Family Fun Night
April 13th, 4- 6 p.m.
The Hub
Spero Family Services is hosting a family fun night at The Hub on top of the parking garage at 123 S. 10th St. There will be plenty of activities for children to enjoy, as well as car seat safety checks provided by Project Child. Come enjoy free food and prizes!
Cajun Fest 2023
April 14th- 16th
Bubba’s Too, Nason, IL
Dine on crawfish from the Gulf of Mexico! Free live music all three days. Friday from 7- 11 p.m., the Beaucoup Bottom Band will be performing. Then on Saturday, come listen to Hobo Holiday from 2- 6 p.m. and Burning Bridges from 7- 11 p.m. Finally, on Sunday, JD the DJ will be playing music from 1- 5 p.m.
YMCA Derby Night
April 14th, 5:30 p.m.
Doubletree by Hilton
Come join an evening of food, fun, and horse racing. Social hour and silent auction start at 5:30 p.m. with dinner following at 6:15 p.m. Derby attire and hats are encouraged. Tickets are on sale here.
Wild World of PBS Kids
April 15th, 1- 3 p.m.
Cedarhurst Center for the Arts
This year’s WSIU annual family day is all about the Wild World! Children will be encouraged to discover Illinois’s unique animal and plant life. Former St. Louis Zoo Naturalist, Dianne Moran, will host an interactive presentation and display. Kids can get their photo taken with PBS KIDS costume characters, Nature Cat and Dog from Word World. Enjoy other arts and crafts, activities, giveaways, and free shaved ice treats. The event is free and open to the public.
Full Contact Comedy Tour
April 15th, 8 p.m.
The Granada Theatre
Need a night full of laughs? Look no further than the Full Contact Comedy Tour! Three national touring comedians, including Jeff Batts and his Full Contact Comedy Style will be performing right here in Mt. Vernon. The show will be professionally filmed to be aired at a later date for a televised Comedy Special. An optional, plated dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., with a showtime of 8 p.m.
Mt. Vernon Illinois Reptile and Exotics Show
April 16th, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Rolland Lewis Building
Bring the whole family to see reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, birds, small mammals, and more! Pet supplies and feeders will be available to purchase. Kids 4 and under are free. Admission is $5 a person and can be bought at the door.
Alexander Ruwe @ RARE
April 19th, 5:30- 8:30 p.m.
RARE Chop House
Enjoy a night of beautiful music and delicious food at RARE Chop House. Native to Mt. Vernon, St. Louis artist, Alexander Ruwe will perform original music and crowd favorites.
20th Annual Southern Illinois Steel Guitar Show
April 20th- 22nd, 10 a.m.- 10 p.m.
Doubletree by Hilton
After a three year absence, the Southern Illinois Steel Guitar Show is back! Headliners include Teea Goans on Friday night and David Frizzel on Saturday. Other performers throughout the weekend include Ron and Leona Williams, Dennis Stroughmatt, and Darrell and Mona McCall. A tremendous group of steel guitar players will be playing all weekend long. This event is a fundraiser for the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Tickets can be purchased at www.southernillinoisproductions.org
Mark Dvorak, The American Folksong
April 22nd, 4 p.m.
Jefferson County Historical Village
Since 1981, the folksinger, Mark Dvorak has performed all over the United States and Europe. His shows are a mix of familiar and new music with guitar and banjo playing. Admission is free. Donations to the Jefferson County Historical Society are appreciated.
Boy Band Review
April 28th, 7 p.m.
The Granada Theatre
Get ready for an evening of throwback, boy band music as the Boy Band Review performs your favorite *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, One Direction, Jonas Brothers, and New Kids on the Block hits. Tickets are on sale at www.thegranadatheatre.com.
Adam W. Sadberry- Flutist Concert Performance
April 30th, 3- 5 p.m.
Cedarhurst Center for the Arts
Adam Sadberry was recently named to the Washington Post list: 23 for ‘23 Composers and Performers to watch this year. Adam has played principal flute with the St. Louis and Detroit Symphony Orchestras, as well as acting principal flute of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He can be heard playing on the soundtrack of Disney’s 2019 The Lion King and in the Hollywood Bowl’s Juneteenth Celebration of 2022. Complimentary light refreshments and a cash bar will be available. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at www.cedarhurst.org.
