Events Calendar

The Al Sears Music Fest spotlights local talent on Saturday, September 19, from 12:00 to 9:00 pm at the Western Illinois Museum. The afternoon will feature performances by The Zoë Rose Trio and Nico Barberan, along with a community jam session led by the Western Illinois Traditional Music Association.

12:00 to 1:45 pm – The Zoë Rose Trio.
2:00 to 3:45 pm – Jam Session hosted by Jeff Calhoun and the Western Illinois Traditional Music Association
5:00 to 6:30 pm – Nico Barberan
7:00 to 9:00 pm – The Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project

The Western Illinois University Office of Student Engagement and the School of Agriculture are excited to host the eight annual Family Day BBQ Competition & Tasting from 2-5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 19th in Q Lot, bringing together students, families, alumni and community members for a day full of food, fun activities, live music, and Leatherneck pride.
Tickets and merchandise are available now at wiu.edu/familyday.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the website or contact the event team at pigout@wiu.edu.

Celebrate six decades of creativity as the Art Center of Burlington marks its 60th birthday on September 19 at 5 PM at Memorial Auditorium. Founded in 1966 by a small group of artists who envisioned a place where art could be shared and celebrated, ACB has grown into a treasured part of Greater Burlington. The throwback birthday party will feature music, plenty of art, cake, stories, and a celebration of the artists, teachers, and supporters who shaped the organization. Break out your best 1960s-inspired attire and help ACB celebrate 60 years!
Slip into your favorite 1960s-inspired attire (optional, but groovy), catch up with friends, and help us celebrate six decades of bringing art to our community.

- Huge exhibit of past ACB photographs, articles, and memorabilia
- 60 for 60 Art Pull
- Cash bar
- Food available from The Som
- Throwback hits with DJ Mike Ripple
Reserve your spot for a digital portrait with our vintage car and retro photo backdrop for a groovy keepsake!

Your RSVP supports the next generation of artists, makers, and creative experiences at ACB.

Jenene Caramielo's nationally renowned tribute show, "Celebrating Celine," leaves audiences awestruck with her breathtaking vocals and charismatic performance of Celine Dion's iconic music. Celine fans are thrilled to hear hits like Because You Loved Me, My Heart Will Go On, I Drove All Night, The Power of Love, and more... delivered with a talented live band, pitch-perfect vocals, incomparable magnetism, and incredible charisma.

The Al Sears Music Fest is an annual celebration honoring Macomb native and musical trailblazer Al Sears (1910–1990), a saxophonist, songwriter, and entrepreneur who played with jazz legends and helped shape the sound of early rock and roll.

Throughout the weekend, visitors can explore Al Sears’s remarkable career, from performing with Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton to producing records and influencing the music industry as an executive with ABC Paramount. The Western Illinois Museum will feature photographs, recordings, and artifacts related to his work.

Bring your family, invite your friends, and celebrate Al Sears and Macomb’s unique place in American music history.

Enjoy delicious meals from Sandra’s Authentic Mexican Food Truck, available both Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday, September 19:
American Legion Post 6
7 pm - 9 pm: WIU Jazz Studio Orchestra

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Performing Arts Society.For more information, call 309-837-2750, text 309-837-2613, or email

Barak Hill is a singer-songwriter from Spring­field, Missouri. Barak’s songs and sound run in the same vein as Amos Lee, Josh Ritter, Steve Earle, and Gillian Welch. It’s heartbroken Americana hanging on to a fistful of hope that things might just get better. Honest, well-crafted lyrics set to strong melodies connect with people on an intimate, personal level.

The music of Celine Dion will fill The Legacy Theater in Carthage on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. in a stunning tribute performed by Jenene Caramielo called “Celebrating Celine.”
The combination of Caramielo’s talent and the powerful music of Celine Dion promises to create a memorable evening.
Jenene Caramielo's nationally renowned tribute show, "Celebrating Celine," leaves audiences awestruck with her breathtaking vocals and charismatic performance of Celine Dion's iconic music. Celine fans are thrilled to hear hits like Because You Loved Me, My Heart Will Go On, I Drove All Night, The Power of Love, and more... delivered with a talented live band, pitch-perfect vocals, incomparable magnetism, and incredible charisma.
Besides “Celebrating Celine,” Caramielo’s signature shows include “Icons & Divas,” a tribute to the biggest voices of this generation; and “Broadway to the Big Screen,” featuring hits from famous theatrical shows and iconic movies.
Tickets for this and other upcoming shows are available at the Legacy Theater Box Office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through

Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik (meaning A Little Night Music) is one of his most famous compositions. 
The second piece, Antrópolis, written in 2019 by Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz, is based on the composer's personal memories of her visits to Mexico City's legendary dance halls and nightclubs with its high energy urban music and nightlife. ("Antró" is Mexican slang for "nightclub.")

