Art, live music, family activities and community fundraisers offer a variety of ways to spend Nov. 6-8, 2026. Explore the highlights below and visit RiverBender.com Events for the complete calendar.
Downtown Alton businesses will welcome shoppers from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 6 for First Fridays Late Night Art & Shopping Experience, presented by Alton Main Street. Participating shops will offer discounts, refreshments and giveaways, and purchases earn passport stamps for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate. Visitors can also search for the hidden 14-inch wooden “Where’s Wadlow” figurine for another chance at a $100 gift certificate. Free parking is available beside FLOCK Food Truck Park & Bar, 210 Ridge St.
Music fans can spend Friday evening at Shotgun Creek Live at VFW Post 1308 in Alton. The band will perform from 7 to 11 p.m. Nov. 6, and the event is open to the public.
A birthday celebration will double as a collection drive at Fill the Pantry: Blake’s Birthday on Nov. 7 in the Alton Physical Therapy parking lot in Alton. Guests can bring canned goods and other nonperishable items to help MM4PD fill the pantry. Donations provide a chance to participate in raffles and giveaways, while Jewel Ice Cream Co. will supply coffee, hot cocoa and ice cream.
Food, music and drawings are on the schedule for Owl’s Club Fall Festival on Nov. 7 at 227 Blair Ave. in Alton. Doors open at 5 p.m., food is served at 6 p.m., and Owlz Band plays from 8 p.m. to midnight. The evening includes door prizes and cash drawings. Admission, paid at the door, is $15 per person or $25 per couple.
Hope Animal Rescues will celebrate its rescue work with an “A Night in Paris” theme at the 2026 Charity Gala on Nov. 7 at Alton Wood River Sportsmen’s Club in Godfrey. The semi-formal gathering includes dinner, an open bar, live music and a high-end auction. Tickets are $100 per person.
The William M. BeDell Achievement & Resource Center’s 45th Annual Dance Fundraiser brings music and a catered meal to The McNicholas Club in Godfrey on Nov. 7. Presented by David and Carey Price, the event features DownRight DJ and catering by Heaterz Chicken. Tickets are $25 per person, with free beer and soda and a cash bar available. Guests may bring a favorite dish or treat to share.
Friday, Nov. 6, 2026
Young readers can join the Gobble Up a Good Book Reading Challenge at Hayner Library in Alton, with listings Nov. 6-8. Separate bingo cards for ages birth through 5 and ages 6-11 encourage reading, library exploration and program participation. Completed bingos earn prizes, and finished cards qualify for a grand-prize drawing.
Help gather seeds for prairie and woodland biodiversity during Volunteer: Native Seed Collecting at Heartland, listed with The Nature Institute in Godfrey. Volunteers should bring gloves and water and wear long pants; collection tools and a demonstration will be provided.
Shop handmade greeting cards and other handmade items at A Place of Grace Card Party Fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Asbury Village, 5201 Asbury Lane in Godfrey. Card sale proceeds benefit local agencies.
Families can enjoy an outdoor story with Ms. Mary Kay from Hayner Library during Hayner Library Storytime at TNI at The Nature Institute in Godfrey. Also listed as StoryWalk Story Time at TNI, the gathering begins at the start of the StoryWalk trail.
Senior Services Plus, 2603 N. Rodgers Ave. in Alton, will host Caregiving: Free AARP Movie Screening at Senior Services Plus. Doors open at 11 a.m., and the documentary, produced by Bradley Cooper, runs from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Lunch is provided. Space is limited; call 618-465-3298, ext. 100, to register.
Teens can unwind with crafts, video games and time with friends at YA Fridays at Hayner Library in Alton.
Great Rivers CASA/GAL Trivia Night supports local children at the Knights of Columbus in Jerseyville. Doors open at 5 p.m., with trivia at 6 p.m. Tables of eight cost $160; the evening also includes a silent auction, a 50/50 drawing and heads or tails. Bring snacks, and call 618-946-3013 to reserve a table.
