jump into the pit.