Autumn is in the Air! Don’t Miss Out On These Three Seasonal Events and Attractions Near Breese, IL

If you’re looking for things to do in Breese, IL, this fall, you have plenty of options; from fall festivals to popular autumn Clinton County attractions, there are events and experiences that all ages will enjoy. If you’ve never experienced all that Clinton County tourism has to offer, the fall season is the perfect time to take in all these sights and enjoy the crisp, cool weather.

1. Fall Festivals in and Around Breese

The Breese Optimist Fall Fest is a popular autumn event in the area you won’t want to miss. This festival is Breese’s official welcome to the fall season, hosted by Breese Optimist on September 28th. You and your loved ones will get to enjoy a full day of fun with a homebrew contest, a chili cookoff, vendors, a fair, a petting zoo, a climbing rock wall, live music, bounce houses, a car and tractor show, games for the kids, and more!

Next month, the O’Fest is another area fall festival held at the Olde Wicks factory in Highland, IL. This three-day weekend event begins on Friday, October 11, and runs through Sunday, October 13. Get the whole family ready or gather a group of your best buddies for a packed weekend of entertainment: enjoy live music from over seven different bands, try out all the different food trucks, fill your stein at the beer trailers, and more. You can purchase tickets online for $20 or $28 at the door, and your ticket will cover admission through the entire weekend.

Have you been preparing for Halloween since August? Then you won’t want to miss this one: The Breese Chamber of Commerce Pumpkin Trail is back on October 26th and it’s better than ever! If you’re looking for free things to do in Breese, IL, this is a perfect way to gear up for spooky season. Take advantage of tons of free family-friendly activities, including a children’s costume contest, plenty of food a drinks, and a bar crawl starting at 8pm. We can hardly wait!

2. Clinton County Attractions: Kick off the 2024 Holiday Season!

The D12 Music Booster Fall and Craft Vendor Fair is a popular, free, family-friendly, and wheelchair-accessible event that takes place annually here in Breese. Grab your favorite fall sweater and take the morning to enjoy all-day concessions, opportunities to support our local schools, and dozens of vendors selling an exciting array of gifts, skincare, clothing, crafts, and more. This event is perfect for those who want to support the community or do something a little different on a Saturday, or even get a head start on your Christmas shopping.

3. Experience Nature at Favorite Clinton County Tourism Spots

It’s no secret that the fall months are the perfect time to take in the sites and explore all the natural beauty that Illinois has to offer. If fall festivals and live events aren’t your speed and you’re looking for a calmer and quieter way to enjoy the breathtaking transition into fall, there are some beautiful natural areas you can visit to enjoy the fall colors.

Here, you can hike, take in the sights, breathe in the fresh autumn air, and get some natural vitamin D. Popular areas include the Carlyle Lake area, Mettler Woods Nature Preserve, and Weldon Springs State Park.

Carlyle Lake is one of the most versatile natural areas in Clinton County. Enjoy 20-plus miles of bike trails, take the family on a weekend camping trip, enjoy a beautiful sunrise or sunset on the beach…the possibilities are endless! Plus, there are a handful of Carlyle Lake fall events coming up that you won’t want to miss, including a pumpkin patch and the spooktacular Haunted Trail happening on October 18th and 19th. Don’t miss the Halloween Hustle 5K on the 26th–get dressed up in your spookiest attire and seize the day while supporting recreational resources and educational opportunities for all locals. Still planning your trick-or-treating endeavors? Local Carlyle businesses will be hosting a trick-or-treating event for kids 12 and under, so bring all your family friends and make a night of it!

If you just can’t get enough of nature, now is the perfect time to set out for Mettler Woods Nature Preserve. Native life is abundant through the trails: listen the Woodpeckers socializing amongst the high branches of the white oak trees, catch a glimpse of hummingbirds fluttering from jewelweed to jewelweed, and hunt for freshwater mussels in the Salt Creek Natural area. Hiking here is leisurely and scenic, so people of all ages can enjoy everything this gorgeous preserve has to offer.

Witness fall at its finest at Weldon Springs State Park! This all-seasons park features a massive recreational agenda that the whole family can enjoy year-round, but nothing makes our hearts skip a beat more than the gorgeous fall colors that emerge during this time of the year. There’s still plenty of time to enjoy fishing, picnicing, camping, and hiking in comfortable temperatures. And for game lovers, there are tournament-quality horseshoe pits to enjoy. This is a great place to visit even in the harsher winter months, with an exciting one-eighth mile hill for sledding and tobogganing!

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