Santa Parade, Christkindlmarkt return to downtown Belleville and other holiday events

Noon Friday, Nov. 24, is the deadline to appear in next week’s What’s Happening. We must receive your event in writing with a contact phone number for questions.

Due to the number of submissions received, events may run only one time in print. Submitted event info will be edited and run the week before the event date.

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

Events

▪ Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site Native American Holiday Market — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 24-25. Gateway Convention Center, 1 Gateway Drive, Collinsville. More than 45 tribal affiliated artists will sell and demonstrate Indigenous arts and crafts. Includes jewelry, pottery, flutes, woodwork and more. Free admission and parking. cahokiamounds.org

▪ Downtown Belleville Santa Parade — 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 24. Downtown Belleville. Parade route: North 3rd and West A streets, south on 3td Street to West Main Street, east to Forest Avenue.

▪ 10th annual Belleville Christkindlmarkt — 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, Nov. 24-25, Thursdays-Saturday, Nov. 30 thru Dec. 2, 7-9, 14-16, 18-23, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10 & 17. Featuring unique European and handcrafted items, delicious food, beverages and much more. For details and additional events: bellevillechristkindlmarkt.com.

▪ Millstadt 2023 Christmas Lighted Parade — 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24. Millstadt. The parade will start at Liederkranz Park. Step off from Veterans Drive at 7 p.m., proceed east on West Washington Street and end at Liederkranz. Family festivities will be held at the park following the parade. Tentative rain date: Saturday, Nov. 25.

▪ Second annual Glenfestival of Trees — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturdays from Nov. 25 thru Jan. 1. Added Saturday hours in December will be 5-8 p.m. Glen Carbon Heritage Museum, 124 School St., Glen Carbon. Individuals, groups and businesses have adorned the museum with decorated trees and wreaths to be displayed during the Christmas season. Guests can visit the museum and vote on their favorite décor. glencarbonil.gov

▪ Green Gift Bazaar — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25. Post Commons, 300 Alby St., Alton, and Jacoby Arts Center, 627 E. Broadway, Alton. Come to Alton on Small Business Saturday to shop from 45 “green” vendors. The Green Gift Bazaar features a variety of environmentally friendly gift ideas that are made from recycled or upcycled materials, Fair Trade, or are handcrafted in the U.S. Shoppers will also be provided with sale information from downtown retailers and restaurants. Free and open to the public. Sponsored by Alton Main Street, Sierra Club Illinois, Jacoby Arts Center and Post Commons. 618-401-7870.

▪ Holiday Cheers Market — 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 25 thru Dec. 23. Old Bakery Beer Company, 400 Landmarks Blvd., Alton. Find a variety of 15+ vendors featuring their locally grown produce, finely crafted jewelry, expertly thrifted vintage goods, amazing smelling soaps and candles, and so so much more. oldbakerybeer.com

▪ U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo — 5-8:30 p.m. on select dates from Friday, Nov. 24 through Saturday, Dec. 30. Saint Louis Zoo, One Government Drive, St. Louis. Escape to a wild wonderland with brand new twinkling light displays and festive family fun. For dates, tickets and other info, visit stlzoo.org/wildlights.

▪ Missouri Botanical Garden 11th annual Garden Glow — Hours vary nightly through Saturday, Jan. 6 (closed Nov. 23 & 27, Dec. 24-25.) Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis. Celebrate the holiday season at the most spectacular holiday lights experience in the St. Louis area. Featuring nearly two million dazzling lights, Garden Glow transforms the iconic setting of the Missouri Botanical Garden into an enchanted wonderland rich with mesmerizing displays and unforgettable moments. Advance tickets encouraged. For hours and info: mobot.org

Games

▪ Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge Sunday Night Bingo — 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge, 2425 N. Illinois St., Swansea. Games start at 6:30 p.m. Early Bird at 6:15 p.m. Cards sold at 5 p.m. Open to the public. Bring a canned good for one free card.

▪ Metro Cribbage Club — 12:30 p.m. Mondays. American Legion Post 365, 1022 Vandalia St., Collinsville. For more information, contact Yvonne Bright, 618-344-1521 or ybrightmail@gmail.com.

▪ Troy Senior Center Bingo — 12:30 p.m. Mondays. Wiesemeyer Building, 410 Wickliffe, Troy. Includes light snack, cash prizes. No cost to play, no RSVP required. 618-667-2022.

Theater/Concerts

▪ St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Second Symphony — 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 1. Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis. David Danzmayr’s 2021 SLSO debut delighted listeners and players. He returns with a program that thrills and sings. Danzmayr pushes Beethoven’s Second Symphony close to the edge, flirting with danger. SLSO Principal Oboe Jelena Dirks’ goal is to sing through her instrument. She has every opportunity in the songful, break-your-heart musical world of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Oboe Concerto. Strum by Jessie Montgomery, the in-demand American composer of this moment, salutes American folk music, its spirit of dance and movement. slso.org

Clubs & Support Groups

▪ Grief Share Seminar/Group — 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays thru Dec. 5. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, lower level, 1300 Beltline Road, Collinsville. Grief Share is for people grieving the death of a loved one. The seminar features practical suggestions and reassurance through video interviews with counselors, grief experts and others who have experienced the death of a loved one. Can start at any session. Cost: $20 for the workbook. 618-344-3151 or bklee54@yahoo.com.

▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness: NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group — 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays. 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.

▪ Granite City Senior Social Club Christmas Party — 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 10. Granite City Township Hall, 2060 Delmar Ave., Granite City. Includes a catered meal at 12:30 p.m., “It’s Magic!” starring Terry Richison at 1:30 p.m., and Tom Wilkerson’s Christmas Sing-along, attendance prizes, Christmas quilt raffle. Tickets on sale through Dec. 3. Cost: $13 for members, $15 for non-members. No tickets will be sold at the door. 618-444-6771, 618-797-6749 or 618-877-0513.

Food

▪ O’Fallon Knights of Columbus & Ladies Auxiliary Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Fridays. Knights of Columbus Hall, 402 E. U.S. 50, O’Fallon. Traditional menu of cod, tilapia, catfish, hamburgers, hot dogs, pork steaks and several side dishes. Dine-in and carryout. Credit cards accepted. Orders can be called in at 618-632-6229. facebook.com/KnightsOfColumbus4239