Alton Main Street Newsletter January 2026

Director's Note~

Our 2026 Partner and Sponsor Drive is underway, and we would greatly appreciate the support of downtown businesses as well as companies outside of the district who recognize the vast benefits of having a thriving downtown! Find full details and a link to send dues via PayPal at: www.DowntownAlton.com/Partner

Residents can also make a charitable donation to the Friends of Alton Main Street and help propel our good work forward. If you’d like to see more beautification projects downtown, please visit our website at DowntownAlton.com/Memberships. We appreciate your support!

 With a new year comes a changing of the guard in our organization’s leadership, and we would like to thank Chris Miller, Lauren Pattan, Hope Mader, Teri McGinnis, Jacob Goble, and Josh Dawdy for all of the time and talent they’ve shared to advance the goals of Alton Main Street. We extend a warm welcome to the incoming members of our Board of Directors for 2026: Caleb Lewis, Sydney Sinks, Jen Farley, Fred Pollard and John Becker.

~ Sara McGibany, Executive Director

Ring In the New Year and Celebrate the Holiday Season!

Are you looking for a fun NYE party that the whole family will enjoy? Join Flock Food Truck Park for their 4th Annual “NOON Year’s Eve” celebration for all ages! The event will take place on December 31st from 11am-2pm with a balloon drop at Noon and a brunch menu at Byrdies food truck. Their FLOCK*D vintage holiday experience remains open through the end of December!

Renaissance X Masquerade Ball

Step into a night of mystery, elegance, and unforgettable vibes at the 2nd Annual NYE Masquerade Ball at The Renaissance X! You’re invited to wear your most elegant mask and come dressed to impress as we dance the night away in style from 8pm-1am. Expect an evening filled with laughter, mingling, music, and delightful surprises around every corner. CLICK HERE for tickets!

Loading Dock NYE Skate Party

Ring in the New Year (a little early) at The Loading Dock’s Family-Friendly NYE Party! The Loading Dock will be celebrating the 2026 New Year by dropping 2,026 balloons on their ice skating rink on New Year’s Eve.  The Annual Balloon Drop will take place at 8pm, but the rink will be open from 12-10pm. Skating admission is $10.50, skate rental is $5, no charge for spectators. The Loading Dock’s full menu and bar will be available in the rink.  

In addition to the NYE Party, The Loading Dock hosts birthday, corporate, and holiday parties.  To book your event, please contact The Loading Dock at 618-556-7951 or loadingdock@gtec.com. The Loading Dock’s outdoor patio remains open throughout the season for guests to eagle watch and enjoy the breathtaking scenery.

Rates:

All Day Skate Pass: $10.50 Skate Rental: $5

Hours: 

Friday: 5pm-10pm 

Saturday: 12pm-10pm 

Sunday: 12pm-7pm

Extended Holiday Hours: 

Open DAILY 12pm-10pm December 20-January 4 

Open 11am-4pm Christmas Eve

Closed Christmas Day 

The Loading Dock is known as a top St. Louis entertainment destination featuring stunning river views, outdoor dining, live music, monthly flea markets, and seasonal ice skating in scenic Grafton, Illinois.  For more information, please contact Afton Banks at 618-556-7951 or loadingdock@gtec.com.

New Year's Day at Mac's!

If a New Year’s DAY party is more your speed, you can catch the Glendale Riders on January 1st at Mac's Downtown Alton from 1-5pm. Ring in 2026 in Downtown Alton!

Step into 2026 with Sierra Club

Get a jump on your New Year’s resolution to get more exercise while also enjoying the great outdoors by joining the Sierra Club for their Annual New Year's Day hike at Pere Marquette State Park! You can choose to either meet the group for breakfast at the Lodge at 8:30am, or meet in the lobby at 10am to join the hike up to McAdams Peak. CLICK HERE to register for this free event and RSVP on their Facebook event.

Alton Main Street Appreciation Party

Alton Main Street will host our annual Appreciation Party on Thursday, January 8th from 5-7pm at Post Commons/Good News Brewing located at 300 Alby Street. Partners, sponsors and volunteers are invited to meet our Board of Directors, check out photos from 2025 projects, and learn about ways to get involved. We will give a brief presentation around 6:00, but the rest of the evening is about making connections, enjoying the company of other Downtown enthusiasts & getting excited for 2026. Complimentary appetizer & dessert buffet plus cash bar. For info go to DowntownAlton.com/Partner and DowntownAlton.com/Volunteer.

Women of Distinction

Do you know a woman whose achievements strengthen the well-being and future of Madison County? YWCA Southwestern Illinois invites you to nominate her for the 2026 Women of Distinction Awards. Each year, YWCA relies on the community to help identify women whose leadership, service, and commitment advance their mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. Honorees will be celebrated at the Women of Distinction Dinner on Thursday, March 12th at the Lewis and Clark Community College Commons in Godfrey.

