• Home
  • Calendar
    • Community Thanksgiving Dinners
    • Holiday Fun 11/20- 11/30
    • Submit Your Event
  • Helpful Resources
    • Help for the Holidays 2025
    • In Region 20 >
      • R 20 Mental & Behavioral Health
    • In Region 21
    • In Region 30
    • Coupons, Money Savings Tips
  • Early Childhood
    • Programs by County
    • Help Paying for Child Care
    • FREE Online Screening
    • KG Readiness >
      • SCHOOL READINESS CHECKLIST
      • Parent Newsletter
    • Parenting Tips
  • Guides
    • Farmers Markets in the Region
    • Birthday Parties
    • Day Trips
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Parks
    • Story Hours
SI Families Connect
  • Home
  • Calendar
    • Community Thanksgiving Dinners
    • Holiday Fun 11/20- 11/30
    • Submit Your Event
  • Helpful Resources
    • Help for the Holidays 2025
    • In Region 20 >
      • R 20 Mental & Behavioral Health
    • In Region 21
    • In Region 30
    • Coupons, Money Savings Tips
  • Early Childhood
    • Programs by County
    • Help Paying for Child Care
    • FREE Online Screening
    • KG Readiness >
      • SCHOOL READINESS CHECKLIST
      • Parent Newsletter
    • Parenting Tips
  • Guides
    • Farmers Markets in the Region
    • Birthday Parties
    • Day Trips
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Parks
    • Story Hours
Picture
 November 15th
DuQuoin
Christmas Barn Market
Route 51 Farmhouse Market

Our 6th Holiday Market, I can’t even believe it!!! So excited to kick off the Holiday season in the barn for the most wonderful time of the year!! Vendors from around Illinois and surrounding states will be here for all of your decor and gift buying needs!!

November 21st and 22nd
Jefferson County
Mt Vernon
Cedarhurst Center for teh Arts
Festival of Trees

Fundraising Gala on  Friday  night- tickets required. he Gala is just the beginning of the weekend of Holiday Magic!
Join us again on Saturday, November 22nd from 11 AM - 9 PM to browse (and BID!) on the stunningly decorated Christmas trees during The Lights at Cedarhurst!
Saturday Admission Details:
• Free entry to the Festival of Trees Sat. Nov. 22 from 11 AM to 4 PM.
• Everyone is welcome to bid for the chance to take home a beautiful tree.
• The Lights general admission tickets also grant access to The Festival of Trees Open House from 5 PM to 9 PM.

November 21st- 23rd
Cape Girardeau Missouri
Annual Crafts, Gifts and Collectible Show
265 Notre Dame Dr, Cape Girardeau, MO

The Crafts, Gifts, and Collectibles Show is held at Notre Dame Regional High School to benefit the Performing and Visual Arts Departments.
Friday, November 21, 5pm-9pm | Admission $4
Saturday, November 22, 9am-6pm | Admission $4
Sunday, November 23, 9am-4pm | Admission FREE
There will be over 200 vendors located in the main gym, King Hall & Drury Hall! Our refreshment stand will be selling food & baked goods, PLUS Santa will be making a special stop on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.! Parents can take pictures of their kiddos with Santa and admission on Sunday is free for all! For more information, contact Deana Pecord at [email protected] or 618-967-2953. S​

November 22nd
Jackson County

Murphysboro, Illinois
2025 Christmas Market
General John A Logan College Attendance Center

320 Watson Rd
Happy November! Our first event is just weeks away!
We are so excited to share this holiday season with you and kick off our events with our annual Christmas Market!
OUR MARKET IS MOVING!! We’ve had such an amazing amount of incredible vendors that we are MOVING LOCATIONS so we can offer more! This year’s market will be held at General John A Logan Attendance Center, 320 Watson Road.

Murphysboro
Oak Street Art Sale
1001 IL-13-BR, Murphysboro, IL 62966-
10 am- 4pm
18 local artists will be selling their work! See the best of local talent in two locations in the Logan Historic Art District of Murphysboro.

