What's Happening

Concerts

Holiday Concert -- 7 p.m. Friday, St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 6325 W. Main St., Maryville. Granite City Community Adult Concert Band performs Christmas selections. Also performing is Immanuel United Methodist Choir of Edwardsville and St. Luke's handbell choir. Concert is free, donations are appreciated.

Getting in the Christmas Mood -- 7 p.m. Friday-Sunday, 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, First Baptist Church Maryville, 7110 Illinois 162, Maryville. Free. 100-voice choir, live band, special effects. Seating first come, first serve. Doors open 45 minutes prior to show.

Metro East Community Chorale Christmas Concert -- 3 p.m. Sunday, The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows Church, 442 S. Demazenod Drive, Belleville. Free; offering only. Concert interpreted for the deaf.

"Christmas Joy with Strings & Winds" -- 3 p.m. Sunday, St. John United Church of Christ, 307 W. Clay St., Collinsville. Free; offering only. Lakeshore String Quartet & Prevailing Winds woodwind quartet are all members of Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra. 343-2526.

"A Masterworks Christmas" -- 7:30 p.m. Sunday, St. Clair Catholic Church, 1411 Cross St., O'Fallon. Hosted by the Masterworks Chorale, Children's Choruses, and Orchestra. Tickets $15, $10 for students; available at 236-0182 or the door.

Holiday Harmony -- 8 p.m. Tuesday, National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, 442 S. DeMazenod Drive, Belleville. Sounds of Harmony, award-winning barbershop chorus, and local music groups. Donations accepted.

Dances

Country Dancing -- 8 p.m.-midnight Friday, Swansea Improvement Association, 301 Service St., Swansea. Cactus Moon Band.

Country Western Dance -- 8-11 p.m. Saturday, Belleville/Swansea Moose, 2425 N. Illinois St., Swansea. DJ: Al and Gail Woolverton.

Events

Way of Lights -- 5-9 p.m. through Jan. 1, National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville. 1.5-mile light display features 1.7 million lights, statuaries and electro-art displays telling Christmas story. Interactive children's village, choir, Christmas tree display, camel, donkey and pony rides, petting zoo, laser show, souvenir photos. Drive and several events are free. Donations accepted. wayoflights.org

Lebanon's Winter Wonderland -- 5-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, through Jan. 1, Horner Park, 11119 Widicus Road, 1 mile north of Lebanon. Features gingerbread village, penguin village, polar bears, Santa's workshop, salute to military, respect first responders, 4-H farm display, Victorian town. One-ton Santa says goodbye to all children.

Gingerbread Walk -- through Jan. 3, West and East Main streets on both sides of Public Square in downtown Belleville. Gingerbread creations displayed in downtown merchant store windows.

Christmas Wonderland -- 6-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 5-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, starts Friday through Dec. 25, Rock Spring Park on College Avenue, Alton. More than 2.5 million lights throughout the park. Suggested donation: $7 for cars and small vans, $1 per person for vehicles with more than 10 people. Carriage rides available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with advance reservations, 458-6986; $25 for first person, $5 additional person.

Christmas Lights Display -- 5-9 nightly through Dec. 31, American Farm Heritage Museum, Exit 45 on I-70, Greenville at 1395 Museum Drive. Free admission, donations appreciated. 15-inch grand scale railroad on mile-long track past lights visible only by train. Train rides $2 for passengers 3 and older. Santa present Friday and Saturday evenings. Cookies and cocoa provided.

Horse Drawn Trolley Rides -- 5-8 p.m. Fridays, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays, through Dec. 23, downtown Belleville. Take a leisurely ride through downtown aboard large horse-drawn trolley.

Santa on the Square -- through Christmas Eve in Belleville. Hours are 6-8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday through Dec. 19; 10 a.m. to noon, 1-5 p.m. and 6-8:30 p.m. Saturdays and Dec. 20-23; noon-5 p.m. Sundays (also open 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 18); 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 24. Visit Santa at his house on Belleville's Public Square, photos are optional on Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. and Sundays, 12-5 p.m. Free hot cocoa and cookies. Sponsored by the Optimist Club of Belleville.

Coulterville Holiday Light Display -- 5-8 nightly through Jan. 1, Coulterville City Park, downtown Coulterville. Featuring more than 350 wooden Christmas figurines, more than 250,000 lights throughout the park, 15 animated displays, Christmas music, ceramic Christmas village in Rudolph's Barn.

Train Showcase --Monday through Dec. 31, Oliver C. Joseph Inc., Showroom, 3795 State Route 15, Belleville. Sponsored by The Gateway Garden Railroad Club. 233-8140.

