Festivals Events and Exhibits in Jacksonville IL

Summer, Fall, and almost any time is a fantastic time to visit the thriving town of Jacksonville, Illinois, where there are a number of festivals, events, and exhibits. It’s a great place for couples, families, and anyone who likes music, art, food, and outdoor fun. There’s something for everyone in Jacksonville, whether you’re planning a family adventure, a romantic getaway, or something brand new.

At United Chevrolet Buick GMC, we want to help you make the most of your free time, particularly over the summer months when there is so much to see and do. So, we’ve compiled this list to give you some fantastic ideas on how to spend your time in Jacksonville.

Image via Flickr by Alex Lehner

Emma Mae Leonhard Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Trail

If you love the great outdoors, you will find many parks, lakes, rivers, and hiking trails in the area, like Emma Mae Leonhard Wildlife Sanctuary. This is a beautiful place to spend a summer’s day, with plenty of easy walks and some more challenging terrain that takes visitors through woods and grasslands. Nature lovers and photographers will be thrilled with the variety of opportunities to spot local wildlife as you wander, hike, or bike around the reserve. You can pick up a map at the entrance to the reserve and plan your route, or just let your natural instinct guide you around the trails if you’re feeling adventurous!

Jacksonville Community Park

For families with playful children, this is one of the newest parks in the region and it has a lot to offer visitors. There are playgrounds and soccer fields for children to play, a community Ferris wheel from which you can see some of the most impressive views over Jacksonville, and gazebos that are perfect for enjoying a picnic. The park is the ideal place to get some fresh air, and the warm summer months make it the perfect spot to enjoy an open-air concert.

Lake Jacksonville

If you want to spend some time on the water, then this is the perfect time to visit Jacksonville. It’s the middle of the boating season on Lake Jacksonville, and there are fishing competitions throughout the summer, as well. The lake has earned a reputation as one of the best spots for catching bass and bluegill. It’s also a great place to camp, especially for those who enjoy swimming, sailing, water skiing, canoeing, or even just a quiet picnic overlooking the beautiful water. The campsite has beautifully secluded pitches and easy access to the lake, which hosts a variety of watersports and other activities.

Jacksonville Public Library

Jacksonville Public Library hosts a variety of events, including exhibitions from local artists and community groups, with many exhibitions reflecting aspects of the area’s culture and history. The library’s events calendar also includes sessions for children, from storytelling and inspiring a love of reading in the younger generation to STEAM sessions that encourage children to explore the world around them using science and math. If you’re heading to Jacksonville, check out the library’s events page for dates and times.

Prairie Land Heritage Museum

This incredible slice of the area’s history is a great way to travel back through time and learn about the origins of the technology we use today. The collection features a range of vintage farm machinery, steam engines, and traditional crafts. The museum was founded by local enthusiasts who wanted to preserve the memories of the machinery that every farmer relied upon in days gone by.

The museum has had many donations of equipment and memorabilia. Historians, farmers, and locals with long memories have contributed their unique perspective to the exhibits. In addition to the wide variety of machinery, the museum offers visitors the chance to see threshing, sorghum making, blacksmithing, and a number of other craft demonstrations from committed volunteers who love to share their interest in the region’s history.

Main Street Craft Brew Festival and Art Fair on the Square

Jacksonville also boasts an annual Craft Brew Festival where brewers from the local area showcase their favorite beers against the backdrop of a festival packed with fun activities. Visitors can attend ‘beer school’ to learn more about how to identify and describe the key flavors of a range of beers. There is also the Hometown Showdown, a friendly contest between Jacksonville and other local breweries who compete for a trophy.

For those who enjoy browsing beautiful paintings, sculpture, jewelry, and more, The Art Fair on the Square runs at the same time as the Craft Brew Festival to offer patrons a truly fun-packed time with family-friendly art and craft activities. Local artists are able to showcase their work, and art lovers can pick up unique pieces in a range of styles from the carefully curated collection. Visitors can also make some art of their own, from tie-dying T-shirts to making flags and contributing to community art projects on display in the local area.

Festival-goers can sample an array of local beers and other drinks while perusing the artistic offerings. The festival also has a full program of live music, with bands from the surrounding area performing throughout the day. When you add in the wide variety of food vendors offering dishes from around the world, these two festivals have what it takes to be anyone’s perfect day out.

Springfield Old Capitol Blues and BBQ

Nearby Springfield is home to a festival that has won awards for being both the best music festival and the best food festival in the area. There is an incredible choice of barbecue booths offering a range of traditional favorites and new and innovative dishes that draw on hundreds of years of barbecuing tradition. While taking in the smells and tastes of the festival, you can listen to local artists who play a mixture of traditional blues and draw on the rich heritage of the area in their music.

With so much happening in the Jacksonville area, there are plenty of great events and attractions to choose from. These are just some of our favorites, but if you know of an amazing event that’s happening in the Jacksonville area, then get in touch and tell us about it. We’d be happy to add it to our list!