The third piece, Scheherazade, by the Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov, is based on the legendary stories of the "One Thousand and One Nights" (also known as "Arabian Nights” about a young woman who staves off execution at the order of the sultan by telling him stories night after night.

Lobby Doors Open @ 6pm

Seating @ 6:15pm

Performance @7pm

Elizabeth Crecca returns with Gershwin's electrifyingly dazzling Piano Concerto in F. And joining us for a glamorous evening of standards is American Idol Golden Ticket Recipient Kelsey Madison, bringing her stunning voice to classics like Fever, Sway, and the Carpenters I Just Fall in Love Again. Dress up, come out, and join us for a night that lives up to its name — Puttin' on the Ritz.
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Ticket Information:
Free for students and children
General admission: $25
Best Value - Season Pass:
From now until August 1, get 7 concerts (3 Masterworks, 3 Pops, plus FREE Hollydaze ticket) for just $99.
Great Saving - Pops Series Pass:
Get 4 concerts (3 Pops, plus FREE Hollydaze ticket) for just $75.
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Dinner Reservation:
Make it a night to remember with our elegant pre-concert dining experience.
Add a gourmet dinner reservation for $60 per person. Each dinner ticket includes:
- a complimentary alcoholic beverage
- a dinner reservation
The dinner is family-friendly, and all meal options are identical for kids/students and adults.
To order and pay for dinner tickets online, select the Add Pre-Concert Dinner option for your preferred performance location during checkout. A symphony board member from your selected venue will call to confirm your reservation prior to the concert.
Tables of 8 people for the dinner may be purchased for $ 600 - a $80 savings!
For additional dinner reservation information, please contact:
Ottumwa - Christine Bergan
(319) 530-7469 or voicedoc49@gmail.com
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1 weekend, 1 concert program, 2 locations, choose the one that works best for you:
Saturday, September 19, 2026 - 7:00 PM
Bridge View Center, Ottumwa
Sunday, September 20, 2026 - 6:30 PM
The Capitol, Burlington

Hickory Ridge Concerts welcomes award winning singer-songwriter Barak Hill to the stage Saturday, September the 19th at 7:00 pm at the historic Ellisville Opera House. Hill’s lyrical approach is economical and plain-spoken, the words of everyman. But they’re delivered with the careful pacing and assuredness of a man who knows the impact he wants and how to get it.

Barak Hill is an Americana singer-songwriter with roots in folk, soul, and rock and roll. His songs are lyric-driven, heartbroken Americana hanging on to a fistful of hope that things might just get better, delivered with a soulful voice and strong guitar work. Compass Rose Magazine called Barak “A masterful storyteller and riveting performer.” Barak's talents were recognized when he was chosen from among thousands of entrants as the winner of American Songwriter Magazine’s Santa Cruz Guitar Song Contest. He was also voted one of Southwest Missouri's top three solo musicians by 417 Magazine.

The Hickory Ridge Concert Series is hosted by singer-songwriter Chris Vallillo. Concerts are usually (but not always) held on the 3rd Saturday of the month and begin at 7:00 p.m. with the doors opening at 6:00 p.m. The Ellisville Opera House is a second story venue however they do now have an elevator and is air conditioned. Coffee, drinks, and a variety of desserts are available during intermission. There is an admission charge of $10.00 per adults with children under 12 free. Hickory Ridge Concerts is supported in part by WIUM 91.3 FM, your source for NPR programming, local news and a variety of music, the Two Rivers Arts Council, and the Doris and Ken Kolb Foundation. Follow Hickory Ridge Concerts on facebook, or on the website, www.hickoryridgeconcerts.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT CHRIS VALLILLO @309-224-8210.