Visit Effingham

10/19/2026

Time Well Spent | XCHNG Lofts in Experience Downtown Effingham

Upstairs in a historic bank building on Jefferson Avenue, Exchange Stays has four loft apartments with original brick, tall windows, and a view of Downtown Effingham you just can't get from the sidewalk. 🌃

If the whole family is coming home, the Big Luxury Loft sleeps eight and has two full baths, a fireplace, and a table that stretches to seat ten. If you're planning a cozy getaway for two, like a shopping weekend or a quiet escape between family gatherings, the Downtown Luxury for Two has vaulted ceilings, a book nook by the window, and a shuffleboard table... if you're up for some friendly competition.

Wherever you stay this holiday season, good coffee is around every corner, and Wheat Penny , the building's underground speakeasy, is just downstairs (we hear they've got something festive up their sleeve this year!)

A home away from home, for as few (or as many) as you'd like to bring along.

See all four lofts and book your stay. Link in our Stories.

📸 Rachel Kawate

10/14/2026

Come little children… we saved you a seat. 🎃

Hocus Pocus is returning to the Effingham Performance Center as an interactive movie night! Everyone gets a goodie bag at the door, and cues on the side video walls tell you which item to pull out and when to use it. Costumes are encouraged too - whether you go full Sanderson sister or throw something together from your closet. We've got four tickets to give away and are choosing two winners again (which means your chances to win just doubled)!

To enter, comment and tell us: if you were cast in Hocus Pocus, who would you play? Winifred, Mary, Sarah, Max, Binx… or just tell us your favorite character from the movie. We'll draw two winners at random on Monday, Oct. 19.

✨ Hocus Pocus: An Interactive Movie | Fri., Oct. 23, 7 p.m. (doors open at 6)
✨ Effingham Performance Center | Rated PG | Ticket link in our stories

*Entries close Mon., Oct. 19 at noon. This giveaway is not sponsored or administered by Meta.

10/13/2026

A little taste of fall, from Ham City Fall Fest . 🥨 We can't wait to spend this Saturday, Oct. 17, with you in Experience Downtown Effingham!

*There's still time to sign up for the morning 5K or Kids Fun Run. Check out our stories for more info on registration and the full day's lineup. See you downtown! 🍂

📸 Carrsan Carroll

10/09/2026

Three stamps in. Five more to win a prize, and 60+ other shops to choose from across Southern Illinois through December 31. 😌☕️

We’ve teamed up with Discover Downstate Illinois, VisitSI and Southernmost Illinois on the Southern Illinois Coffee Trail, and three of the stops are right here in Effingham County: feedthecoffeecrave, Fox Holler Coffee and Joe Sippers Cafe.

Pick up a passport at any participating shop, or check in on the Discover Downstate Illinois app to get started. 📲 Link in our stories.

10/08/2026

The big holiday catalogs have started landing in mailboxes this month, and with them comes that first small nudge to make a list... ✨

If you've started thinking about holiday shopping, here's a little reminder to start right here at home. Effingham's small businesses have a little bit of everything: a pack of vintage baseball cards for the collector, a cozy something for the one who's always cold, a gift card to the spot they never stop talking about... 🎁 Most of the time, you'll also find someone behind the counter who wants to know who it's for before pointing you in the right direction.

Thank you... to all the small shops that make holiday shopping a little more special around here. Let's let the catalogs wait on the counter a little longer this year. 😉

📸 by Astrid Johana Photography | ft. Baseball Card Connection, The Thomas Shop, Boots & Soles and The Beanstalk Boutique

10/07/2026

Have you registered for this fall's Sculptures on the Avenues tour yet? 🍂 Join us for a walk around Experience Downtown Effingham on Friday, October 16th, at 10 a.m. to learn about the local art you drive past every day!

Click the link below and sign up with the Effingham Public Library to let us know you'll be there. ⬇

Join the Effingham Tourism Office for a guided, walking tour through downtown Effingham. Discover the stories behind the city’s public sculptures. Starts in the library cafe Registration Required. Event starts at October 16, 2026 10:00 AM CDT

10/05/2026

Hey, we saved you a seat. 🎶

This Saturday night, 1964 The Tribute brings the Beatles hits to the Effingham Performance Center. We've got four tickets to give away - two winners, one pair each. Consider it your ticket to ride. 😉

To enter, comment with your favorite Beatles song. We'll draw two winners at random, this Thursday.

*Entries close Wed., Oct. 7 at noon. This giveaway is not sponsored or administered by Meta.

10/02/2026

Did you miss us? We missed you too. 😉

The calendar has been filling up while we were gone, which is one of our favorite things about Effingham in the fall. 🍂

Check out the list below to see what's happening, this weekend!

Of course, not everything worth doing is on the list... Some nights the itinerary is simply dinner, drinks and a seat at Upper Deck Bar & Grill - which pairs well with a sunset view over Experience Downtown Effingham. 🌅

No ticket, no occasion, no reason needed... Just a good table and nowhere else to be. Where will we find you, this weekend?

📸 Astrid Johana Photography

09/30/2026

We've started a Pinterest account!! 😍

Which is mostly just an excuse to organize all the little details and insider info we've accumulated along the way... There are seasonal itineraries to come, spots worth saving for later and plenty of inspiration to start planning a fall getaway today. 🍂

Get cozy, find our Pinterest account in our stories and start pinning... 📲 We're just getting started!

📸 Astrid Johana Photography | ft. Effingham Farmers Market