Haunted trolleys, home tours...tis the season in downtown Alton

Alton is host to a range of holiday activities to suit a variety of interests:

ANTOINETTE'S HAUNTED TROLLEY TOURS - WITCHING HOUR TOUR
Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19
10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Piasa Masonic Lodge
State Street, Alton

Take a haunted tour with the area's first paranormal investigator throughout one of the nation's most haunted towns...Alton. This tour will take you to the Historic McPike Mansion. Tours are $42 per person. For more information, go online to www.HauntedAlton.com or call 618-462-4009.

ANTOINETTE'S HAUNTED TROLLEY TOURS - BARE BONES TOUR
Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 12 and 19
7 to 10:30 p.m.
Piasa Masonic Lodge
State Street, Alton

Take a haunted tour with the area's first paranormal investigator throughout on of the nation's most haunted towns...Alton. This tour will take you to the Historic McPike Mansion. Tours are $33 per person. For more information, go online to www.HauntedAlton.com or call 618-462-4009.

DEATH IN ENGLAND
Nov. 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
2 p.m. Sunday
Alton Little Theater
2450 N. Henry Street, Alton

The Grim Reaper himself pays call to an English household and discovers he's not only in the wrong place, but everyone can SEE him. Inspector Edward Mirabelle of Scotland Yard is brought in to confront the bizarre event, witness a few deaths, and hopefully solve what the inspector now describes as his favorite case. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students. For information, call (618) 462-6562.

CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND
Friday, Nov. 25 through Dec. 30
Monday through Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m.
Friday through Sunday, 5 to 9 p.m.
Rock Springs Park on College Avenue, Alton

Drive through Rock Springs Park to see more 2.5 million lights adorning trees and lighting displays throughout the park. Visitors are sure to be captivated by the holiday spirit. The cost is $7 for cars and small vans or $1 per person for vehicles holding more than 10 people. For more information, call 1-800-ALTON-IL or 618-465-6676.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Saturday, Dec. 3
3 to 6:30 p.m.
Village of Elsah

Join us in the village where time stood still to experience an Americana Christmas. Come tour the houses in Elsah adorned in their finest holiday decorations from 3 to 5:45 p.m. Then, join the villagers at the riverfront for a candlelight caroling walk to the Methodist Church for the annual lighting of the village Christmas tree at 6:30 p.m. The cost of the house tour is $10 per person. My Just Desserts will also be hosting the annual pheasant dinner at the Farley Music Hall for $34.95 per person (tax and gratuity included). Reservations for dinner are required by calling 618-374-1607. Tickets for the house tour may be purchased in Elsah at the bed and breakfast inns and My Just Desserts. In Alton, tickets may be purchased at the Alton Visitor's Center, 200 Piasa Street.

OLDE ALTON ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday
Alton High School
Annex Building
2200 College Avenue, Alton

The annual Olde Alton Arts & Crafts Fair is a crafters dream come true with over 250 booths of crafters selling their best wares. Admission is $2 on Saturday; $1 on Sunday. Children 12 and under are FREE. All proceeds benefit the instrumental music program in the Alton School District.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Piece of Cake
10 E. Broadway, Alton

Enjoy pancakes, sausage, warm apples, coffee, orange juice and milk...with Santa! Kids will receive a picture with Santa and craft to take home. The cost is $8 per person. All ages welcome. Limit of 30 people per session. For more information, call 618-465-8095.

PRIDE, INC. HOLIDAY CANDLELIGHT HOME TOUR
Sunday, Dec. 4
3 to 7 p.m.
Godfrey

Beautifully decorated homes in the Alton and Godfrey area are open for touring on the first Sunday evening in December. The homes are aglow as the public is invited to view various decorating styles and Christmas collections. Optional trolley transportation offers an opportunity to enjoy the decorations without driving! Tickets for the tour are $12 per person and are available after November 7 at the Alton Visitors Center, 200 Piasa Street. Trolley transportation is an additional $12 per person, purchased through Pride. For more information, call (618) 467-2375.

ANNUAL OLD FASHIONED COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS
Sunday, Dec. 4
4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Hartford Public Library
143 West Hawthorne, Hartford

Santa Claus, storytelling for the kids and refreshments. Community tree lighting and caroling at 4:30 p.m. Hartford tour of lights with Holley the Trolley from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. FREE. Call (618) 254-9394 for more information.

FESTIVAL OF TREES
Saturday, Dec. 10
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
12th Street Presbyterian Church
504 E. 12th Street, Alton

View the beautiful decorated Christmas trees on display at the annual Festival of Trees fundraiser. All of the trees on display will be raffled off at the end of each day. Crafts, baked goods and a holiday ham dinner will also be available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. FREE admission. For more information, call 618-465-2507.

ALTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: HOLIDAY CONCERT
Saturday, Dec. 10
8 p.m.
Lewis & Clark Community College
Hathaway Hall
5800 Godfrey Road, Godfrey

Look forward to kicking off your Christmas season with an exciting evening featuring the Lewis and Clark Community College Choir along with Sts. Peter and Paul Church Choir, as well as St. Louis area vocalists, performing the beloved Handel's Messiah. Tickets are $15 for adults; $12 for seniors; $8 for students. For more information, go to www.altonsymphony.org or call 618-468-4782.

