Now is a great time to visit Ferne Clyffe State Park!
Sometimes just relaxing and taking a stroll in a park is all it takes to ease the mind. Just looking at the simplicity of nature.
“All you need are these: certainty of judgment in the present moment; action for the common good in the present moment; and an attitude of gratitude in the present moment for anything that comes your way.”—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 9.6
“Off-The-Wall,” anthill gallery’s annal Holiday Group Artist Exhibition, has more meaning this holiday season than ever before. It is the final one.
This newly opened annual exhibition of regionally produced artwork and fine craft marks the end of a ten year collaboration between The Yellow Moon Cafe and anthill gallery & vintage curiosities. “Off-The-Wall” will conclude on Saturday, December 23, 2017.
Larger 2-D framed artwork is curated throughout The Yellow Moon Cafe at 110 North Front Street. The extensive variety of hand-made, one-of-a-kind craft, jewelry, decorative and functional forged steel, ceramics, mosaics, baskets and fibers; journals, photography, graphic design; original paintings, prints and hand-crafted lamps are all to be found in anthill gallery & vintage curiosities at 102 North Front in Cobden, IL.
“Off-The-Wall” means artwork can be taken out of the exhibition at the time of purchase. Locally made art truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
Cobden’s annual Christmas in the Village event arrives on Saturday, December 2, 2017. A cornucopia of family events with caroling and Santa Claus at The Old Feed Store are offered throughout the village downtown. That day is marked by anthill gallery as Artist Appreciation Day to thank the gallery’s artists and celebrate their creativity. They represent a remarkable range of talented and hard working local and regional artists and artisans.
In October anthill gallery announced it will be closing at the end of this year. “The anthill” has enjoyed serving as an exhibition venue and unique gift shop representing local area artists and helping the regional economy. Recently, The Yellow Moon Cafe announced it will also be closing it’s award-winning restaurant after December 23. This will end nearly a decade of art and dining experiences in Cobden.
anthill gallery & vintage curiosities is open Wednesday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday Noon to 4:00 p.m.
The Yellow Moon Cafe’s LUNA GALLERY, Viewing hours are Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., reopening Fridays 6 p.m. to close; Saturday, 10 a.m. to close.
All 11 wineries of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail have paired up to create three wonderful weekends of savory wine and food pairings. We invite you to join us for a progressive tasting along the trail and enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of our wines paired with delicious samples. Autumn Inspirations – November 4-5, 2017
Celebrate the bountiful fall harvest with seasonally inspired dishes during a progressive tasting along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. Our member wineries have created savory autumn inspired dishes and paired them with their award-winning wines to enhance the flavors of both the wine and the food. This is a fun way to showcase how wine plays the perfect supporting role to our everyday meals.
How it Works: Pre-purchase your ticket online and select your starting point. The first winery that you visit will give you a souvenir wine glass and your tasting ticket. Bring your ticket to each location along the trail to enjoy your pairings. Leave your completed/stamped tasting ticket at the last winery visited to be entered for a chance to win a great prize from one of our associate members. Ticket Information: $35.00 per person through October 29, 2017.
The Pumpkin People are coming to visit Clyde L. Choate Mental Health and Development Center in Anna, IL Oct. 13-22, 2017
The trail of pumpkin people will depict various scenes from Dr. Seuss favorite stories. Using approximately 110 pumpkins from St Mary’s Pumpkin Patch, 95 bales of straw donated by Stegle Plumbing and 55 mums from Choate Greenhouse, it seems the Pumpkin People cast a spell and the campus dons a new look. The smiles and laughter of children and adults alike shower the campus with joy as they explore the displays and make pumpkin people friends. A continuous line of cars parade through the grounds, bringing thousands of visitors to witness the creativity and ingenuity of the displays.
You can also park your car, and enjoy a walk around the grounds in the nice fall weather! 
Choate Mental Health and Development Center is located at 1000 N. Main St in Anna.
Garden of the Gods and Rim Rock-Pounds Hollow Recreational area are two must see locations on the eastern side of the Shawnee National Forest of Southern Illinois.
Now open, to enhance the visitor’s experience, is the Garden of the Gods Outpost right
Garden of the Gods souveniers
at the entrance of Garden of the Gods Road on Karbers Ridge Road. Open from 10AM to 8PM Wed-Sun, and 1PM to 8PM Mon & Tues, the Outpost is ready to serve you ice cream and to make your visit to Garden of the God’s in the Shawnee National Forest an extra special one! The Outpost offers souvenirs, including shirts, hats, mugs, shot glasses and postcards as well as a variety of snacks and soft drinks to quench your thirst after a day of hiking to spectacular views.
Located right across the street is Shawnee Forest Country’s own sasquatch. You won’t want to miss getting a photo with ‘Sassy’!
Sassy the sasquatch loves visitors!
Each October, The Shawnee National Forest temporarily closes LaRue Road #345 (also known as the Snake Road) between 
mile post 3.0 and mile post 5.8. This section of the road will remain closed until Oct. 30, 2017. The road is closed seasonally for the protection of migrating snakes and amphibians as they make the seasonal journey from their winter hibernation areas to their summer swamp habitats. Some of these species have been identified as threatened and endangered by both the state of Illinois and the U.S. Forest Service. By closing the road added protection is provided to help ensure the reptile’s safe crossing during this critical time of migration.
On October 7th 2017, Shawnee Friends hosts the Snake Walk with IDNR Herpetologist Scott Ballard on the world-famous Snake Road on the Shawnee National Forest. Join us on this leisurely walk to view snakes and other critters along the bluffs and swamps.
We will meet at the Winter’s Pond parking area. Link to map.
Shawnee Forest Country 