Highland Around Town - Sept. 27 edition

Belleville News-Democrat
·7 min read

Noon Friday, Sept. 29, 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. Submissions will be edited and appear in the week before the event date.

Send event info via email to lifestyle@bnd.com. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.

Wednesday, Sept. 27

▪ 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.

Thursday, Sept. 28

▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness: Family Support Group — 7-8:30 p.m. Online via Zoom. The Family Support Meetings are for family members, significant others, and/or friends of persons with a mental health condition. Fourth Thursday of every month. Facilitators: Pat Rudloff and Beverly Churchill. For information: kelly.nami.swi@gmail.com or 618-798-9788.

Friday, Sept. 29

▪ Book Signing: Ed Wheatley and St. Louis Sports History — 4-6 p.m. Field House Museum, 634 S. Broadway, St. Louis. Local sports historian, author, and documentarian Ed Wheatley joins the Field House Museum to sign copies of his books on St. Louis sports history, including “The St. Louis Cardinals: Everything You Need to Know” (2023); “St. Louis Sports Memories: Forgotten Teams and Moments from America’s Best Sports Town” (2022); “Baseball in St. Louis: From Little Leagues to Major Leagues” (2020); “Incredible Cardinals” (2018); and “St. Louis Browns: The Story of a Beloved Team” (2017). Stop by before the Cardinals take on the Cincinnati Reds down the street at Busch Stadium and pick up a personalized piece of sports history. fieldhousemuseum.org

▪ 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, Sept. 29 thru Saturday, Sept. 30

▪ Leaps of Love 24-Hour Laps for Leaps — 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29 through 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30. HIghland Speedway, Highland. A family-friendly fundraising event with activities in the grandstands, food trucks, a Kids Zone (with bounce houses, crafts, games), a cornhole tournament Saturday afternoon, a vendor fair Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., spectator camping on the south side of the track, and a whole lot of entertainment on the track with the 40 Team during the Challenge Hours. For admission and other info: leapsoflove.org.

Friday, Sept. 29 thru Sunday, Oct. 1

▪ Route 66 UFO Festival & 5K Alien Chase Run — 5-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1. The Pink Elephant Antique Mall, 908 Veterans Memorial Drive, Livingston. The family-fun event will have games for the whole family including a cornhole tournament, costume contest (judging daily), inflatable obstacle course, kids dash, and more. There will be a vendor fair each day on the grounds, and the antique mall will be open (until 5 p.m. daily). There will be a variety of delicious foods available for purchase at the festival from The Twistee Treat Diner and Toast of the Town food truck. Free admission, free parking. Charges for some events. route66ufofestival.hytix.com

Saturday, Sept. 30

▪ Ninth annual Touch-A-Truck Event — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Edwardsville Township Community Park, 6368 Center Grove Road, Edwardsville. Featuring nearly 50 vehicles on-site for kids to explore. Kid-centric activities include face painting, decorating wood cars and trucks, martial arts interactive activities and courses, free merchandise and more. Lunch and snack items available for purchase.

▪ Fourth annual Bulgarian Festival — 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Holy Trinity Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church, 1300 Grand Ave., Madison. There is a fairly sizable Bulgarian population in the Greater St. Louis Area, and all members of the community are invited to come experience the richness of our culture and traditions first-hand. The annual festival will feature authentic food, live music by “Bulgarika” (a renowned Chicago-based folk group), performances by three folk dance ensembles (“Zhiv Ogun” and “BG Spirit,” which are both based in St. Louis, and “Zagora,” which is based in Chicago), inflatables and more. Free and open to the public. bulfest.org

Zootoberfest takes place at the Saint Louis Zoo Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 30-Oct. 1 and Oct. 7-8, and features fun activities for both kids and adults. For more information, visit stlzoo.org/zootoberfest.
Zootoberfest takes place at the Saint Louis Zoo Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 30-Oct. 1 and Oct. 7-8, and features fun activities for both kids and adults. For more information, visit stlzoo.org/zootoberfest.

Saturday, Sept. 30 & Sunday, Oct. 1

▪ Zootoberfest at the Saint Louis Zoo — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Saint Louis Zoo, One Government Drive, St. Louis. Enjoy a Zoo-themed, family-friendly Oktoberfest. Take advantage of the cooler weather and visit the Zoo’s animals, exhibits and attractions. Kids can participate in fun activities, including an obstacle course and arts and crafts. German-inspired food, including beer brats, giant Bavarian pretzels, turkey legs and more, is available for purchase, along with apple cider, root beer and other soft drinks. Beer trailers throughout the Zoo offer a variety of local and craft brews (ages 21 and older) for purchase. An exclusive Zootoberfest beer stein with discounts for refills is available for purchase (while supplies last). Free admission. Additional dates: Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 7-8. stlzoo.org/zootoberfest

Sunday, Oct. 1

▪ Metro East Coin & Currency Club 41st annual Fall 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. For updates and more information go to MetroEastCoinCurrencyClub.com.

▪ Fifth annual St. Louis VegFest — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. World’s Fair Pavilion, Forest Park, St. Louis. This family-friendly festival is 100% vegan with guests traveling from all over the country. St. Louis VegFest features a wide variety of presentations and activities including around 80 food and merchandise vendors, yoga classes, inspiring guest speakers, kids corner, and music. For a full schedule of events, visit stlouisvegfest.org.

Tuesday, Oct. 3

▪ 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

Wednesday, Oct. 4

▪ Grow Solar Metro East: Virtual Power Hour — Noon to 1 p.m. Online via Zoom Learn the basics of solar, its financial implications for your property and how the program works. Free and open to the public. growsolar.org/metro-east

Other area happenings

▪ St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ in Concert — 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St., St. Louis. The SLSO revisits one of Tim Burton’s most adored films, “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” bringing Danny Elfman’s hauntingly charming score to life as the movie plays on Stifel Theatre’s big screen. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, on his quest to seize Christmas with the help of some mischievous trick-or-treaters. slso.org

▪ 22nd annual Vintage Voices Walking Tours — Oct. 7-8, & 14-15. Alton Cemetery, 5th and Vine streets, Alton. The hour-long walking tours will begin at noon all four days and leave from the main gate on Vine Street in Alton every 15-20 minutes. Tickets are on sale now online at vintagevoices.eventbrite.com. Pricing is $15 for adults and $10 for students with ID. A non-walking performance returns 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, at Lovejoy Event Center, 401 Piasa St., Alton. Seating is limited to 60 people. Tickers are $15 and can be purchased online at vintagevoices.eventbrite.com.

Tickets are available for the 22nd annual Vintage Voices Walking Tours, taking place Oct. 7-8, & 14-15 in Alton. For tickets and information, visit www.vintagevoices.eventbrite.com.
Tickets are available for the 22nd annual Vintage Voices Walking Tours, taking place Oct. 7-8, & 14-15 in Alton. For tickets and information, visit www.vintagevoices.eventbrite.com.

▪ Aviston American Legion Fall Pork Sausage & Roast Beef Dinner — 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8. Aviston American Legion, 601 S. Clinton St., Aviston. The menu includes whole-pork sausage, roast beef, mashed potatoes/gravy, sauerkraut, green beans, applesauce, dessert. Made-to-order carryout and sitdown dining available. The Ladies Auxiliary will also host its annual Holiday Rummage Sale the same day 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with brown bag 3-5 p.m. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas items only will be for sale. 618-228-7311.