Highland Around Town — March 29 edition
Noon Friday, March 31, is the deadline to appear in next week’s “Around Town” listing. We must receive your event in writing with a contact phone number for questions. Due to the number of submissions, events may run only one time in print, will be edited and appear in the week before the event date.
Email: lifestyle@bnd.com. Mail to: Highland News Leader Around Town, Belleville News-Democrat, P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.
Wednesday, March 29
▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness: NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group — 6:30-8 p.m. Online via Zoom. Free peer-to-peer support group for adults with a mental health condition working towards recovery. Every Wednesday. Open the Zoom app and enter 3914844542. For information: kelly.nami.swi@gmail.com or 618-798-9788.
▪ HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland Colleagues & Mission Committee Basket Raffle — Through Friday, March 31. HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland Gift Shop, 12866 Troxler Ave., Highland. Baskets can be viewed near the hospital gift shop. Tickets are $1 each or $5 for six tickets (cash only). Tickets can be purchased Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the St. Joseph’s Gift Shop and 1-4 p.m. at the front registration desk. Winners will be drawn March 31 and notified the first week of April. Proceeds benefit Leaps of Love.
▪ Shoe Collection Drive Fundraiser — Through Saturday, May 6. Bulldog Barber Shop, 1008 Laurel St., Highland. Fundraising for 4 Paws for Ability Autism Assistance Dog for 22-month-old Tucker. How to help: Donate new or gently worn shoes (mens, womens, or kids—no cleats, please) at Bulldog Barber Shop. Pick up can be arranged for group donations. The goal is to collect 100 bags of shoes to raise funds to help cover fees for a service dog for Tucker. For more info: facebook.com/4paws4tucker.
Thursday, March 30 through Saturday, April 1
▪ Triad High School presents ‘Mamma Mia!’ — 7 p.m. Triad High School cafetorium, 703 US-40, Troy. ABBA’s hits tell the hilarious story of a young woman’s search for her birth father. This sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. The play is produced by special arrangement with Musical Theater International.
Thursday, March 30 through Sunday, April 2
▪ The McKendree University Theater Department presents ‘Silent Sky’ — 10 a.m. Thursday, March 30, 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 2. Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, 400 N. Alton St., Lebanon. McKendree University’s students will be performing “Silent Sky,” the true story of 19 th -century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt. Admission: free for McKendree students, faculty and staff; general admission is $5. For tickets and info: 618-537-6863 or thehett.com.
Friday, March 31
▪ Highland Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. VFW Post 5694, 1900 VFW Road, Highland. Dine-in and carryout. No call-in orders. facebook.com/vfwpost5694
▪ Highland Knights of Columbus Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. Highland Knights of Columbus, 12454 IL Route 143, Highland. Fried and baked fish, fried shrimp, chicken strip dinners, two sides from fries, cole slaw, macaroni salad, applesauce, plus hush puppies, bread, iced tea, coffee. Cash bar. facebook.com/HighlandKnightsofColumbusCouncil1580
▪ Aviston Legion Fish Fry — 4:30-7 p.m. American Legion Post 1239, 601 S. Clinton, Aviston. Cod (baked or fried), catfish, shrimp, hush puppies, chicken strips, fries, baked potato, slaw, applesauce. Dine-in and carryout. 618-228-7311 or avistonlegion.com.
Friday, March 31 & Saturday, April 1
▪ Gateway Outdoor Expo — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, March 31, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 1. Tower Grove Park, Northeast Quadrant, 4257 Northeast Drive, St. Louis. Free public expo showcasing the latest outdoor products, services and resources, plus interactive attractions and demos. Family-friendly event. gatewayoutdoorexpo.com
Saturday, April 1
▪ Highland Home Museum Open House — 1:30-4:30 p.m. Highland Home Museum and Art, 1600 Walnut St., Highland. Roland Harris will be present for the open house as long as he is able. These open houses take place the first Saturday of every month. For more information, contact 618-654-2395.
▪ Annual Easter Egg Hunt — 2 p.m. On the Square, Downtown Highland. Hunt for eggs filled by participating businesses and organizations. Sponsored by Lisa Sauer State Farm. In case of rain, watch Facebook announcements.
▪ Community Link Run for Possibilities Gala — 5 p.m. Saturday, April 1. American Legion, 575 N. Main St., Breese. The evening will kick off with a cocktail reception at 5 p.m. The silent auction, photo booth, and horse wheel will be available. Dinner, catered by Cygan and Delaney, will begin at 6 p.m. with the games and celebration commencing about 7:15 p.m. The night will round out with a live auction followed by the drawings for the race winners at 10:15 p.m. For tickets and info: commlink.org/gala.
Sunday, April 2
▪ Collinsville ‘Show Me the Money’ Coin Show — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. American Legion Post 365, 1022 Vandalia (Route 159), Collinsville. The show offers a wide variety of U.S. and World coins, paper money, tokens, medals, books and collecting supplies. Free hourly door prizes, free attendance, free parking, free appraisals of coins, currency, medals, tokens, gold, silver and jewelry. Show Me Big Raffle that includes Gold and Silver coins. Open to the public. Full-service BBQ meals are available through the American Legion. MetroEastCoinCurrencyClub.com
Tuesday, April 4
▪ McKendree University Free Pop-Up Concert — 4 p.m. Bothwell Chapel, McKendree University campus, Lebanon. The concert will feature contemporary Christian music by senior Elizabeth Durbin, a music education major from Taylorville, along with chaplain interns and others. Free and open to the public. Monetary donations welcome. Benefits victims from the Turkey-Syrian earthquakes. 618-537-6962.
▪ Parents of Addicted Loved Ones — 7-8:30 p.m. Online via Zoom. The PAL group provides education, support and hope to family members and loved ones of someone who has an addiction of substance use disorder. Free and open to all. For info or to join the Zoom meeting, contact Craig at 618-567-6095. palgroup.org
Other area happenings
▪ Race for Love: 2023 5K Charity Run for Leaps of Love — 8 a.m. Sunday, April 16. The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, 400 N. Alton St., Lebanon. The 5K Race for Love lets us support Leaps of Love, an organization located in Highland that embraces families that are or have been affected by childhood cancer. To register or for more info: mcksportmgmt.com.
▪ HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland Drive-Thru Health Fair — 6-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, and Wednesday, April 19. Highland-Pierron Fire Department, 12611 Iberg Road, Highland. Includes comprehensive blood screenings, prostatic-specific altigen screenings, hemoglobin A1C, Vitamin D screening. The health fair is a self-pay service. No payments will be taken at the time of pre-registration; payment will be expected the day of the health fair by cash or check only. Participants are strongly encouraged to arrive with exact cash or a check written out totaling the amount of the services they are to have on the day of the health fair. Those wanting to attend must register for an appointment online at stjosephshighland.org/healthfair before Sunday, April 16. There are limited spots available and on-site registration will not be accepted. If you are unable to register online, you can call 618-651-2739 for assistance.
