Events in Salem, IL

Downtown Vandalia turns into a lively community marketplace on 5th Street beside City Hall, where local growers, bakers, and makers share the best of the season. Find farm-fresh produce, homemade baked goods, meats and other farm products, along with a variety of specialty foods. On the same day, the Vandalia Picker’s Market sets up along Gallatin Street with vintage pieces, antiques, collectibles, and unique finds, creating a two-market experience in one downtown stroll. Nearby shops and restaurants add even more to explore. Throughout the season, look for themed markets, family-friendly activities, and special celebrations that highlight local agriculture, support small businesses, and recognize America’s 250th anniversary.

This 5K and 10K race organized by the Bo Arvin Memorial Foundation honors Bo Arvin and the qualities that endeared him to many, including kindness, loyalty, humor, respect, faith, and courage. It raises awareness of pediatric cancer and the gap in funding for research toward improved treatments and a cure. Fundraising from the event benefits The Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute and the Bo Arvin Memorial Foundation.

At Salem Grace, a no-cost monthly mobile market offers drive-up boxes of produce for the community. All community members are welcome, and distribution is offered in order of arrival. Stay in your car, open the trunk, and a box of produce will be loaded into your vehicle.

An author will visit the National Road Interpretive Center for a talk and book signing. Books will be available on site, and admission is free. Tours of the Interpretive Center will be offered, with the option to extend if needed. For more information, call 618-283-9380.

Crochet Club at Centralia Regional Library District is a friendly, social meetup for anyone who loves to stitch. Bring a project to work on, connect with others, and exchange tips and ideas, whether you are just starting out or have years of experience. Extra yarn and hooks are available for those who need them. This is not a formal class, so participants work at their own pace with informal help from fellow crafters. All ages are welcome, and no registration or library card is required. The club meets once a month on the second Monday, except during holidays or other closures.

Families can enjoy an hour of creative fun together. Each month features a new theme with a craft and activity designed for all ages. Extra games and activities are available too, offering plenty of ways to take part.

This monthly support group welcomes new and experienced parents to learn, share, and build connections. Participants can come and go as needed. The group meets at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital, Medical Plaza, in the Garden Level Classrooms. Sign up to stay informed about cancellations or any changes. Parenthood takes a village, and this space is here to help build it.

Experience this year’s quilt show titled Patriotic Patchwork. Admission is $5 per adult, and children 12 and under are admitted free. A quilt giveaway will take place, and the Best in Show quilts will be announced.

A family-friendly evening focused on astronomy features a short presentation inside the museum, followed by telescope viewing. Admission is free and the event is open to everyone, creating a welcoming setting to learn together and then observe through telescopes.

UNBROKEN performs rock music at Bretz Wildlife Winery in Carlyle. Food and drinks will be available.

Wicked Mojo brings high energy live music from Southwestern IL to Arizona Joe's, packing the night with danceable favorites from the 80s through today. Expect cold drinks, hot tunes, and a set designed to keep the crowd moving.

Expect a high-voltage blast of 80s and 90s rock, ranging from stadium anthems to grunge staples. The band brings the era roaring back with huge choruses, hair-sprayed swagger, and a powerful live sound turned up loud. It is all about the hooks, the attitude, and the volume.

This bingo gathering at the C. E. Brehm Memorial Public Library District is hosted by library staff and features small non-monetary prizes.

Liberty Village of Centralia hosts a friendly get-together at the Rolland Lewis Building featuring coffee with card games, followed by community bingo. Biscuits and gravy are provided. No reservation is required, and the event is open to the public.

Enjoy coffee and card games in a relaxed setting designed for adults 50 and older. The gathering is held inside the Rolland Lewis Building at Veterans Park. For more information, contact the Mt. Vernon Parks and Rec Office at 618-242-6890.

Step into a haunted journey through the 1800s at Kinmundy Log Cabin Village in Kinmundy, IL. This ninth annual experience follows a rough, three-quarter-mile route that winds through the woods and in and out of historic log cabins, with plenty of eerie surprises along the way. Expect to spend about 45 minutes on the trail and be prepared for uneven ground. Admission is $10, cash only, and tickets are sold in person at the event. All proceeds support the preservation of the village and provide three $1,000 scholarships for local students. Tickets are only sold on site... beware of scammers.

Now in its ninth year, this haunted trail covers roughly three quarters of a mile through shadowy woods and historic 1800s log cabins, with rough footing and eerie surprises throughout. Admission is $10, cash only, and tickets are sold in person at the event. Every dollar benefits the preservation of Kinmundy Log Cabin Village and funds three $1,000 scholarships for local students. To steer clear of scams, buy tickets only on site.