New Baden Festival of Trees -- 3-9 p.m. today and Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, New Baden Civic Center. Twenty decorated Christmas trees designed by New Baden businesses, organizations and individuals. Admission $5 adults, $3 kids 3-12, military and seniors $4. $1 off each admission if a donation of a non-perishable food item is made to the Zion United Church of Christ-St. George Food Pantry. Live entertainment, Sweet Shoppe, Polar Express Pajama Party for kids ($5 per person). Santa Claus will be available from 6 to 8 p.m. today and 5-7 Friday for photographs. Pancake breakfast with Santa ($5 per person) at 8:30, 8:30 or 10:30 a.m. Saturday; reservations 588-4135.

"White Christmas" -- 7 p.m. Friday, Wildey Theater, 252 N. Main St., Edwardsville. Cocktail party from 6-7 p.m. in the 2nd floor Marquee Room. Tickets are $30 for the party and screening; $8 for movie only.

Santa in Trenton -- 2-6 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Deien Chevrolet, Trenton. Treat bags for all the children. Cookies and refreshments served. Attendance prizes. Coloring contest. "Stuff the Sleigh" food drive for the Green Bean Food Pantry. 1959 Mack fire truck on display.

Breakfast with Santa -- 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Immanuel United Methodist Church, 800 N. Main St., Edwardsville. Each child receives a gift from Santa. Christmas Sweet Shoppe open 9-11 a.m. Pound of homemade cookies $7 or choose from other baked goods.

Model Railroad -- 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Metro East Model Railroad Club, old Glen Carbon Firehouse, 180 Sumit St., Glen Carbon. Open house visitors can view club's 18x27-foot HO Scale model railroad. Free admission and holiday snacks. Information: 476-9228, 254-656 or www.trainweb.org/memrc.

World Aids Day -- 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Shiloh United Methodist Church, 210 S. Main St., Shiloh. Events, include winter kids festival featuring Slugs and Bugs for kids 12 and younger, 10 a.m. Free lunch, balloon lady, carnival games, gifts, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Shiloh Elementary School, 125 Diamond Court. Concert by Sidewalk Prophets at 2 p.m.; free nursery for 1 and under, 2-4 p.m. Rapid HIV testing. The first 100 people 16 and older receive $10 Walmart gift card. Information: 632-6223.

Santa in Mascoutah -- 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Leu Civic Center, Mascoutah. Christmas crafts and Santa will visit from 10-11 a.m. Bring a camera. 566-2175.

Gingerbread Cookie Walk -- 9-11 a.m. Saturday, downtown Belleville. Hosted by Illinois Trekkers and the Bank of Belleville.36 merchants will hand out cookies to walkers. Gingerbread Man will be on hand for cookies. Start point is Bank of Belleville, 720 W. Main St.

Book Signings -- 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Morrison-Talbott Library, 215 Park St., Waterloo. Bill Rex, author of "Grand Legacy," and Gene Haller, author of "Columbia ... A Glance at the Past." will be selling and signing their books.

Grafton Holiday Riverwalk -- noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Grafton. Jerseyville High School choir caroling throughout town. Visit bed and breakfasts and guest houses in town. Festivities will conclude with a Show Choir performance at the Grove Memorial Park Gazebo as town is lighted.

Wreaths Across America -- 11 a.m. Saturday, National Cemetery, 600 Pearl St., Alton. All 530 veterans graves in the Alton National Cemetery decorated with balsam wreaths.

French/Indian Event -- 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Kaskaskia Church, 1741 Bell Shrine, Kaskaskia. Sponsored by The Church of the Immaculate Conception at Kaskaskia. Honoring native American and French traditions extablished in 1675 between French missionaries and Kaskaskian Indians. Mass with hymns sung in Indian language, 4 p.m. Refreshments follow. Free. Directions: After crossing Chester bridge, follow Highway 51 for 4 miles, turn right on H Road, proceed to Highway 61, turn right onto the Old Channel Road to cross the bridge, turn left at the leve and follow North Kingshighway 5 miles to Kaskaskia.

Gingerbread House Workshop -- Saturday-Sunday, Eckert's Country Store, 951 S. Green Mount Road, Belleville. Eckert's provides supplies and guidance.

"Wildey Holiday Sleigh Ride" -- 7 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday,, Wildey Theatre, 252 N. Main St., Edwardsville. A community celebration of the season featuring a variety of local performers and ensembles. General admission $15 for adults, $10 for kids 18 and younger. Tickets: 307-1750.

"Arrival at Camp River Dubois" -- 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Lewis and Clark State Historic Site, Interpretive Center, Hartford. Commemorates the anniversary of the Epedition's arrival at their Illinois winter camp. Historical artifacts on display at the center. Free.

Holiday Story Time -- 9 and 11 a.m. Saturday-Sunday, Eckert's Country Store, Garden Center, 951 S. Green Mount Road, Belleville. Free. Gingerbread craft for kids.

