When locals think of SIUE attractions, they definitely have some favorites.

When visitors think of SIUE, they have several go-to places and events. Here are the top reasons to plan a visit — for an evening or a day, a weekend or a week — to the SIUE campus in Edwardsville. Come to visit and stay to explore all that this university contributes to the community.

This intimate, world-class venue anchors SIUE’s performing arts scene.

Audiences enjoy the feeling of being close to the on-stage action while experiencing performances of remarkable quality and depth. The full season of public performances includes dance productions, contemporary and classic plays, musicals, jazz and classical music concerts, choral showcases, and so much more.

Click here to find the SIUE arts calendar for all campus venues and to purchase tickets.

Free and open to the public year-round, this 36-acre garden site offers beauty in every season.

The main garden paths are ADA accessible, with additional gentle side trails that wind through trees and green spaces. Find something always in bloom, including formal plantings and a native pollinator garden. Highlights include the turtle pond with its connecting wood bridge; Cougar Lake for public fishing (with permit), wildlife photography and picnicking; The Arboretum walking path featuring sculptures, a pagoda and memorial trees. Discover the perfect blending of art and nature here.
Click here for more about The Gardens at SIUE.

SIUE Cougars made a trip to the 2025 NCAA Tournament and are always eager to do it again. Game days at First Community Arena — inside the Vadalabene Center — are a highlight for all basketball enthusiasts.

From October through February, the Center welcomes fans, friends, students, faculty, staff, families and everyone with school spirit to enjoy the games. From tip off to the last buzzer beater, Cougar basketball has something for everyone. During the game and "up" in the Eddieville fun section, kids have opportunities to meet players and collect autographs. Later, after the game, they can take photos courtside. Discover more here.

SIUE offers a wide variety of summer camps for youth, extending far beyond athletics.

Soccer and volleyball camps are perennial favorites, along with other sports, too. Families can also explore STEM programs, robotics and engineering camps, nursing camps, and theatre and performance experiences
for their campers. Serving a wide range of ages and interests, these camps make SIUE a vibrant summer destination for learning, creativity and fun.

Click here for summer camp registrations.

The Art and Design West Gallery regularly showcases student work, faculty exhibitions and traveling shows — each thoughtfully curated and celebrated with a public opening reception. The space provides a professional-quality exhibition that encourages the artists and enriches others’ appreciation of art.

Just across from the Gallery building is the iconic Fuller Dome now home to the Center for Spirituality and Sustainability. This is one of the most striking geodesic domes ever constructed, and it sits right on the meridian line running through campus. During solstices, find a magical blend of art, science and spirituality here. The Dome is open to the public for tours and special events.

SIUE — a nationally recognized Bike Friendly Campus — is woven directly into the Madison County Transit Trail System.

This connection offers miles of accessible, paved pathways between the campus and surrounding communities and, ultimately, the greater Illinois trail network. The trails are ideal for walking and biking, with the Yellowhammer Trail connection providing seamless access through campus. For those seeking more adventurous terrain,

SIUE also maintains a mountain bike trail on campus.

What do Ike and Tina Turner, Waylon Jennings, ZZ Top, Muddy Waters and Joni Mitchell have in common?

They, along with hundreds of other artists, once performed at the Mississippi River Festival (MRF) on the SIUE campus.

From 1969 to 1980, this cultural event brought thousands of music fans to the area. A commemorative plaque on University Drive marks the historic MRF grounds. Nearby are some winding (and slightly mysterious) trails where remnants of the original MRF performance infrastructure can be found.

Click here to learn more about the Mississippi River Festival.