Union County
Cobden,
Mommy and Me Christmas Cookie Decorating Class

Join us for a FUN and FESTIVE Christmas Cookie Decorating Class. Learn some decorating secrets that will amaze your family and friends. In this class you will learn: wet-on-wet techniques, precision piping, perfecting outlines, flooding techniques, 3D designs and royal icing consistencies. All supplies will be included in the class fee. Class is suitable for ages 9+  Ticket are $45
Ticket required: 

​Jonesboro
Thanksgiving Craft and Stories
2pm
Jonesboro Public LIbrary
412 S Main, Jonesboro, Illinois

Join us for fun crafts and stories! Free and open to the public.

November 22nd and 23rd
Cape Girardeau Missouri
AC Brase Arena

River Valley Craft Club – 50th Annual Craft Fair - One of the biggest craft fairs in Southeast Missouri just in time for the holidays. Over 200 Crafters/Vendors with lots of unique items. Pictures with Santa! Giveaways/Reindeer Games! SEMO Pets-Pet Adoptions! Saturday and Sunday, November 22-23 at the Arena Building, 410 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO. Event times are Saturday 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. 



November 23rd
Carbondale
Bringers of Noise Concert
1st Presbyterian Church 
310 S University, Carbondale

We are the Bringers of Noise!
Come out for this FREE concert of Tesserae Chorus and hear the rage, beauty, and joy of the queer+ choir of Southern Illinois.
Want to support us even more? Come by at 5pm for the silent auction & raffle-FREE

​November 25th
West Frankfort
  • Fantasy of Lights Parade
  • November 25 -6:30 pm
  • Join us in downtown West Frankfort for our annual Christmas Lights parade! The parade will start in front of St. John the Baptist Church on East Main St. and end at the Miner's Memorial Park. After the parade join us for the Christmas Tree Lighting and visit Santa in his cottage! The tree and Santa's cottage is in our downtown park on the 300 block of East Main St right across from BFJ Furniture

​November 27th
Happy Thanksgiving- check out our page on community Thanksgiving meals

Perry County
DuQuoin Holiday LIghts Fair- opening night
Drive in or Drive through
DuQuoin State Fairgrounds
655 Executive Drive
Du Quoin, IL
(618) 542-1515
Expo Hall: First three weekends in December at 6:00pm

At the Expo Hall, there will be more vendors than ever before, great entertainment, activities, Santa sightings, food, and more!

️ 2025 Gate Admission Prices:

Weeknights: Only $15

Weekends: $20 (includes Expo Hall Admission)
November 28th




November 29th
Franklin County
Benton 

Hometown Christmas Vendor Event on the Benton Public Square
Event Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Benton Public Square, Benton, IL

Thompsonville
Christmas at Magnolia Woods
when? November 29th, 2025
where? Magnolia Woods Venue (12380 Dillingham Rd, Thompsonville IL)
what time? 8 am to 3 pm

$5.00 admission 12 AND UNDER FREE!!! join us for a magical day full of Christmas cheer while you shop local vendors, enjoy hot chocolate, and start off the Christmas season at Magnolia Woods! We hope you join us