Breakfast With Santa -- 8 a.m.-noon Saturday-Sunday, Eckert's Country Store, 951 S. Green Mount Road, Belleville. Cost $12.99 for kids, $8.99 for adults. Tell Santa your Christmas wishes. Reservations requested. 233-0513, Ext. 3.

Holiday on the Boulevard -- 4-8 p.m. Sunday, Signal Hill Boulevard, Belleville. Stroll and enjoy carolers, holiday food, events and carriage rides. Sponsored by Family Hospice.

Milk and Cookies with Santa -- 5-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Fairview Heights Elks, 9480 Old Lincoln Trail, Fairview Heights. Cost $3 per visitor. North Pole pictures with Santa, reindeer games, Santa's Crafty Workshop, Santa's Gift Shot. Cookies from Pasta Fare Restaurant available for purchase. Each child to visit Santa receives small toy while they last. Sponsored by The Illinois Center for Autism.

Santa at the Blum House -- 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday and Dec. 16 and 19, Victorian Blum House, 414 W. Main St., Collinsville. 344-1112.

Exhibits

"Praises for the Earth" -- through Dec. 21 at Governor French Gallery, 223 West Main St., Belleville. Photographs and paintings by Maribeth Clancy, of Belleville.

Glen Carbon Heritage Museum -- 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 124 School St., Glen Carbon.

Yanda Log Cabin -- 10 a.m.-2 p.m., fourth Saturday of each month, 148 Main St., Glen Carbon.

St. Clair County Historical Society Museum -- 2-4 p.m., second Sunday of each month, 701 E. Washington St., Belleville. Also the Kunz House at 602 Fulton St., Belleville. $2 adults, $1 children 6 to 14, 5 and younger free.

Labor & Industry Museum -- 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, or by appointment, 123 N. Church St., Belleville. Permanent and temporary exhibits on the history of Belleville and St. Clair County. Current exhibit centers on the achaeological dig at National City. Free admission. Donations accepted. 222-9430.

"Making It" -- through Dec. 16, Schmidt Art Center, Southwestern Illinois College, 2500 Carlyle Ave., Belleville. An exhibition by recent SWIC art alumnae Labecca Peterson and Meredith Foster, recently retired SWIC art professor Doug Eskra and master artist Frank Roth.

Nativity Display -- noon-6 p.m. today through Monday, Cathedral of St. Peter, Belleville. 50 nativity sets from around the world will be on display. Free. Also visit the Cathedral Museum and the Cathedral Crypt.

French Artist Lyliane Lavabre -- 6-9 p.m. Friday, The Abbey Expresso Bar, 6500 W. Main St., Belleville. Host: Veronique Lavabre Orlet. Watercolors on display and available for purchase. Wine and cheese reception. 398-3176.

Food

Aviston Fish & Chicken Fry -- 4:30-7 p.m., Friday, American Legion Post 1239, 601 South Clinton, Aviston. Eat in or carry out. 228-7311.

Collinsville Fish Fry -- 4-7:30 p.m. Friday, Knights of Columbus Hall, Illinois 157, Collinsville. Eat in or carry out.

Fairview Heights Fish Fry -- 3-8 p.m. Friday, Knights of Columbus Hall, 5420 Old Collinsville Road. Walton's Fish Fry. Homemade desserts. Carryouts: 632-5222.

Highland Fish Fry -- 4-7:30 p.m. Friday, VFW Post 5694, 1900 VFW Road, Highland. Eat in or carry out. 654-6367.

Mascoutah Fish Fry -- 5-8 p.m. Friday, Mascoutah VFW Post 7682, 620 Donaphan St., Mascoutah. Dine in or carry out. 566-2288.

O'Fallon Fish Fry -- 4-8 p.m. Friday, Knights of Columbus Hall, 402 E. Highway 50, O'Fallon. Sponsored by KC and Ladies Auxiliary. Eat in or carry out. 632-6229.

O'Fallon Fish Fry -- 4-8 p.m. Friday, VFW Post 805, 221 W. First St., O'Fallon. Sponsored by Sgt. Charles A. Fricke VFW Post 805 and Ladies Auxiliary. Homemade pies, grilled fish available. 624-2651.

Okawville Fish Fry -- 5-8 p.m. Friday, American Legion Post 233, 205 N. Hanover St., Okawville. Eat in or carry out. 243-6545.

Shiloh Fish Fry -- 5-8 p.m. Friday, 100 Eagle Drive, Shiloh. Sponsored by Eagles No. 545. Cod, Walleye, shrimp, chicken strip plates. Eat in or carry out. 624-5412.

Swansea Fish Stand -- 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 301 Service St., Swansea. Cod, walleye, shrimp. 222-7171.

