Illinois Metro East

Wagon rides, live entertainment, great festival foods, a petting zoo and much more make this an apple pickin' good time for the whole family. There will be pony rides, a children's carnival, opportunities to feed goats and other farm animals, caramel apples, funnel cakes and more. 

Immerse yourself in a vibrant sea of sunflowers at Eckerts Sunflower Festival. There will be a variety of activities for all ages, like mini photo sessions, face painting, local vendors, a coffee truck, and of course, wandering through the beautiful 2-acre sunflower fields.

Blast off your Independence Day at the Godfrey Family Fun Fest with face painting, inflatables, food trucks, a watermelon eating contest, and fireworks for the whole family in Glazebrook Park.

Get ready for high-gear excitement at Tractor Days at Eckert Farms! The plaza will be packed with farm machinery for kids and grown-ups to explore up close. Kids can see, touch and even sit in the driver's seats! Little farmers can enjoy tractor-themed sipper cups filled with farm-fresh sweet cider and take home tractor tattoos, stickers and coloring sheets. 

Families are invited to join ECM for its FREE Ka-Chow! Cars Event and experience the fun of Radiator Springs and Route 66 right in Edwardsville. Sponsored by the City of Edwardsville, Ka-Chow! includes free admission to the Edwardsville Children's Museum and a meet-and-greet with Lightning McQueen himself.

Tiny Trekkers is a weekly nature-based program for preschoolers (ages 3-5) at the Nature Institute. Preschoolers explore the nearly 500 acres of preserves through hands-on experiences out in nature. Kids stomp through creeks, use nets to catch and observe insects, taste edible plants, and learn about the natural world.

Activities include strawberry picking, festival foods, the children’s playground, a petting zoo, carnival rides, wagon rides and more.