Books and seasonal creativity come together at the Fall Reading Retreat from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Hayner Library’s lower-level multipurpose room at Alton Square Mall. Participants will make fall banners using recycled book-page leaves, twine and autumn accents. Snacks and supplies are provided; call 1-800-613-3163 to register.
Cosmic Bowling Night at Airport Plaza Bowl in Bethalto runs from 7 to 11 p.m. Nov. 6 and 7. Bowling costs $20 per person, including shoes, with Classic’s Bar & Grill available for a break. Call 618-377-2131 with questions.
The Principia College Choir and Orchestra will present Vivaldi’s Gloria: Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis at 7:30 p.m. at 1210 Locust St. Admission is free, with no tickets required. The approximately 45-minute concert opens with a Bach organ prelude performed by Dr. Rose Whitmore, followed by ensembles conducted by Dr. Joe Van Riper.
Southern rock takes the stage at Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville with The Artemis Pyle Band November 6, 8pm The Wildey Theater. The group features former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle and pays tribute to the band’s music.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026
Explore family connections at the DAR “FRIEND-RAISER” Open House from 10 a.m. to noon at Hayner’s Genealogy & Local History Library in Alton. Experienced researchers will help visitors understand the Daughters of the American Revolution application process. Admission is free, and registration is not required.
Check for unclaimed assets during I-Cash with Illinois State Treasurer from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wood River Public Library, 326 E. Ferguson Ave. Bring a current photo ID for free help searching the database and seeking the return of missing money or assets.
Students in grades seven through 12 can play Nintendo Switch from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Teen Room at the Niedringhaus Building, 2001 Delmar Ave. in Granite City.
Children ages 3-12 can explore prehistoric plant menus and create a miniature dinosaur garden at Dinos in the Garden Presented by the Missouri Botanical Garden. The program begins at 2 p.m. at the Niedringhaus Building, 2001 Delmar Ave. in Granite City. Call 618-452-6238 to register.
Tanglefoot is on the calendar at The Loading Dock in Grafton.
Support local Scouts at the Pack 103 & Troop 103 Trivia Night Fundraiser at St. Mary’s Engelbert Hall, 1621 Tenth St. in Madison. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and trivia starts at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $200 per table or $25 per person, with raffles and attendance prizes also planned. Child care is available next door for children who are potty trained. Call Cheryl Moe at 618-610-7158 with questions.
Local musicians and artists, with a touch of comedy, will take part in MUSIC & MEMORY at the YWCA of Southwestern Illinois in Alton. The fundraiser benefits the 3 Purple Coats Performing Arts program and the Greater St. Louis Alzheimer’s Association.
City Heat Band will play from 7 to 11 at Alton Moose Lodge in Godfrey. The event is open to the public, and the kitchen opens at 5:30 with homemade specialty pizzas.
Cimarron 615 – November 7, 8pm brings a lineup of songwriters, singers and instrumentalists to Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville at 8 p.m. Members include Rick Lonow, Jack Sundrud, Michael Webb and Ronnie Gilbeau.
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026
The Vintage Voices Players will present The Lovejoy Legacy: Proclamation through the Arts during morning worship at LoveJoy United Presbyterian Church in Wood River. The 45-minute performance tells Elijah P. Lovejoy’s story through five people connected to his life and legacy. The full gathering runs a little over an hour, with donuts, coffee and conversation afterward.
Next Thing Smokin’ is scheduled at The Loading Dock in Grafton.
Adults and teens grieving a loved one can attend GriefShare’s “Surviving the Holidays” at Zion Lutheran – Bethalto from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto. The free presentation offers resources, strategies and tools for coping with grief during the holiday season.
Behind the Glass Brewery Tours begins at 3 p.m. at Old Bakery Beer Company in Alton. The 40-minute guided tour covers the company, its historic building and the brewing process. Admission is $10 per person and includes a pint and tank samples. Groups of eight or more should call 618-463-1470 to reserve a spot.
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