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Belleville's Event Calendar Reveals Dozens of Summer Community Gatherings
From free Thursday concerts in Horizon Park to Oktoberfest and Winter Fest, Belleville's official event calendars list dozens of community gatherings across both the Ontario and Illinois cities.
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Belleville residents looking for something to do this summer don't have to search far. The City of Belleville, both the Ontario and Illinois versions, maintains official community event calendars that list dozens of free and ticketed gatherings, from weekly concerts to seasonal festivals.
In Belleville, Illinois, the Downtown Development Authority's 2026 calendar includes the 'Music Lakeside' concert series, which runs free every Thursday night from June 18 through August 20 in Horizon Park. The shows run from 7 to 9 p.m. and feature a rotating lineup of bands plus weekly food trucks, according to the DDA events page. The series is already underway, recent performers included the Johnny Little Band on July 2 and Smoke Jones on July 9.
Mark your calendars for LakeFest, Oktoberfest and Winter Fest
Beyond the weekly concerts, Belleville, Illinois hosts several major annual festivals. LakeFest runs June 26-28 in the downtown area, with live music, craft vendors, a kids' zone and food trucks. Later in the summer, Taste of Belleville is set for August 20.
Oktoberfest returns September 18-19, 2026, with a pre-festival beer walk and fundraiser on August 15. Winter Fest is scheduled for December 3-6, also downtown, featuring a Santa parade, a heated tent with live music, craft vendors and fireworks.
Belleville, Illinois' City Council approved ten special events for 2026, including the Flop E Bunny Candy Hunt (April 4), the Memorial Day Parade (May 25), the Farmers Market (Mondays, June 1 through October 19) and BooVille activities in October. The Monday Night Car Show on Main Street also begins the first Monday in June.
Meanwhile, Belleville, Ontario maintains its own separate event calendar at belleville.ca/learn-and-play/events/. Upcoming gatherings there include a 'Percolate' discussion on menopause and perimenopause on July 16 at The Kafana, Belleville Comedy Night on July 18 at Signal Brewery, and Rolling Social on July 17.
How to find the full calendar and subscribe
For the Illinois city, the official events calendar is hosted on CivicEngage at belleville.net/Calendar.aspx, where users can browse events by category and subscribe to specific calendars. The Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce also lists more than 35 current events, including a Leadership Belleville Committee Meeting on July 15.
In Ontario, the City of Belleville's community event calendar can be found at belleville.ca/learn-and-play/events/, with contact information listed at 613-967-3200 ext. 3251.
Both calendars are updated regularly and include details on times, locations and admission, most downtown Belleville, Illinois events are free. Organizers encourage residents to check back as dates approach, especially for outdoor events that may shift with weather.