EIU Doudna Fine Arts Spring Fest
Saturday, April 25, 2026 · 11:00 AM · Eastern Illinois University, Doudna Fine Arts Center
Eastern Illinois University, Doudna Fine Arts Center
10:00am | Artisan Booths , Food Vendors , & Outdoor Stage opens 11:00am | Mitch Faulkner Trio | Outdoor Stage 1:00-4:00pm | Kids Day Activities Free glitter tattoos and face painting | 1:00-4:00pm | Outdoor Booth Art & science activities | 1:00-4:00pm | Concourse EIU Dancers | 1:00-2:00pm | Outdoor Stage Scovill Zoo presentation | 2:00-4:00pm | Outdoor Stage 7:00pm | All art and food vendors close 7:30pm | Eastern Symphony Orchestra | Dvorak Concert Hall | Get Tickets
Celebrate Trails Day
Saturday, April 25, 2026 · 2:00 PM · Grand Prairie Friends, 17161 Daileyville Rd, Charleston, IL 61920
Grand Prairie Friends, 17161 Daileyville Rd, Charleston, IL 61920
Join Grand Prairie Friends on April 25 as we partner with Celebrate Trails Day with a day on the trails! Hike the beautiful Warbler Trail and enhance your journey with our Prairie State Hike app for a guided, interpretive experience along the way. With 10 miles of scenic trails to explore, you’re welcome to venture beyond Warbler Trail and discover all that our preserves have to offer. Friendly trail hosts will be available from 1–4 p.m. to answer questions and help you make the most of your visit. They will be located at the 3 main entrances to the Warbler Ridge trail system- the Red Shack (17161 Daileyville Road), Mark's Point (dead end of E Co Rd 550N), and the North Trail head of Warbler Trail (located along Bypass Road, Lat: 39.453315 Long: -88.142568). Held each year on the fourth Saturday in April, Celebrate Trails Day is a nationwide spring celebration of America’s trails. Launched in 2013 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, this annual event inspires people across the country to get outside and enjoy the remarkable trail systems that connect our communities and natural spaces.
The Frosted Republic: How Illinois Taught America to Celebrate in Cake
Saturday, April 25, 2026 · 3:00 PM · Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site , 402 South Lincoln Hwy Rd,  Lerna, IL 62440
Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site , 402 South Lincoln Hwy Rd,  Lerna, IL 62440
Cake is more than dessert; it is a reflection of who we are and how we celebrate. The Frosted Republic traces Illinois' surprising role in shaping America's sweet traditions-from Wilton's early classrooms in Roseland, to Duncan Hines' Chicago food guides, to Sara Lee's Downers Grove bakery that made celebration accessible to every freezer aisle. Together, these stories reveal how Illinois became a quiet engine of cultural joy, teaching the nation to express love, resilience, and creativity through buttercream, boxed mixes, and pound cakes. Chef Lori Parrett leads audiences through this history as both pastry chef and storyteller, blending archival research, lived experience, and visual demonstration. Using slides, vintage imagery, and a few edible artifacts, she invites participants to see cake decorating as both craft and cultural record; evidence of migration, ingenuity, and the art of making do. Warm, interactive, and grounded in Illinois history, The Frosted Republic reminds audiences that every piped rose and every slice shared tells a story about who we are and how we celebrate together.
Vocal Point and Noteworthy A Capella Concert
Saturday, April 25, 2026 · 7:00 PM · Charleston High School, 1615 Lincoln Ave., Charleston, IL 61920
Charleston High School, 1615 Lincoln Ave., Charleston, IL 61920
BYU’s premier a cappella ensembles, Vocal Point and Noteworthy, live in concert on Saturday, April 25th. Charleston High School Auditorium (1615 Lincoln Ave.) Two showtimes available: 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM Get Tickets Now: 6:00 PM Show 8:30 PM Show Vocal Point is BYU's renowned seven-man a cappella group, known for their dynamic performances that blend harmony, humor, and vocal percussion across a variety of musical genres. Noteworthy is BYU's all-female a cappella group known for their powerful voices, inspiring performances, and faith-centered music. Please join us for this fun, energetic, family-friendly event.
Charleston Library Literature and Libations
Saturday, April 25, 2026 · 7:00 PM · Charleston Carnegie Public Library, 712 6th St, Charleston, IL 61920
Charleston Carnegie Public Library, 712 6th St, Charleston, IL 61920
We proudly present our annual fundraiser, Literature & Libations! The event will take place at the Library on Saturday, April 25th at 6:00pm. The event will feature music from The Halos and an EIU jazz trio, hors d’oeuvres from Warren James Winery, and a great selection of wine, beer, and cocktails! We will have a mini-golf course setup throughout the building, and we will have a Book Tree Raffle with a prizes from Towne Square Jewelers, Bike & Hike, Charleston House, and Mack Moore Shoes! The proceeds from this fundraiser will help upgrade our water fountains to include bottle-fill stations. Modern bottle-fill water fountains provide a safe and sanitary source of drinking water, help reduce plastic waste, and promote eco-friendly practices. As a public library serving Charleston and the surrounding communities, we see a lot of visitors, over 53,000 in 2025, and our water fountains see just as much use. Tickets will cost $30 before the event and $40 at the door.
Charleston Firefighters' Pension Fund Board of Trustees
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 · 10:30 AM · City Hall Basement Conference Room, 520 Jackson Ave., Charleston, IL 61920
City Hall Basement Conference Room, 520 Jackson Ave., Charleston, IL 61920
Members of the Firefighters' Pension Fund Board of Trustees will meet
Police Pension Fund Board of Trustees
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 · 11:30 AM · City Hall Basement Conference Room, 520 Jackson Ave., Charleston, IL 61920
City Hall Basement Conference Room, 520 Jackson Ave., Charleston, IL 61920
Members of the Charleston Police Pension Fund Board of Trustees will meet
EIU Runway Reclaim: A Fashion Show Celebrating Sustainable Innovation
Wednesday, April 29, 2026 · 8:00 PM · Eastern Illinois University, Doudna Fine Arts Center
Eastern Illinois University, Doudna Fine Arts Center
Witness the next generation of fashion designers redefine style and sustainability at Runway Reclaim, a dynamic showcase of upcycled fashion designs crafted by talented students. This event highlights the fusion of creativity and eco-consciousness, pushing the boundaries of fashion's future.
Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals & Planning
Thursday, April 30, 2026 · 8:00 PM · City Hall Council Chambers, 520 Jackson Ave.,  Charleston IL 61920
City Hall Council Chambers, 520 Jackson Ave.,  Charleston IL 61920
Members of the Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals & Planning will meet in Council Chambers as needed
Cookie Decorating Workshop at Lincoln Log Cabin
Saturday, May 2, 2026 · 2:00 PM · Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site , 402 South Lincoln Hwy Rd, Lerna, IL 62440
Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site , 402 South Lincoln Hwy Rd, Lerna, IL 62440
Bring your child, mother, or grandmother and join Rebecca Clark, The Nerdy Baker, on Saturday, May 2nd for this hands-on, guided cookie decorating workshop! Piping bags, icing, and a cookie scribe are all provided, and by the end of the day participants will take home an assortment of decorated cookies! Registration in advance is required, and seats are limited! Online registration at www.lincolnlogcabin.org