Waltons Fish Fry -- 3-8 p.m. every Friday, Knights of Columbua, 5420 Old Collinsville Road, Fairview Heights. Homemade desserts. Carryouts, call 632-5222.

Pancake Breakfast -- 8-9:45 a.m. Saturday, TGI Fridays, Fairview Heights. Benefits the O'Fallon Panther Diamond Booster Club. $10, free for kids younger than 3. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, coffee, orange juice, milk. Information: 979-8514.

Turtle Soup -- 10 a.m. Saturday, South Side Improvement Association, 800 S. Sixth St., Belleville. Sponsored by South Side Improvement Association. $12 a gallon. Bring a container. Call-ins welcome. 233-9380.

Breakfast Buffet -- 8-10:30 a.m. Sunday, Corpus Christi Parish Center, Shiloh. All you can eat breakfast buffet featuring bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, pancakes, French toast sticks, biscuits/gravy, fried potatoes, fruit, pastry, drink. $7.50 adults, $3.50 kids 6-12, free for kids 5 and younger.

New Baden Breakfast -- 8-11:30 a.m. Sunday, New Baden American Legion, 105 E. Illinois St., New Baden. All you can eat. Cost $7 adults, reduced price for kids. Features fresh Behrmann's sausage.

Games

Smithton Euchre Tournament -- 7 p.m. Friday, Smithton Senior Center. Everyone welcome.

Fayetteville Euchre Tournament -- 1:30 p.m. Sunday, St. Pancratius Parish Center, Fayetteville. $5. Information: 978-4999.

Markets

Art on the Square Unique Boutique -- 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 17, 30 Public Square, Belleville. Local artwork, home accessories, variety of holiday gifts.

SIUE Holiday Arts & Craft Fair -- 9 a.m.-6 p.m. today, Main Floor, Morris University Center, SIUE, 1 Hairpin Drive, Edwardsville. Handmade crafts by local artisans and original works by artists around the area.

Holiday Craft Show -- 4-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Belle Clair Fairgrounds, Illinois 13 and 159, Belleville. Country treasures, Christmas decorations and wearable art jewelry and gourmet foods. $3, free for kids 12 and younger.

Rummage Sale -- 7 a.m.-noon Saturday, O'Fallon Township Building, 801 E. State St., O'Fallon. Men's, women's, children's clothing plus houshold items. To volunteer or donate, call 632-3517.

Winter Craft Show -- 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center, 13653 Lodge Boulevard, Grafton. Shopping, music, Winter Wonderland.

On Stage

"A Mato Mosaic" -- 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Metcalf Theater, Hairpin Drive, SIUE Campus, Edwardsville. Dance program with guest artist Jose Tojo, a native of Suriname. Magic, warmth, love and beauty unite in tales of wonder from the country that proclaims itself, "The beating heart of the Amazon." Tickets: $10 adults, $8 for all others; free for SIUE students with ID.

"Every Christmas Story Ever Told" -- 8 p.m. Friday-Sunday and Dec. 16-17, 2 p.m. Dec. 18, Historic Avon Theatre, 535 N. 2nd, Breese. Tickets $10 adults, $9 students, senior citizens, active military. Reservations: 526-2866.

"A Christmas Carol" -- 7:30 Friday-Sunday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Looking Glass Playhouse, 301 W. St. Louis St., Lebanon. Tickets $5. Reservations: 537-4962.

"The Shoemaker and the Elves" -- 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, SIUE's Dunham Hall Theatre, Edwardsville. Musical based on the Brothers Grimm fairytale by The Imaginary Theatre Company of St. Louis. $5. Sponsored by the SIUE Friends of Theater and Dance.

"A Festival of Lessons and Carols" -- 3 p.m. Sunday, Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, McKendree University, Lebanon. Admission free. Showcases students from McKndree's new Visual and Performing Arts Division. 537-6863.

"The Glory of Christmas" -- 7 p.m. Sunday-Monday, St. Matthew United Methodist Church, 12100 Moreland Drive, Belleville. Story of the birth of Christ in drama and music with a company of more than 200 people. Doors open at 6 p.m. Free; love offering accepted.

Shoots

Dupo Meat Shoot -- noon to dusk, Sunday, Triple Lakes Bar, 8055 Triple Lakes Road, Dupo. 538-5999.

Millstadt Indoor Rifle Shoot -- noon Sunday, Millstadt Sportsmen's Club, 4915 Schmidt Lane, Millstadt. Indoor .22 Rifle shoot. Iron sights only. Chili, 50 cents a bowl, other refreshments available.

PLEASE NOTE: We cannot take items by telephone. The deadline for Local Events is noon Monday. Send information to What's Happening, c/o Lifestyle, 120 S. Illinois St., P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427. E-mail to whatshappening@bnd.com. Fax to 236-9773. For information, call 239-2547.