LEWIS & CLARK: ARRIVAL DAY
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10 and 11
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lewis & Clark State Historic Site
One Lewis & Clark Trail, Hartford

Visitors can experience camp life in early frontier Illinois, and watch demonstrations of period crafts and skills. Site admission is FREE. For more information, call 618-251-5811 or go to www.campdubois.com.

ELF WORKSHOP
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10 and 11
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Piece of Cake
10 E. Broadway, Alton

Santa needs help this year to spread the Christmas cheer! Calling all elves ages 5-8. Have mom and dad call now for a day with Santa that includes crafts, a snack and photo. The cost is $15 per elf. Limit 20 elves per session. For more information, call 618-465-8095.

BETHALTO SPIRIT VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS WALK
Sunday, Dec. 11
3 to 7:30 p.m.
Prairie St. & Central, Bethalto

Step back into an era of horse and carriage, gas street lights, sipping wassail and enjoying festive treats. Take in the sights and sounds of this little Christmas Village with dressed in the holiday spirit with the sounds of handballs and carolers floating in the evening air. The Christmas walk is preceded and concluded by a Christmas concert featuring the Bethalto Community Choir and Orchestra. Admission is FREE. For more information, call 618-377-6512.

FIRST NIGHT RIVER BEND
Saturday, Dec. 31
7 p.m. to midnight
Lewis & Clark Community College
5800 Godfrey Road, Godfrey

Come celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another with an annual celebration of the arts. This alcohol free, family oriented community event offers numerous shows, festivities and fun for people of all ages. The event concludes with a fantastic fireworks display to ring in the new year! Admission is $10 in advance, $12 night of the event. Children under 5 are free. For more information call 618-468-7500 or visit www.fnrblc.com.

January 2006
EAGLE MEET AND GREET
Saturday, Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2006
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Alton Visitors Center
200 Piasa St., Alton

Come see live eagle demonstrations by the World Bird Sanctuary. See a live bald eagle up close and personal! Ask and learn about their species and habitats. Then, grab your official All Around Alton Eagle Watcher's Guide as you journey out along the Great River Road to see eagles in their natural habitat. Free. For more information, call 1-800-ALTON-IL or go to www.VisitAlton.com.

SAMPLE OF EAGLE COUNTRY SATURDAYS
Jan. 7, 14, 21 & 28, 2006
10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Alton Visitors Center
200 Piasa St., Alton

Enjoy the Eagle Meet and Greet, then experience a 75-minute tour all around Alton viewing American Bald Eagles in their natural habitat. Tours will leave at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., beginning and ending at the Alton Visitor's Center. The cost for this "sample" tour is $5 per person. This tour will concentrate primarily on the Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area and new Berm Highway Nest Site. Tours are filled on a first come, first serve basis. For more information, call Bluff City Tours at 618-466-8693.

PERE MARQUETTE BALD EAGLE DAYS
Jan. 11, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 and 31, 2006
Feb.1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19 & 20, 2006
8:30 a.m.
Pere Marquette State Park
Route 100 - Great River Road, Grafton

Scott Isringhausen, site interpreter at Pere Marquette State Park, will be presenting informative programs about bald eagles this winter. Visitors will learn to distinguish between immature and mature bald eagles, what eagles eat, why they spend winter months in the area and much more. All programs will begin at the park's visitor center at 8:30 a.m. Reservations are required. There will be a short video presentation followed by an observational drive to view the wintering bald eagles. Dress warmly. For more information or reservations, call 618-786-3323.

A DAY IN EAGLE COUNTRY
Jan. 11, 14, 18, 21, 25 and 29, 2006
Feb. 1, 4, 8 and 11, 2006
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bluff City Tours
3002 Godfrey Road, Godfrey

The limestone bluffs and woodlands that line the Mississippi River Valley offer the American Bald Eagle an ideal winter roosting site. We invite you to come view the magnificent birds in their natural habitat. Take a day-long adventure of eagle and wildlife spotting with Bluff City Tours. The tour includes: transportation by motor coach or trolley, professional tour guide, continental breakfast and lunch at Pere Marquette. Reservations are $45 per person. All tours depart from and return to the Upper Level Parking Lot at Alton Square Mall off Homer Adams Parkway in Alton. For reservations, please call 618-466-8693.

GREAT RIVERS CHORAL SOCIETY: "SAY IT WITH MUSIC"
Friday, Jan. 20, 2006
8 p.m.
Evangelical United Church of Christ
1212 West Homer Adams Parkway, Godfrey

Love will be in the air as you enjoy an evening of various love songs performed by the Great Rivers Choral Society, including Brahms Lieberslieder (new love) waltzes and other ballads. Tickets are $10 for adults; $8 for seniors & students, $6 for children 12 and under. Special presale pricing and season ticket rates available. For more information, call 618-466-4199.