Events

Henry N. Barkhausen Cache River Wetlands Center 8885 State Route 37 South • Cypress, Illinois 62923 Phone: (618) 657-2064

Nestled in the Shawnee National Forest, Giant City State Park is a premier destination for hiking, lodging, and camping in southern Illinois. We are now proud to offer a premier trail ½ marathon and 40k primarily utilizing the Red Cedar Trail. The course will consist mostly of single track, but Read more

Schools out for the summer! Head out to Giant City where every week, we will have a new nature art program. Details will be posted on the Giant City State Park Facebook in April. Age ranges will vary from week to week. Please call 618-457-4836 for more information.

Select wineries of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail have paired up to create a wonderful day of savory and seasonal wine and food pairings.   We invite you to join us for a progressive tasting along the trail and enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of our wines paired with delicious samples. 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 site: Dutchman Lake on June 5 During Trash Blasts we will break into small teams of volunteers to collect Read more

At the Ella Elizabeth Hise Museum of Regional Art at SIC. The reception will feature sculptural works by Gwen Lambert Kelling, photographs and paintings by Joshua Rowan, and selections from the Sarah Capps Collection. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Lonnie Mann at hisemuseum@sic.edu Read more

The Blessing of the Jeeps, hosted by Jeep’n Shawnee, with the help of regional jeep groups, will be offering multiple Jeep blessings as well as 2wd friendly rides through the Shawnee Forest. Each ride, led by Jeep’n Shawnee members after each blessing, will offer a scenic ride through the Forest. Read more

Henry N. Barkhausen Cache River Wetlands Center 8885 State Route 37 South • Cypress, Illinois 62923 Phone: (618) 657-2064

The Influence of Migration and the Question of Slavery on the Formation of the State of Illinois We'll set the context with Mark Motsinger's research on the Old Soldiers Reservation (Southern Illinois land grants to soldiers from the Revolutionary War) which provides insights on how this immigration helped shape the Read more

An afternoon of hands-on learning, fiber arts, and fun on the farm! The Farm to Fiber Field Day is a chance to experience the full journey from animal to finished fiber. You’ll meet the animals, learn how fiber is produced and processed, and explore natural dyeing with plants. Participants will Read more

Keep Carbondale Beautiful is excited to announce our upcoming Bee & Butterfly Friendly Yard & Garden Tour taking place on Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Carbondale, Illinois. This special community event will showcase beautiful local gardens and outdoor spaces while promoting neighborhood pride, sustainability, and community beautification. We would greatly appreciate your Read more