Upcoming Events on the Shawnee Wine Trail
Vulture Fest in Makanda
The third weekend of October the town of Makanda celebrates the Vulture with a Vulture Festival. The Vulture winters in the Makanda Valley and can be seen everyday gliding across the sky looking for food. The Vulture plays and an important role in the cycle of life keeping our little part of the planet clean. Come and enjoy the festivities, including food, entertainment, and craft vendors.
Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Winter Passport Program
The 11 Wineries are doing it again! Yes, that’s right, January & February you can purchase a Wine Trail Passport and receive discounts along the trail. If you hit every winery and get your passport stamped you will be entered into a drawing for some great prizes. You might even find a gift certificate from one of our lodging properties on the prize list. Check us out and make your lodging reservations now!
Solar Eclipses
Remember the Total Solar Eclipse over Southern Illinois Aug. 21, 2017, hang on to your hats or “eclipse glasses”it’s going to happen again in 2024.
On April 8, 2024, at 1:59 pm Southern Illinois will experience once again a total solar eclipse. While the point of longest duration is a long way from Illinois, the little town of Makanda lays claim to the crossroads of the 2017 and 2024 total eclipses. This time though the center line will cross over Cedar Lake and will last just over 4 minutes. Yes, this eclipse will actually be longer, even though we are not near the point of longest duration. Let’s hope for good weather!
