Events Calendar

The Historic Ellisville Restoration Organization (H.E.R.O.) invites the public to join us on October 3, 4, 10, and 11 for the annual Ellisville Fall Festival. At the historic Opera House, we will be serving ham and beans, apple dumplings, fudge, and homemade pie. Bison and fair food will also be available from Lunchwagon, and enjoy a hearty breakfast of biscuits and gravy at the Fire Station on Sunday mornings. All the food should give you energy to visit the vendors and historical buildings where you will find arts and crafts for sale. And don’t miss the Spoon River Rascals’ performance of Finding Nemo Jr. at the Opera House, Friday, October 2 at 7 P.M., Saturday, October 3 at 7 P.M., and Sunday, October 4 at 2 P.M. H.E.R.O. was founded in 1995 by a small group of concerned citizens to restore and maintain the historic Ellisville Opera House, Shoe Store, Post Office/Museum, and Bank, all located along Main Street. H.E.R.O. is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization that is supported through memberships, fundraising events, theater ticket sales, grants, and donations. Donations to H.E.R.O. are tax-deductible.

Write this date down, going to be an AWESOME time. Cars, trucks, and bikes are welcome!

It's that time of year again. Come join us and Rising Phoenix for good time and catch up on all the winter stories. Hope to see ya there!!!

Walk of the Dead Haunted Trail opens October 2^nd and will run Fridays and Saturdays in October from 7:00 – 11:00 pm.  Located behind Lakeside Water Park (1033 S Lake Storey Road, Galesburg), the haunted trail offers patrons a terrifying walk through the woods. In its tenth year of operation, Walk of the Dead Haunted Trail is managed by the non-profit AGES Community in cooperation with the City of Galesburg.  The cost is $20 per person.

“This is our tenth year of scaring folks in the woods!” says organizer Sean Godsil. “We have new areas and new scares, but we have some old favorites too, of course. Every year we do things differently, so if you’ve come a previous year, we promise this year will be different. Actually, things can be different from night to night; you never know what to expect on the Walk of the Dead.”

Organizers recommend the haunt to children older than 13 years of age. The event is entirely outdoors and weather permitting, so please dress accordingly. No open-toed shoes, slippers, flip-flops, or slides allowed.   

Proceeds from the haunted trail help support the city’s nature programs and other recreational activities, including the Fishing Derby.  

For more information and weather-related updates, follow Walk of the Dead on Facebook and Instagram. Tickets are sold at the Lakeside Water Park ticket booth or purchase them online at www.walkofthedead.org and avoid the line at the ticket booth.

The Orpheum's Haunted Flashlight Tour

Ever wonder why The Orpheum Theatre holds a reputation as one of Knox County’s most active paranormal haunts? Now is your chance to uncover the mystery. Guided by Orpheum staff, this immersive flashlight exploration takes you deep into the building’s hidden history—from the iconic 1916 grand opening to the spooky sightings reported by generations of theatergoers and staff.

Admission: $25 (plus a $1 convenience fee - fee is waived if paid in person with cash/check).

Included Drink/Cup: Every ticket includes one complimentary drink from our concessions stand to set the mood! Non-alcoholic options and 21+ adult beverages are available. Additionally, all attendees will receive an Orpheum Vaudeville Stars Souvenir Cup (4 to choose from - Houdini, The Marx Brothers, Burns & Allen, or Fanny Brice) as supplies last!
*** The Orpheum will provide a flashlight for the tour, which will be collected once the tour is complete.

The Experience: Armed only with the provided flashlight, you’ll journey through restricted areas, navigating dark corridors, steep staircases, and historic spaces from the balcony down to the backstage area in this guided tour.

Arrival & Comfort: Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Please note that this guided tour requires continuous standing and navigating multiple flights of stairs (the building does not have elevator access). 

Age Restrictions: Ages 18+ (Guests ages 10–17 are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult at ALL times).

Space is strictly limited to 12-15 people for this exclusive lights-out tour—reserve your spot before tickets sell out!

The Orpheum's Haunted Flashlight Tour

Ever wonder why The Orpheum Theatre holds a reputation as one of Knox County’s most active paranormal haunts? Now is your chance to uncover the mystery. Guided by Orpheum staff, this immersive flashlight exploration takes you deep into the building’s hidden history—from the iconic 1916 grand opening to the spooky sightings reported by generations of theatergoers and staff.

