Charleston Illinois Tourism Office

05/29/2026

Opening concert of their 49th season! Charleston Community Band playing The Best of Chicago. More of Chicago's music at this year's Red, White & Blue Days, Charleston, Illinois with the Chicago tribute band Chi-Town on July 3!

05/26/2026

Shout out to the HR team from Eastern Illinois University for planting our summer flowers at Kiwanis Park, the beds look beautiful! We are thankful for community volunteers!

05/14/2026

So grateful for the AmeriCorps team's work in our community! Today, Andrés J Fernández, Executive Director of Serve Illinois/Illinois State Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service visited to meet the team and offer thanks as well. Thanks to Kent Macy for bringing community groups together to sponsor this team: Fox Ridge State Park, Grand Prairie Friends, Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, City of Charleston, and Walnut Point State Park

05/01/2026

Fun opportunity for students!

The Office of Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton is excited to announce the launch of the “Illinois to America: The Stories That Shape Us” student essay contest for America’s 250th Anniversary. This contest is open to students in Grades 6-12.
Winners will have their essays displayed in the Lt. Governor’s Chicago and Springfield offices and highlighted at the Lt. Governor’s tent at the state fair. In addition, they will receive a letter, certificate, and Challenge Coin. There may also be some special surprises!

Submissions are due by May 31 at 11:59 p.m. Winners will be announced on July 4. Details and submission information are available on Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton’s Illinois 250 Essay Contest webpage https://okt.to/q4X1SL. Email [email protected] or [email protected] with questions.

04/26/2026

Charleston Community Jazz Band serenading the guests at the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner! Perfect accompaniment to the New Orleans theme!

04/18/2026

Visitors can learn about the 16th president's history in Coles County at the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum and Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site visitor center.

04/16/2026

We love having students visit the Lincoln Douglas Debate Museum! Thanks Villa Grove 8th graders for choosing us for one of your spring field trips!

12/30/2025

City of Charleston Live Christmas Tree Pick Up:
The City has scheduled a curbside collection of live Christmas trees for Wednesday, January 7th and Thursday, January 8th.

All live trees needing picked up must be placed on the City boulevard by 7am on Wednesday, January 7th. The Public Works Department will make one pass through the City to collect live trees. Trees must be free of ornaments, lights, stands, plastic bags, and other material. The trees will be taken to the City’s Landscape Waste Facility and ground into mulch.
The City’s Leaf & Limb facility is located on West Madison Avenue and is open daily for those residents who wish to dispose of their tree themselves.

12/29/2025

Thanks to all who participated and thanks for sharing holiday spirit with our community! Thanks to KIMA Century 21 Real Estate for sponsoring and to the Charleston CAN Beautification committee for judging!

"It's nice to bring a little joy to the neighborhood so everyone can see it," said Allan Denk. "I hope it puts smiles on people's faces."