Events in Macomb, IL

Business professionals can connect at a relaxed, after-hours networking mixer hosted at Derek Zahm - State Farm Agent Macomb. Open to all Macomb Area Chamber members, this gathering encourages casual conversation and new connections. A ribbon cutting will celebrate the new location.

This tailgate barbecue competition in Macomb, Illinois invites competitors to cook on behalf of a university. Ribs and brisket are provided by the university, and a people’s choice tasting may serve up to 300 portions. Sean, also known as 'Showercurtain', is the head cook for the competition.

Enjoy live music from Rewind at Astoria Town Park.

At City Hall Macomb, the Macomb/McDonough County edition of the Out of the Darkness Community Walk gathers community members to support suicide prevention through awareness-building and fundraising. Organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, it brings together people affected by suicide loss along with others who want to take action alongside their neighbors. Money raised in Illinois remains in the state and helps advance research, advocacy, and education programs in local schools, workplaces, and communities. For questions, contact Ellen Moon at 309-313-3556 or elliehmoon@gmail.com.

A local group is organizing a yearly benefit cornhole competition with a meal at Slup's Bar. Funds raised support Linda's Fund, which assists breast cancer patients in the McDonough County area. The gathering blends friendly cornhole play and a meal, all dedicated to supporting Linda's Fund.

Western Illinois University's Office of Student Engagement and the School of Agriculture present the eighth annual Family Day BBQ competition and tasting in Q Lot. The event brings together students, families, alumni, and community members for food, engaging activities, live music, and plenty of Leatherneck pride. Tickets and merchandise are available.

The Al Sears Music Fest reaches its finale at the Western Illinois Museum as the Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project delivers a set that blends nimble jazz improvisation with Afro-Cuban and Caribbean rhythms. The ensemble reshapes familiar jazz standards with danceable grooves, inventive solos, and fresh arrangements for a lively close to the celebration. Drummer and percussionist Craig Russo leads the group, drawing on study in Havana at Cuba’s National School of Arts and collaborations with artists including Grammy winner Mayito Rivera and Tito Puente Jr. His work with Charanga Tropical included a tour of Cuba, and the band’s sound is rooted in American jazz while deeply shaped by Latin traditions, especially from Cuba. The performance reflects the festival’s focus on the wide range of styles that have influenced American music, including jazz, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and Afro-Cuban music, honoring the legacy of Macomb native Al Sears. There is no charge for admission. The building is fully accessible, and accessible parking is available at no cost. Exhibits of photographs, recordings, and artifacts at the museum highlight Sears’s remarkable career. Support is provided in part by the Performing Arts Society.

At Lakeview Nature Area and Center, children who love to explore and budding naturalists can take part in a story about nature, a creative project, and gentle moments that encourage noticing the outdoors. The experience focuses on the wonders of changing seasons, with the prairie as a backdrop. Pre-registration is required. To sign up, call 309-833-4562 or visit the park office.

A benefit bike run at the VFW in Bushnell brings riders together for a group ride, and cars are welcome to participate. After the ride, everyone returns for dinner, followed by live music from JAB. Entry for the ride and the meal is by free will donation.

Pit from the Prairie teams up with the Spoon River Gals for Spoon River Drive in London Mills. Enjoy food served from the Pit from the Prairie truck along with desserts and other items from the Spoon River Gals.

Downtown Macomb transforms into a seasonal marketplace as 309 Marketplace and Sports Corner team up to launch the inaugural Fall Fest Pop-Up Market just off the square. The street between their locations will be closed to host a lively mix of local makers and small businesses featuring handmade goods, boutique finds, and other autumn favorites. Browse unique gifts, home décor, and apparel from outdoor vendors alongside selections inside 309 Marketplace, where many vendors plan event-only promotions. Take a breather upstairs at the new 309 Social with a specialty cocktail, then refuel at Sports Corner with food, drinks, and hometown hospitality. It is a day for discovering one-of-a-kind products, supporting local entrepreneurs, and enjoying fall-themed fun with family and friends.

Along the Friendship Trail at Veterans Park, a free, hands-on World War II living history encampment invites visitors to step into the 1940s with knowledgeable reenactors, camp life demonstrations, and activities for all ages. Guests can explore how west-central Illinois was connected to the global war effort and engage with stories brought to life by researchers and historians. An educator-focused day welcomes teachers, school coordinators, and homeschool groups to give students interactive lessons with direct conversation and learning alongside reenactors, with options to coordinate group arrival times in advance. Featured interpretive areas include the story of Camp Ellis near Ipava, where an 18,000-acre training site once housed over 5,000 German prisoners of war who were loaned to Fulton County farms as labor and became part of the local community. Additional programming highlights the courage and influence of front-line war correspondents with researchers Peter Fitzpatrick and Austin Welch, and The Camp Ellis Chapel with historian Stan Cook, who shares accounts of chaplains and religious personnel and offers period-correct, non-denominational services for reenactors and the public. Hands-on training grounds invite participants to try a period-style boot camp obstacle course designed by Peter Fitzpatrick under the eyes of drill instructors and WIU History alumni Dirk Yarker and Rob Ramaker, and to test their throw at a grenade toss range using inert training grenades. Period entertainment features screenings of 1940s newsreels, cartoons, and training films on vintage projectors curated by Dave Gordy. Original photographs, maps, and military items from Camp Ellis are on display courtesy of the Easley Pioneer Museum in Ipava. The program also spotlights the United States Naval Women’s Reserve, featuring the service of Macomb resident Grace Baker, presented in collaboration with her family through select personal service artifacts. Admission is free with drop-in access and no registration or tickets required.

This memorial event combines an all-vehicle fun run with two pool tournaments in honor of Kevin Mullen. Check-in takes place before the competitions begin. A 50/50 raffle and a silent auction are planned, and all proceeds will support Teresa with expenses.

City Hall Macomb hosts a meeting featuring a program on raptor disease ecology in Illinois led by Dr. Travis Wilcoxen. Dr. Wilcoxen is a professor of biology at Millikin University and a disease ecologist whose work spans birds, amphibians, fish, and reptiles. He also serves as associate director at the Illinois Raptor Center and as president of the board for the Sun Foundation.

R.P. Lumber and the Macomb Area Chamber Ambassadors Committee host a Business After Hours gathering designed for casual, conversation-first networking. Business professionals can connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen relationships in a relaxed setting. Open to all Macomb Area Chamber members.