Wicked Mojo brings a high energy show to Bretz Wildlife Winery in Carlyle with favorites that span the 80s to today’s hits. The goal is to get everyone dancing, with cold drinks and an upbeat soundtrack keeping the vibe going all night.

A playful spin on Oktoberfest led by people who freely admit they know nothing about it. The music lineup spans modern pop and rock along with throwback hits that once counted as pop, all timed with BPM-conscious drinking rhythms. Complimentary high fives add to the lighthearted mood. Accordions are probably not part of the plan, boy band moments could appear, and pretzels are not promised.

Venture into Vandalia at sundown for a 5K without timing that blends small-town charm with a touch of spooky fun. Framed as a signature Fayette County event, the route starts in the heart of town, heads toward the quiet edge of the cemetery, then returns in the fading light. Costumes and glow gear help set the scene, and the lively Spirits Run energy carries through from beginning to end.

Step into a haunted trail at Kinmundy Log Cabin Village, where the path winds through shadowy woods and historic 1800s log cabins with ghostly surprises along the way. Now in its ninth year, the route covers roughly three quarters of a mile over rough terrain and typically takes around 45 minutes to complete. Admission is $10, cash only, and tickets are sold in person at the event... be cautious of scammers. Every ticket helps maintain the cabins and grounds and funds three $1,000 scholarships for local students.

The 4th annual Rick Heck Memorial Car, Truck and Bike Show gathers enthusiasts at Ricks Towing Inc for a wide-ranging display of rides and a trunk or treat following the show. There is a $20 entry fee per car. Awards will be presented across numerous categories, including Best in Show, Best Classic Car, Best Classic Truck, Best Modern Car, Best Modern Truck, Best Motorcycle, Best Lifted 4x4, Top 10 Lifted 4x4, Top 75 Classic, and Top 25 Modern. Make-specific honors include Best Modern Chevy, Best Modern Ford, Best Classic Ford, Best Classic Chevy, and Best Classic Mopar. Additional recognitions include Dallas’s Choice, Daniel’s Choice, Aaron’s Choice, Dakota Choice, Ricky’s Choice, Shane’s Choice, Mike’s Choice, Ricks Brothers Choice, Bev’s Choice, Family Choice, Best Classic Paint, Best Modern Paint, Best Interior, and Farthest Driven.

Library Game Day at C.E. Brehm Memorial Public Library District offers a welcoming space to enjoy board and card favorites along with role playing games. Spend time with friends, meet neighbors and connect with fellow library visitors while you play. Complimentary snacks and drinks are available. Families are welcome, and children should be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Venture into a haunted walk through the woods and 1800s log cabins, where the path winds in and out of the historic buildings and surprises lurk at every turn. Now in its ninth year, this rough-terrain trail spans about three quarters of a mile and typically takes around 45 minutes to complete. Admission is $10, cash only, with tickets sold in person at the event. All proceeds support the upkeep of Kinmundy Log Cabin Village and fund three $1,000 scholarships for local students. To avoid scams, purchase tickets only on site.

Harvest Drive appears at The KeySpot for an afternoon that brings together fun, music, food, and drinks. Everything comes together in one easygoing gathering.

A no-cost Mobile Market at Salem Grace offers a produce giveaway open to anyone in the community. Items are handed out in the order people arrive. Participants can drive up, open their trunk, and have a box of produce placed in their vehicle. Volunteers are welcome to assist with the distribution.

Black Flannel channels the static of rough nights into a grunge and alternative sound driven by heavy distortion and hard-edged choices. Their music embraces a gritty, shadowy mood, showing that grunge never vanished... it only grew darker.

Sunday Funday at Bretz features music, tasty food, and a fun atmosphere.

A live set at Geo's Bar & Grill dives into the shadowy core of 90s grunge. The band leans into brooding textures, a hard-edged metal bite, and raw emotional fatigue that defined the era. Unapologetic and gripping, the music refuses to court approval and is impossible to ignore.

Black Flannel brings raw grunge and alternative energy to Twisted Sisters, forged in the static of bad nights and worse mornings. Stitched together by distortion and a streak of bad decisions, the band dives into a darker strain of the genre to show that grunge still breathes.

This event marks a welcome return to Salem.

This free, monthly mobile market at Salem Grace provides drive-through produce distribution for anyone in the community. Participants can remain in their vehicles while a box of produce is placed in the trunk, and supplies are handed out in order of arrival. Volunteers are welcome to assist with the distribution.

Shut Up Mark appears at Swamp Tales with a high-energy singalong set featuring female-fronted anthems, boy band favorites, dance pop, and pop punk, all paired with a fully automated light show. It is the final chance to pick up SUM Xmas ornaments.

Get ready for a rockin good time.