Beardstown United Way

11/11/2025

🎄 A very Cass County Christmas ! 🎄
There is so much holiday magic happening across our communities this season — markets, parades, village celebrations, and small-town traditions that make Cass County feel like home. Here are just a few of the festive events happening across the county to get your holiday season started:

🎄 ✨ NEWLY ADDED! Virginia’s “Frozen Enchantment” Christmas Around the Square ✨Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 • 5–9 PM
Virginia, IL
Lighted parade, horse + carriage rides, silent auction, Santa, cookie auction, food, family & fun — a magical night downtown with something for everyone!

✨ Beardstown Christkindlmarkt
Nov. 28 – Dec. 27, 2025
Fridays • 4–7PM & Saturdays • 11AM–7PM
Downtown Beardstown
A German-style market filled with artisan vendors, chalet-style huts, festive foods, twinkling lights, and live entertainment. The Christkindlmarkt is perfect for shopping local and soaking in Christmas cheer.

✨ 18th Annual Lighted Christmas Parade – Beardstown
Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025 • 6:00 PM
The streets come alive with glowing floats, lights, music, and holiday spirit as Beardstown kicks off parade night in full Christmas style.

✨ Arenzville's Christmas in the Village
Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025 • 11 AM – 2 PM
Arenzville, IL
Shop local vendors, explore the craft + vendor market inside Trinity Lutheran School & The Methodist Church, enjoy free horse-drawn carriage rides, meet Santa, the Grinch, and grab photos with Cindy Lou Who. Cookie decorating, hot chocolate, Christmas card minis, and more make this small-town celebration extra magical.

✨ BCA Annual Christmas Market – Beardstown Christian Academy
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 • 9 AM – 2 PM
Beardstown, IL
Over 70 craft + retail vendors, festive décor, holiday treats, giveaways, and a cozy community atmosphere. Always a huge turnout and a local favorite for gift shopping!

✨ Chandlerville’s Christmas in the Village - Chandlerville, IL
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 • 8 AM – 1 PM
A-C Central Elementary School
Kick off your Christmas shopping with local makers and vendors inside the school gymnasium. Gifts, crafts, treats, and charming small-town holiday energy!

✨ Santa at the Cabins – The Rexroat Prairie (Virginia, IL)
Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 • 1 PM – 3 PM
Meet Santa Claus at the prairie cabins! A beautiful rustic backdrop, family photos, festive music, and a chance for kids to share their Christmas wishes.

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🎁 Do you have a Christmas event, parade, vendor market, or holiday activity happening in Cass County that’s not listed here?
Send us your details or drop them in the comments — we’d love to feature your event on our page so the whole community can celebrate together! ❤️

📣 As always, share this post to help spread the holiday spirit across Cass County.

✨ Here’s to a very merry Cass County Christmas!

Chandlerville Improvement Council The Rexroat Prairie Connect

10/05/2025

✨🎃 Looking for family fun in Cass County?
Beardstown Connect is bringing a little Hocus Pocus to Family Friday! 🧹🐈‍⬛

📅 Friday, October 10
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Art Zeeck Park, Beardstown

Enjoy a free evening of:
🎨 Pumpkin Painting
🌟 Glow Sticks & Light-Up Fun
👻 Not-So-Spooky Halloween Activities

Bring the kids, invite some friends, and make a fall memory together. 🍂🧡
👉 Share this post to spread the word and support local events in Cass County!

10/03/2025

🍁✨ October in Cass County is full of fall magic! From live music to autumn festivals and family-friendly Halloween fun, there’s something happening every weekend. Here’s a look at what’s coming up —

🎶 Oct 3 – Sounds on the Square | Hosted by Beardstown Connect.
Enjoy live music from the Winner/Coyle Family at Art Zeeck Park, 5–7 PM.

🛍️ Oct 3–4 – Virginia City-Wide Garage Sales
Treasure hunt your way across town!

