Highlights

July 26, 2026

Buy Tickets Now for Sept. 12 Craft Beverage Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Alton, IL – July 23, 2026) Tickets are on sale now for the third annual Great Rivers & Routes Craft Beverage Festival celebrating local beverage producers and restaurants Saturday…

June 21, 2026

Route 66 Caravan Rolls In To Granite City

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Alton, IL – June 18, 2026) It happens once every 100 years – the Route 66 Caravan is joining Big Texan Steak Ranch for a centennial celebration of the…

June 21, 2026

New U.S. Flags Line Alton Streets

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Alton, IL – June 15, 2026) In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, 100 new US flags are bringing their red, white and blue to the streets of downtown Alton…

June 21, 2026

Celebrate 250 on the Mississippi In Alton July 1–3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Alton, IL – June 16, 2026) America's 250th birthday celebration is coming to Alton with a three-day festival aptly named "250 on the Mississippi" starting Wednesday, July 1 and…

June 9, 2026

Collinsville Gearing Up for Great Race Stop

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Alton, IL – June 10, 2026) The Hemmings Great Race presented by Coker Tire will shine the spotlight along The Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in southwest Illinois…

May 6, 2026

Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower Celebrates Grand Re-Opening May 14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Alton, IL – May 7, 2026) Experience the sights, history and expanded park-like experience at the newly renovated Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower, 435 Confluence Tower Dr., Hartford, during…

May 5, 2026

Great Rivers & Routes Participates in Brand USA Destination Immersion Showcasing Southwest Illinois to International Travel Trade

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [Alton, Illinois] — Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau of Southwest Illinois today announced its participation in a recent Brand USA Destination Immersion with the support of Atlantic Joint…

May 1, 2026

F1 Powerboat and Riverfront Thrills Return to Alton

3rd annual 2026 IHRA Alton Midwest Nationals F1 Powerboat Championships set for July 17-19

April 25, 2026

Celebrate Route 66 in 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Alton, IL – April 30, 2026) Get your kicks on Route 66 in southwest Illinois this summer. Communities and residents all along the Last 100 Miles of Route 6…

April 2, 2026

Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau Named Title Sponsor for Alton Illinois Junior Championship

Partnership to Bring Elite Junior Golf Back to Spencer T. Olin Golf Course for the First Time Since 2020 BRASELTON, GA – The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) is proud to announce…

April 2, 2026

Grafton Ferry Opens for Year-Round Service April 10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Alton, IL – April 3, 2026) It’s official! The Grafton Ferry will open Friday, April 10 with expanded hours and year-round service between St. Charles County and the City…

February 17, 2026

West End Service Station Hosts Meet the 66ers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Alton, IL – Feb. 17, 2026) Get your kicks with the SIUE 66ers basketball team Monday, Feb. 23 when they travel to Edwardsville’s West End Service Station to celebrate…

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