Events Calendar

The Jacksonville Area Museum’s annual “Building with Brick – The Art of LEGO” exhibit featuring more than 120 entries opens to the public on Wednesday, December 3 and will run through February 28, 2026. The exhibit may be viewed during the museum’s normal hours of operation on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

This fourth-annual exhibit features original and LEGO kit creations from all ages. Prizes based on public voting will be awarded in five categories: Kit Build for all ages, Jacksonville 200th (to commemorate the city’s bicentennial) for all ages, Original Build ages 13 and up, Original Build ages 8 – 12, and Original Build ages 0 – 7.

This exhibit is one of the most popular events each year at the museum. LEGO gift cards worth $100 will be awarded to those receiving the most public votes. Visitors may vote once per day and must do so in person at the museum.

The Western Illinois Museum is pleased to present Inspiring Stitches: Embroidery Quilts by Millie Sorrells, celebrating the artistry and creativity of one of the region’s most accomplished quilters. The exhibition features new embroidery quilts, many with festive winter and holiday themes, showcasing Millie’s joyful use of color, intricate stitching, and imaginative design. Each quilt reflects her enduring dedication to the craft and her ability to transform fabric and thread into stories full of warmth and beauty.

Now in her nineties, Millie Sorrells continues to explore new techniques and push the boundaries of quilting. Her work demonstrates innovation and craftsmanship, from dimensional flowers and tiling to precise machine embroidery. Millie’s quilts combine traditional methods with contemporary techniques, creating pieces that are visually dynamic and emotionally engaging.

Sorrells is a charter member of the American Quilters Society and a past president of the Land of Lincoln Quilters. She remains active in several regional quilt guilds and has earned national recognition. Her quilts have been exhibited across the country and are part of the permanent collections of the Illinois State Museum, the International Quilt Museum in Nebraska, the National Quilt Museum in Kentucky, and the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts. In 2022, Millie donated several of her quilts to the Western Illinois Museum, ensuring her hometown community can continue to enjoy her artistry.

This exhibition highlights both the beauty of the finished quilts and the creative processes behind them. Millie’s work demonstrates how color, texture, and composition can be combined to create quilts that delight the eye and stir the imagination. Explore her innovative techniques and appreciate the skill, patience, and problem-solving that go into each piece.

Special thanks to volunteers Sandi Bolster and Dona Lantz, and Collection Manager Karen Mencel, for their support with research and installation.

Funding for this program is provided in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Formed in 2021, Beltline Bones is a trombone quartet consisting of tenor trombonists Cole Bartels, Justin Coyne, and Zach Bethel, alongside bass trombonist Adam Nissenbaum. The ensemble has quickly established itself as a distinctive and compelling voice in classical chamber music. By combining the traditional idiom of the trombone quartet with interests in new music and electronics, Beltline Bones offers a thought-provoking listening experience that expands the boundaries of the medium.

At the time of its founding, all members of the ensemble resided in Madison, Wisconsin, where the group was formed under the tutelage of Mark Hetzler while studying at the University of Wisconsin. Now based across multiple states, Beltline Bones continues its work through recording projects and touring in support of the ensemble’s artistic mission. The quartet has performed at the International Trombone Festival and the American Trombone Workshop, earning significant recognition within the trombone community.

The Jacksonville Area Museum’s annual “Building with Brick – The Art of LEGO” exhibit featuring more than 120 entries opens to the public on Wednesday, December 3 and will run through February 28, 2026. The exhibit may be viewed during the museum’s normal hours of operation on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

This fourth-annual exhibit features original and LEGO kit creations from all ages. Prizes based on public voting will be awarded in five categories: Kit Build for all ages, Jacksonville 200th (to commemorate the city’s bicentennial) for all ages, Original Build ages 13 and up, Original Build ages 8 – 12, and Original Build ages 0 – 7.

This exhibit is one of the most popular events each year at the museum. LEGO gift cards worth $100 will be awarded to those receiving the most public votes. Visitors may vote once per day and must do so in person at the museum.

The Western Illinois Museum is pleased to present Inspiring Stitches: Embroidery Quilts by Millie Sorrells, celebrating the artistry and creativity of one of the region’s most accomplished quilters. The exhibition features new embroidery quilts, many with festive winter and holiday themes, showcasing Millie’s joyful use of color, intricate stitching, and imaginative design. Each quilt reflects her enduring dedication to the craft and her ability to transform fabric and thread into stories full of warmth and beauty.

Now in her nineties, Millie Sorrells continues to explore new techniques and push the boundaries of quilting. Her work demonstrates innovation and craftsmanship, from dimensional flowers and tiling to precise machine embroidery. Millie’s quilts combine traditional methods with contemporary techniques, creating pieces that are visually dynamic and emotionally engaging.