🎃 Oct 10 – Family Friday: Hocus Pocus | Hosted by Beardstown C.O.N.N.E.C.T.
Pumpkin painting, glow sticks, and not-so-spooky fun for the whole family at Art Zeeck Park, 6–8 PM.

🍻 Oct 11 – Oktoberfest | Hosted by Beardstown C.O.N.N.E.C.T.
The Roundhouse comes alive with games, contests, food, beer, and plenty of Bavarian spirit!

👻 Oct 11 – Boo Bash | Hosted by Beardstown Park District
Roy Roberts Park, 3–5 PM. A free community event with games, prizes, candy, and food for purchase. Costumes encouraged!

🌾 Oct 11 – Rexroat Prairie Log Cabin Days | Presented by Friends of the Rexroat Prairie
10 AM–4 PM, Virginia. Tour historic cabins, enjoy artisan demos, live music, local food, and prairie walks. Free admission.

🚒 Oct 11 – Meet the Heroes | Presented by the Cass County S.W.A.T. Program. Sheriff's Working with Adolescents Together
4–6 PM, West Side of the Square in Virginia. Meet local police, deputies, firemen, paramedics & 911 staff. Obstacle courses, giveaways, wiener roast, hot chocolate, and emergency vehicles up close.

🍂 Oct 12 – Autumn Celebration | Hosted by Chandlerville Improvement Council
J.P. Flywheel Memorial Park. Games, hayrides, live music, a scarecrow contest, delicious food, and a family movie under the stars.

🕯️ Oct 18 – Jack-O-Lantern Spooktacular | Presented by the Jennie Marr Dunaway Park Board
Jennie Marr Dunaway Memorial Park, 7–10 PM. You won’t want to miss the haunted barn, spook walk, witches at the cabins, photo ops, games, food & so much more. Halloween parade starts at 6:30 PM.

🎭 Oct 26 – Ashland Halloween Parade, Party, Trunk or Treat | Presented by the Village of Ashland
Parade line-up at 3 PM, parade at 3:15 PM with the AC Marching Band, ending at the Firehouse for games, treats, and a community party. Trunk or Treat to follow at Village Hall.

🎃 Oct 26 – Chandlerville Halloween Parade & Trunk or Treat | Hosted by Chandlerville Improvement Council
Enjoy the meal at 4 PM, parade at 6 PM, A-C Central Band performance at 6:15 PM, and Trunk or Treat at 7 PM at J.P. Flywheel Park.

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🍂 These are just some of the events happening around Cass County this October! If you know of another, share it in the comments so everyone can plan a visit. Share this post to spread the word! 📲

09/13/2025

🍂🎡 Beardstown Fall Fun Festival is almost here! 🎶✨
Mark your calendars for September 26–28 — three full days of live music, carnival rides, food, crafts, parades, pageants, kids’ activities, a car show, and so much more.

This year’s festival is packed with something for everyone:
👉 Concerts from All Lit Up, Logan Crosby, Shannon “Woody” Wood, and Feudin’ Hillbilly’s
👉 Family fun with carnival rides, inflatables, a petting zoo, and the Foam & Flight Bubble Party
👉 Local shopping, crafts, food vendors, and community traditions you won’t want to miss

📍 Downtown Beardstown, IL
📅 September 26–28, 2025

Cass County is proud to celebrate one of our community’s biggest annual events — come see why the Beardstown Fall Fun Festival is a tradition that keeps growing year after year. 🍁

👉 For the full daily schedule and updates, follow the Beardstown Fall Fun Festival page.

08/12/2025

Our first Scout meeting(s) for Pack & Troop 127 will be August 24th, 2025, 2:30 PM, Armory Pond (weather permitting). See you there! Bring a friend!

08/05/2025

NOW OPEN
Registration for the 2025 John Conner Grand Parade is now open for your organization.

https://form.jotform.com/AbbyPherigo/--2025-beardstown-fall-fun-festival

This years parade will take place Saturday, September 27th at 10am.

