ALTON - Alton Main Street, the Sierra Club Illinois’ Three Rivers Project, and Jacoby Arts Center are announcing the return of the Mississippi Earthtones Festival to the Alton Amphitheater on Saturday, September 19th from noon until 10:00 p.m. The 20th annual festival in Downtown Alton is a vibrant celebration dedicated to our river and environment. Featuring over 30 environmental education exhibits, more than 70 eco-conscious artists and makers, and 12 culinary vendors, the event offers a rich array of activities and displays that highlight conservation and community engagement. The festival is free to attend and draws approximately 5,000 community members and tourists who come together to enjoy art, music, and local foods in a lively, family-friendly atmosphere. The organizations are seeking sponsors and volunteers for their 20th annual event.
Live music will fill the air throughout the day. The entertainment lineup on the main stage will feature: The Matt Taul Band (Homegrown Americana) from 12:00-2:30, Master Blaster Stevie Wonder Tribute led by Steve Ewing of The Urge from 4:00-6:00, Jake’s Leg (the longest running Grateful Dead tribute in the United States) from 7:00-10:00, and between each act will be a performance by Jason “Gordo” Gordon (1-Man, 10-Piece Band) from 2:30-3:30 and 6:00-7:00.
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Dozens of community organizations work together to produce this premier event that fulfills a request from the State of Illinois to organize activities that promote education, recreation, and conservation of our waterways on “It’s Our River Day”, the 3rd Saturday in September. Additionally, the Festival encourages use of and appreciation for the Mississippi Riverfront while raising awareness of the environmentally friendly businesses, activities and organizations in our region. Local artists will offer nature-inspired, hand-made, and environmentally-friendly wares for sale.
Participants can immerse themselves in large, interactive art installations curated by Kooliverse and the Riverbend Yarn Bombers, designed to enhance the festival grounds with the focus on “Rooted in Rhythm". The Zen Zone tent offers free yoga and meditation classes for those seeking relaxation, and you can engage in meaningful conversations to enhance your connection with all life. Make sure to celebrate the Confluence Conservation Awards on stage at 3:30 pm, where three awardees will be highlighted. The Jacoby Arts Center Playground will come alive with live performances, interactive art activities, and entertainment for all ages, including shows by the Creative Dance Studio, lively ukulele performances, an improv show, live painting demonstrations, and clay-throwing sessions. Visitors can create their own masterpieces and unwind beneath the trees on cozy blankets. Kids and adults will enjoy special activities such as a live nautical flag performance at 3:45pm titled “100 Rivers: Signals of Repair,” and the Alton Youth Symphony volunteers will lead two kids’ parades featuring instruments they’ve made, at 3:15 pm and 6:15 pm. Delicious local food and drinks will be available until 10 pm, ensuring a fun-filled and memorable day for everyone.
A variety of fun and educational activities are planned for families from Noon until 6:00 p.m., and there will be several agencies on hand to teach consumers how to incorporate more sustainable practices into their daily lives. Conservation-based organizations will offer exhibits to showcase their missions, and environmentally-conscious businesses will have booths to promote their products to the crowd while also supporting our community’s commitment to protect the Mississippi River - our region’s most important natural resource.
Volunteers are needed for short shifts on September 19th at the festival grounds, as well as for the MEF River Clean Up which will take place the following Saturday, Sept. 26th; to date nearly 54 tons of trash have been removed from the river at MEF clean ups. Anyone who pitches in on either Saturday will receive a free festival t-shirt. Volunteers can sign up at downtownalton.com.
“The theme of this year’s Mississippi Earthtones Festival is ‘Rooted in Rhythm’, and we will fill Alton’s riverfront with art that interprets this subject. We can’t wait to introduce attendees to the wide variety of entertainers and exhibitors who are committed to celebrating and protecting our beautiful Mississippi River,” said Sara McGibany, Executive Director of Alton Main Street.
The Sierra Club will purchase carbon credits to offset the carbon emissions associated with the festival’s footprint, ensuring they maximize their positive impact. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to engage with various non-profit organizations during the event, taking action for both people and the planet while enjoying a festive atmosphere. Christine Favilla, Three Rivers Project Coordinator, emphasized, “Attendees can feel assured that we are taking significant steps to minimize the environmental footprint related to the lights, sounds, hotel stays, and transportation to and from the festival.”
This event is held annually on the third Saturday in September as part of the State of Illinois’ “It’s Our River Day” initiative to celebrate Illinois watersheds through education, recreation and conservation activities. To inquire about sponsoring the event please email info@altonmainstreet.org, and to sign up as a volunteer please visit www.DowntownAlton.com/Events. To stay up-to-date on announcements, please follow: www.facebook.com/EarthtonesFestival.
About Alton Main Street
Alton Main Street is a community based, not-for-profit, volunteer-led organization dedicated to securing the economic vitality and aesthetic quality of Alton’s historic downtown district. Since 1994, Alton Main Street has led volunteer efforts to transform Downtown Alton into a thriving commercial and residential center through education, historic preservation, and coordination of social, economic, and beautification activities. To learn more, visit www.DowntownAlton.com.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.8 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
About Jacoby Arts Center
The mission of Jacoby Arts Center is to nurture and promote the practice and appreciation of the arts through education, exhibits, cultural programs, and community outreach initiatives. For details on upcoming classes, events and programming, please visit www.JacobyArtsCenter.org.
Mississippi Earthtones Festival
Celebrating our river through art, music, and conservation