Sorrells is a charter member of the American Quilters Society and a past president of the Land of Lincoln Quilters. She remains active in several regional quilt guilds and has earned national recognition. Her quilts have been exhibited across the country and are part of the permanent collections of the Illinois State Museum, the International Quilt Museum in Nebraska, the National Quilt Museum in Kentucky, and the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts. In 2022, Millie donated several of her quilts to the Western Illinois Museum, ensuring her hometown community can continue to enjoy her artistry.

This exhibition highlights both the beauty of the finished quilts and the creative processes behind them. Millie’s work demonstrates how color, texture, and composition can be combined to create quilts that delight the eye and stir the imagination. Explore her innovative techniques and appreciate the skill, patience, and problem-solving that go into each piece.

Special thanks to volunteers Sandi Bolster and Dona Lantz, and Collection Manager Karen Mencel, for their support with research and installation.

Funding for this program is provided in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Home School Hub is a program for home schooled children. It focuses on Science and Art. This program is free with admission.
February 6th – ART – Egg Carton Sea Turtles
February 12th – SCIENCE – Magic Milk for Valentine's Day
February 19th – ART – Changing Color Chameleon
February 26th – Science – Make a Bird Feeder

MACOMB, IL- - Western Illinois University students are inviting faculty, staff, students and community members to support a great cause while enjoying a hearty meal at the RockyTHON Pasta Party from 4–8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19, at the American Legion, 221 E. Washington St., Macomb.

The event will feature all-you-can-eat pasta and garlic bread, with two sauce options and multiple noodle choices. Tickets are $7 when purchased in advance and $10 at the door. All proceeds from the event will be donated directly to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in St. Louis, supporting pediatric care for children and families in the region.

New this year, RockyTHON is offering a donation option for those unable to attend in person. Community members may purchase a ticket that will be donated to the local food pantry, extending the event’s impact beyond the dinner itself.

Tickets may be purchased via Venmo at @wiurockython or with cash through a RockyTHON executive board member.

RockyTHON is a student-led organization at WIU dedicated to raising funds and awareness for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The Pasta Party reflects the organization’s mission to bring together the WIU campus and surrounding community in support of children’s health.

For more information, follow WIU RockyTHON on social media.

Join in a Galesburg tradition that is 30+ years strong, now at a brand new venue!

Come hear the Knox Cherry Street Combo on Thursday’s from 7-10 pm at Smokin’ Willies BBQ. This is a free event and all ages are welcome. Full bar and the best barbeque around!

The Jacksonville Area Museum’s annual “Building with Brick – The Art of LEGO” exhibit featuring more than 120 entries opens to the public on Wednesday, December 3 and will run through February 28, 2026. The exhibit may be viewed during the museum’s normal hours of operation on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

This fourth-annual exhibit features original and LEGO kit creations from all ages. Prizes based on public voting will be awarded in five categories: Kit Build for all ages, Jacksonville 200th (to commemorate the city’s bicentennial) for all ages, Original Build ages 13 and up, Original Build ages 8 – 12, and Original Build ages 0 – 7.

This exhibit is one of the most popular events each year at the museum. LEGO gift cards worth $100 will be awarded to those receiving the most public votes. Visitors may vote once per day and must do so in person at the museum.

The Western Illinois Museum is pleased to present Inspiring Stitches: Embroidery Quilts by Millie Sorrells, celebrating the artistry and creativity of one of the region’s most accomplished quilters. The exhibition features new embroidery quilts, many with festive winter and holiday themes, showcasing Millie’s joyful use of color, intricate stitching, and imaginative design. Each quilt reflects her enduring dedication to the craft and her ability to transform fabric and thread into stories full of warmth and beauty.

Now in her nineties, Millie Sorrells continues to explore new techniques and push the boundaries of quilting. Her work demonstrates innovation and craftsmanship, from dimensional flowers and tiling to precise machine embroidery. Millie’s quilts combine traditional methods with contemporary techniques, creating pieces that are visually dynamic and emotionally engaging.

Sorrells is a charter member of the American Quilters Society and a past president of the Land of Lincoln Quilters. She remains active in several regional quilt guilds and has earned national recognition. Her quilts have been exhibited across the country and are part of the permanent collections of the Illinois State Museum, the International Quilt Museum in Nebraska, the National Quilt Museum in Kentucky, and the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts. In 2022, Millie donated several of her quilts to the Western Illinois Museum, ensuring her hometown community can continue to enjoy her artistry.

This exhibition highlights both the beauty of the finished quilts and the creative processes behind them. Millie’s work demonstrates how color, texture, and composition can be combined to create quilts that delight the eye and stir the imagination. Explore her innovative techniques and appreciate the skill, patience, and problem-solving that go into each piece.

Special thanks to volunteers Sandi Bolster and Dona Lantz, and Collection Manager Karen Mencel, for their support with research and installation.

Funding for this program is provided in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.