The parade is by far one of the largest draws for the festival and is a great opportunity to get the word out for your organization of business.
We would love for you to join us this year. The form takes less than 5 mins to complete. Just follow the link and enter your information on the form.

07/30/2025

🎉 What’s Happening This Week in Cass County? 🎉 Looking for weekend plans? Cass County has you covered with live music, treasure hunting, and heart-pounding motocross action. Here’s what’s coming up — mark your calendars and share this post to help spread the word!

📍 Friday, August 1
🎶 Sounds on the Square featuring David Berchtold
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Art Zeeck Park, Beardstown
Start your weekend with some feel-good acoustic blues in the park. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy this free community concert presented by Beardstown Connect.

📍 Friday & Saturday, August 1–2
🛍️ Beardstown City-Wide Yard Sales
• Friday: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Saturday: 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Plan your route and treasure-hunt your way across town! From vintage finds to practical deals, you never know what you’ll discover.

📍 Saturday, August 2
🏁 Midwest Motocross 2025 Supercross
Cass County Fairgrounds, Virginia, IL
• Gates Open: 2:00 PM
• Racing Starts: 7:30 PM
The dirt flies Saturday night! It’s an action-packed evening for all ages. Bring the crew and cheer them on!

There’s something for everyone — music lovers, bargain hunters, and adrenaline junkies. Let’s keep our local events thriving — tag a friend and share this post!

Know something else happening this week in Cass County? Drop it in the comments and help us keep the community in the loop!

Cass County Fair ~ Virginia, IL

07/24/2025

🎉 Cass County is wrapping up summer with a full calendar of events you won’t want to miss — from local music and motorsports to markets, auto shows, and family fun! Whether you’re hunting yard sale deals, dancing downtown, or sampling Burgoo in Chandlerville, there’s something happening nearly every weekend.

📅 Here’s what’s coming up — mark your calendars and share this post to help spread the word!👇

🎸 Sounds on the Square
📍 August 1, 5–7 PM | Art Zeeck Park, Beardstown
🎶 Presented by Beardstown Connect
Live blues & acoustic guitar with David Berchtold — bring a lawn chair and settle in for a great night downtown!

🛍️ Beardstown City-Wide Yard Sales
📍 August 1 (4–7 PM) & August 2 (7 AM–Noon)
Treasure hunting all over town — grab a map and join the fun!

🏍️ Midwest Motocross Supercross
📍 August 2 | Cass County Fairgrounds, Virginia
Gates open at 2 PM | Racing starts at 7:30
Classes for kids, adults, and pros — plus cash prizes!

🎒 Back to School Bash
📍 August 4, 5–7 PM | Jennie Marr Dunaway Park, Virginia
📘 Presented by Cass County Health Department - Illinois
Free family fun to kick off the school year — games, giveaways, and more!

🐐 Family Friday: Meet the Farm
📍 August 8, 6–8 PM | Art Zeeck Park, Beardstown
🐄 Presented by Beardstown CONNECT
Get hands-on with goats, chickens, a cow, and more — perfect for animal lovers of all ages!

🚗 Thunder in the Park Auto Show
📍 August 9, registration at 9 AM | Arenzville Ball Field
Cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more — 28 classes, trophies, music, vendors, and kids’ activities!
💲 $15 entry

🌽 Virginia’s Farmers Market
📍 August 9 & 23, 8 AM–Noon | Virginia Town Square
Local produce, baked goods, handmade items — come shop small and support local!

🍲 Chandlerville Burgoo, – 70th Annual
📍 August 21–23 | Chandlerville
🎉 Celebrating 70 years of tradition!
Food, fun, and community at one of the county’s most beloved events.

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🧡 Whether you live here or love to visit, August in Cass County is the place to be.

📣 Know of another event happening?
Drop it in the comments below so more people can check it out! 👇

07/23/2025