Events

Attracting Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds to Your Backyard Pollinator Garden, Presenter: Kim Rohling, 10:00–11:00 a.m.

Have you noticed different birds at your feeders? Although ruby-throated hummingbirds are expected visitors to gardens east of the Rocky Mountains, several species of vagrant hummingbirds have been documented in Illinois. Did you know that there are citizen science projects looking for your observations on these magnificent creatures? Join Horticulture Read more

The Southern Illinois Opry has moved back to Kiki's Coffee House & Cafe! Our first show of the year is Saturday February 21st at 8pm. Doors will open at 7pm. The Kiki Bar will be open serving adult beverages along with all the great coffee drinks! Don't miss our first Read more

FRIDAY, Feb 27, 6 PM: Blue and Gray Dinner – Guest Speaker is Betsy Brown, President of the Board of Directors for General John A. Logan Museum. Her topic is John A. Logan’s beliefs before the Civil War. Tickets are $25 and please RSVP no later than February 25, 2024 Read more

Reintroduction of Alligator Gar to the Cache River Watershed, Presenter: Mark Denzer, 10:00–11:00 a.m.

Step out of the winter gray and into a world where glitter meets grit, romance takes a backseat, and pleasure - of every variety - sits firmly in the driver’s seat. Palentine's Day is Southern Illinois’ decadent theatrical alternative to the usual February fluff: a dark circus celebration of self-love, Read more

Trash Blasts will happen on the first Friday of every month from March until June from 1 pm to 3 pm at various locations in the Shawnee National Forest. The selected sites for this spring are: Iron Furnace on March 6 Grantsburg Swamp on April  3 Ripple Hollow on May Read more

100k+ as the main event of the day, but will also offer a shorter course for anyone who doesn't want to tackle the full 100k. The short course will be somewhere near half of the 100k. Don't worry, it will still have hills and gravel ;) The racers from the Read more

The River-to-River Trail Society offers free guided hikes in and about the Shawnee National Forest for Spring. All hikes are open to the public free of charge.  These hikes are of at least moderate difficulty, and are intended for people in good health who have done some hiking. Boots or Read more

Identifying trees without leaves is a snap when you know what to look for. Join MDC Community Forester, Jennifer Behnken, as she shares easy and fun tips to discover trees using their buds and bark. We will be hiking the 1 mile Giant City Nature Trail. This program is free Read more

It's about freezin for a reason.  Pounds Hollow Recreation Area will be the chilly site for the Shawnee Polar Plunge into Pounds Hollow Lake to support the Friends of the Shawnee National Forest and the Equality Fire Department. Onsite check-in will begin at 1:30 p.m. The plunge starts approximately at Read more