Admission: $25 (plus a $1 convenience fee - fee is waived if paid in person with cash/check).

Included Drink/Cup: Every ticket includes one complimentary drink from our concessions stand to set the mood! Non-alcoholic options and 21+ adult beverages are available. Additionally, all attendees will receive an Orpheum Vaudeville Stars Souvenir Cup (4 to choose from - Houdini, The Marx Brothers, Burns & Allen, or Fanny Brice) as supplies last!
*** The Orpheum will provide a flashlight for the tour, which will be collected once the tour is complete.

The Experience: Armed only with the provided flashlight, you’ll journey through restricted areas, navigating dark corridors, steep staircases, and historic spaces from the balcony down to the backstage area in this guided tour.

Arrival & Comfort: Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Please note that this guided tour requires continuous standing and navigating multiple flights of stairs (the building does not have elevator access). 

Age Restrictions: Ages 18+ (Guests ages 10–17 are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult at ALL times).

Space is strictly limited to 12-15 people for this exclusive lights-out tour—reserve your spot before tickets sell out!

The world of media production is evolving rapidly. In his last talk, Dr. Vogel introduced us to some of the many ways media has changed over the years. In this talk, he’ll continue exploring how media coverage is influenced and regulated—and how dramatically the way we receive news can differ from person to person.

Does your media stream look the same as your neighbor’s? How do those differences shape the way we see the world?

We’d love to have you join us for this thought-provoking Part Two as Dr. Vogel takes us deeper into the changing world of media!

Please note that this event will be a lecture format with questions at the end, rather than a round table discussion like Part One.

Our speaker series is free and open to the public!

The Burney Sisters will join Grace Theisen, Jilian Linklater and Carolyn Koebel of The Rebel Eves for a special evening of harmony-rich, roots-driven music at Ca d’Zan House Concerts in Cambridge on Sunday, October 4.
Presented by Crossroads Cultural Connections, the all-ages evening will begin with an optional potluck dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Guests who would like to participate in the potluck are invited to bring a dish to share.

Emma and Bella Burney have spent nearly a decade making music side by side, developing the kind of musical connection that feels almost instinctive. Based in Huntsville, Alabama, the sisters blend close harmonies, emotionally direct songwriting and an evolving indie-folk sound that moves between intimate acoustic moments and atmospheric indie rock.

Sharing the evening will be three members of The Rebel Eves: Grace Theisen, Jilian Linklater and Carolyn Koebel.

Linklater is a Michigan-born singer-songwriter who moved to Nashville at age 17 and spent more than a decade developing her craft alongside established songwriters and artists. Her confessional, deeply personal songs have earned millions of streams and led to collaborations and placements with companies and artists including Disney, Amazon, Netflix, JJ Heller and Jason Gray. Since 2021, she has lived, traveled, written and recorded from a van she converted with her grandfather.

Together, these artists bring a compelling mix of harmony, storytelling, roots music, indie folk, blues and collaborative musicianship to an intimate setting where the focus remains on the songs and the people behind them.

The Knox County Health Department, in conjunction with FISH of Galesburg, will hold a convenient Walk-In Flu Vaccination Clinic on Monday, October 5, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at FISH of Galesburg, 876 W. Main Street, Galesburg.

This clinic is open to individuals 6 months of age and older. The cost of the seasonal flu vaccine is $50 for adults and $150 for the high-dose vaccine. Medicaid and Medicare will be accepted, along with cash, check, and card payments.

Seasonal flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. Vaccination is especially important for pregnant women, adults age 65 and older, people with compromised immune systems, and those who live with or care for individuals in these groups.

After receiving a flu vaccine, it can take up to two weeks for the body to develop full immunity. For this reason, getting vaccinated early in the flu season is important. The typical peak flu season occurs between January and March.

In addition to getting vaccinated, everyone can help prevent the spread of seasonal flu by practicing the 3 C’s:

• Clean –wash your hands

• Cover – cover your coughs and sneezes

• Contain – contain your germs by staying home when you are sick.

For questions about seasonal flu or the upcoming clinic, contact the Knox County Health Department at 309-344-2224.

Fresh produce, local vendors, and community fun are right around the corner.
Still thinking about being a vendor? There’s time—reach out to the Hancock County Farm Bureau at 217-357-3141 or [hcfbmanager@gmail.com](mailto:hcfbmanager@gmail.com).
We can’t wait to see you there!