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New Attractions and Events Coming to Great Rivers & Routes region of Southwest Illinois



Get ready for awesome adventures in southwest Illinois! Grab your certified solar eclipse viewing glasses and head to Collinsville, IL to party and celebrate the Great American Solar Eclipse which takes place Monday, April 8, 2024. Enjoy live music, special eclipse drinks, a fire-blowing demonstration and more from Noon to 3 p.m. at Herald Square as the moon’s shadow completely covers the sun. Free Eclipse Viewing Eye Protection will be available for attendees.


Don’t miss the new Flyway Byway at Aerie’s Resort in Grafton, IL. This side-by-side dual line 1,400-foot-long zipline spans Aerie’s Timber Ridge for great racing fun. It will open in Spring 2024.


Explore the Mighty Mississippi River by kayak in southwest Illinois. Don’t have a kayak? No worries. Look for a new Kayak Kiosk along the Great River Road from Alton to Grafton and rent the kayak of your choice for a water adventure along the famed Mississippi River Water Trail.


Take a road trip along the Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in southwest Illinois and be sure to stop by the newly renovated West End Service Station in Edwardsville. For nearly four decades this service station served as a bustling stop along Route 66 where travels refueled, had an oil change and enjoyed a cold soda. Now it serves as a Route 66 landmark, visitor center and museum.


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