As the region’s largest and most visible tribute to women leaders, the event recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions in their professions, volunteer work, and personal lives. At the celebration, honorees are formally inducted into the YWCA Women of Distinction Academy, joining more than 300 remarkable women recognized since 1991. Nomination packets are available at www.ywcaswil.org, at the YWCA (304 E. Third St.); by emailing info@ywcaswil.org; or by calling 618-465-7774. Completed nominations are due January 16th.

Honeybee Vintage Gift Card Specials

Christmas is nearly here! If you need some last minute gifts or stocking stuffers, consider a gift certificate from Honeybee Vintage, available digital or physical. When ordering online, go to HoneyBeeVintageAlton.com and use the code HOLIDAYS10 for 10% off gift cards totaling $100 or more, any denomination or quantity! (Pro tip: buy one for *yourself* to use through the coming year!) If you have family visiting over the holidays, please plan to stop in Monday-Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 12-5. Closed 12/24, 12/25, 12/31, 1/1. Merry Christmas from the team at Honeybee!

Audubon Center at Riverlands Eagle Ice Festival

Join The Audubon Center at Riverlands for Eagle Ice Fest on January 3rd! Celebrate the return of wintering Trumpeter Swans and Bald Eagles with a day of family-friendly fun. Enjoy Live Eagle Meet & Greets, Guided Bird Hikes, hands-on crafts, trail activities, and cozy campfires with s’mores. Warm up with delicious beverages available for purchase from Fortitute Coffee. This inspiring winter celebration brings nature lovers of all ages together to experience incredible wildlife, learn about conservation, and enjoy the season outdoors. Space is limited for ticketed activities, so advance registration is strongly encouraged. Visit Audubon.org/Riverlands/Events for details!

Alton Argosy Casino

Join us for a festive night of live music! SuperJam, St. Louis’ premier classic rock band, will perform in the Joker’s Lounge on Saturday, December 20th from 7:30–9:00pm. Admission is FREE. SuperJam will bring high-energy holiday fun with classic hits from Sammy Hagar, Queen, Journey, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Styx, and more. It’s the perfect way to unwind from the holiday rush and enjoy a night out with friends and family. Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase. Come enjoy great music, good vibes, and holiday fun at Argosy!

Mooneyham Art

As the new year begins, Mooneyham Art is proud to support Ukrainian artists through Glass Symphony, a three generation glassblowing family workshop based in Kyiv. Amid the daily realities of war, this family continues a legacy passed down through fire, hands, and love—transforming molten glass into delicate lamp work figurines that symbolize resilience and survival. Each piece reflects both fragility and strength, carrying the weight of heritage and the hope of perseverance. Now available through Mooneyham Art, these sculptures stand alongside resident artist Sandy Griffin’s Make __ Not War: Infinite Alternatives to War series, creating a powerful dialogue between beauty, protest, and endurance. Together, they remind us that art is not just created in peace—it persists because it must. View and purchase these incredible pieces at 305 State Street, Thursday-Sunday 12pm to 7pm.

Senior Services Plus

Build your own no-bake energy bites at Senior Services Plus’s Winter Cooking Demo on December 22nd at 12pm! Spots are limited - call 618-465-3298 today to register.

Did you know? SSP is currently providing one hot meal daily to individuals of any age facing food insecurity. No proof required; stop by SSP Monday-Friday between 7am–1pm to receive a free daily special.

SSP has many mission-driven programs and services in need of your support! Please consider giving to our PLUS Fund, where donations help in greatest need areas, such as utility assistance, transportation, community resources, home repairs, and more.

Overnight Warming Locations

OWL volunteers help guests feel safe and more hopeful on the coldest nights of the year As the season has moved through an unusually busy start—with 9 activations, including 5 consecutive nights, the Alton OWL is deeply grateful for its dedicated volunteers. Community members have shown up in real and meaningful ways, building relationships with guests, navigating challenges, stepping into extra shifts, and bringing care and warmth along the way.

Looking ahead, the OWL continues to need additional volunteers. A training will be held at 1125 E. 6th St., Alton (OWL location) on Saturday, December 20th from 9:30–11:00 a.m. For full details, including an Amazon Wish List: https://linktr.ee/overnightwarminglocations

Jacoby Arts Center

Need a fun way to get out of the house during the cold, gray days of January? Jacoby Arts Center is offering two stained glass workshops with Bailey Glass Company instructor Carson Bailey. Becoming popular during the 12th century, stained glass remains a timeless art and is more accessible than you might think. Students will learn the entire process of creating stained glass artwork- drawing, cutting, soldering, and finishing. You'll create a sun catcher of your own to take home while enjoying the cozy art center vibes in the new learning space at 208 State Street!

Join in on January 22nd from 6-9PM to make a beautiful stained glass snowflake or on January 25th from 1-4PM (project TBD). Only 8 students per class so grab a seat quickly - these tend to fill up FAST. Art workshops make fantastic holiday gifts - be sure to print out the PDF gift card attached to the registration email to wrap for your loved ones. Check out the website for registration details: www.jacobyartscenter.org/adultart