Fourth of July is packed full with events in Charleston, and the surrounding days will offer festive activities as well.
Red, White and Blue Days (Thursday – Friday)
Charleston’s Red, White and Blue Days, which kicked off June 28, will continue at Morton Park with food vendors opening at 3 p.m. on Thursday. A free concert will follow, with Rockland Road performing at 7 p.m. and music legend Exile taking the stage at 8 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.
Festivities will continue Friday with an American Legion pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. at the park’s east pavilion. Breakfast will cost $10, with children ages 6 to 10 eating for $5 and kids 5 and under eating free. A Chalk-In hosted by the Coles County Arts Council will begin at 9 a.m., followed by a pet parade at 9:30 a.m. Inflatables, food vendors and a foam pit will open at 10 a.m.
The city’s Fourth of July parade will start at 1 p.m., followed by a patriotic bell ringing at 2 p.m. More information on the events can be found here. Morton Park is located at 1215 Division St.
Coles County Fireworks
At the Coles County Memorial Airport, gates will open at 5 p.m. for a fireworks display, with parking and vendors available at that time. Shuttles will run from O’Brien Field at Eastern Illinois and Dunham’s Sports at Cross County Mall throughout the evening. Drivers will enter and exit on the same side, using the main airport entrance from the west or the 911 building entrance from the east. Pets, alcohol, personal fireworks and sparklers are not allowed at the airport grounds. Coles County Memorial Airport is located at 432 Airport Rd, Mattoon, Illinois.
Lincoln Log Cabin (Saturday)
At the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, the monthly children’s story series that happens every first Saturday of the month will happen this Saturday at 10 a.m. The free event, tailored for ages 5 to 10, will feature a reading of a historically themed children’s book, as well as activities and crafts. Registration can be found here.
Later that day, the site will host its Independence Day and Vintage Base Ball event from noon to 4 p.m. A reading of the Declaration of Independence will open the event, followed by a 19th-century style baseball game. The rules of the historic game will be explained before each match. Visitors are encouraged to bring a blanket, lawn chair and picnic lunch. Cold drinks, light snacks and candy will be available for purchase from the Lincoln Log Cabin Foundation. The event is free and open to the public. The Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site is located at 402 S Lincoln Hwy, Lerna, IL.
Farmers Market (Saturday and Wednesday)
At the Courthouse Square, there will be a farmers market on Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. hosted by the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce. The event will feature local vendors and live music. Then Wednesday, there will be another one from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. There will be one every Saturday until September 24. The Courthouse Square is located at 651 Jackson Ave.