Perry County
DuQuoin
St Nick Express - 2st Train Ride of the Season

St. Nicholas Brewing Company
12 S Oak St
Du Quoin, IL
(618) 790-9212
Get ready for the most enchanting journey of the season — the St. Nick Express, a whimsical train ride and breakfast adventure that will transport you straight into the heart of holiday magic!
Saturday, November 29, 2025 6:15AM
A NORTH POLE ADVENTURE AWAITS!
Interactive Train Ride – It’s not just a ride... it’s an immersive holiday experience! Take the Amtrak from Carbondale straight to the North Pole. You’re welcomed by Elves, The Conductor, Elsa, and a singing chorus!
Star-Studded Cast – The One the only, Santa! Along with Elsa, Olaf, The Grinch (shh this is a surprise), elves, a caroling chorus - The Little Egypt Barbershop Chorus, and more!
Breakfast & Dancing – Enjoy a mouthwatering breakfast spread at St. Nicholas Brewing Company that both kids and adults enjoy. But this doesn’t last long, dancing, sing alongs, and everyone’s favorite- the conga line - gets the little ones out of their seat with non stop fun.
Exclusive Goodies – Each kiddo receives a goody bag filled with things like a golden ticket punched by the Polar Express conductor, jingle bells, and other goodies. And each family takes home a commemorative ornament! 
Photos – A festive photo area will be available for you to take family photos with Santa and all the other characters.
You have 2 options to start this adventure and must choose while purchasing!
Option 1: Meet us at St. Nicholas Brewing Co. in Du Quoin, Illinois between 6AM and 6:15AM sharp
Option 2: Meet us at Carbondale Amtrak Station 7AM Sharp (We will board the St. Nick Express here and have a bus to return you to the train station after the event).
More details to follow after your purchase! Everyone MUST have a ticket!
TICKETS GO ON SALE WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 5TH 8AM$75 GENERAL ADMISSION
$10 LAP RIDERS 2 & UNDER
Nick Express- 1st Train Ride of he Season

DuQuoin

DuQuoin Christmas Parade
Dowtown DuQuoin
6pm


Union County
Jonesboro
Small Town Christmas on the Jonesboro Square

You are cordially invited to join us on November 29th from 8 am to 1 pm for an entertaining program of kid-friendly activities! There will be an abundance of amusement on the Square!

Anna
Christmas Vendor Craft Show
Anna Jonesboro High School
608 S Main
9a,- 2pm


Anna- Lights Up the Night Parade
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Downtown Anna

Wiliamson County
Herrin, Illinois
Herrin Hometown Christmas

5:15 pm- Santa Arrives
5:30 pm- 8:00 pm Activities at the Civic Center
Meet Santa on Stage,Christmas Festival with games and prizes,Chris Egelston, Magic Show; Balloon artist, letters to Santa, horse drawn carriage rides.

Marion 
The Prophecy Shoe-Trans Siberian Orchestra Tribute
Marion Cultural and Civic Center
7pm
Tickets required- 

http://MarionCCC.com


November 30th
Cape Girardeau
Parade of Lights
5pm-7pm

On Sunday, November 30th, head downtown for the annual Parade of Lights beginning at dusk. Starting at 5 p.m. on Sunday, the parade route will begin at the intersection of Broadway and West End Boulevard and will continue east down Broadway, turning right onto Main Street and ending at the parking lot across from Hutson’s Big Sandy Furniture.

Murphysboro
Cookies with Mrs Claus
Murphysboro Elks Lodge
1:00 pm- 4:00 pm

Join us on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30th at the Murphysboro Elks Lodge for the 6th annual, Cookies with Mrs. Claus event! Thank you to Murphysboro Smile Design for sponsoring this event and to the Murphysboro Elks lodge for graciously donating their reception hall & kitchen to host the event.
Children ages 5+ are invited to spend an afternoon with Mrs. Claus learning to make, bake, and decorate cookies! Each child will leave with fresh baked cookies, an apron with printing courtesy of Striking Designs Screenprinting, a cookie cutter, and more! All children must be accompanied by an adult. The cost of the event is $25 per child. (One adult per child. Admission for adult is free.) This event is limited to the first 50 registrants.
Tickets for this event can be purchased via Eventbrite via this link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/.../cookies-with-mrs-claus... 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Home

News

Blog

Contact

Copyright © 2024
  • Home
  • Calendar
    • Community Thanksgiving Dinners
    • Holiday Fun 11/20- 11/30
    • Submit Your Event
  • Helpful Resources
    • Help for the Holidays 2025
    • In Region 20 >
      • R 20 Mental & Behavioral Health
    • In Region 21
    • In Region 30
    • Coupons, Money Savings Tips
  • Early Childhood
    • Programs by County
    • Help Paying for Child Care
    • FREE Online Screening
    • KG Readiness >
      • SCHOOL READINESS CHECKLIST
      • Parent Newsletter
    • Parenting Tips
  • Guides
    • Farmers Markets in the Region
    • Birthday Parties
    • Day Trips
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Parks
    • Story Hours