The annual Family Fish Fair is held in June
2023 EVENTS AT PERE MARQUETTE STATE PARK
BALD EAGLE FESTIVAL
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Times: 11 am - 4 pm
The arrival of the bald eagle leads locals to anticipate the annual Bald Eagle Festival at Pere Marquette State Park. The festival will feature live music and entertainment by the World Bird Sanctuary as they showcase the Bald Eagle and several other raptor species in their Masters of the Sky Show at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. Festival goers can also enjoy unique vendor booths, live music, face painting, educational exhibits, restaurant favorites and wine tasting. The Bald Eagle Festival takes place the historic Lodge located within Pere Marquette State Park which is known for its scenic outlooks, hiking trails, educational programs, and of course, bald eagles!
Entry into the festival is free. Tickets to the “Masters of the Sky Show” will be $5 per person and will be sold at the Pere Marquette Lodge Front Desk the day of the festival.
BALD EAGLE DAYS
Every winter Pere Marquette State Park and the surrounding area plays host to to our national bird, the Bald Eagle. A Park Site Interpretive Program Coordinator will be presenting informative programs about these magnificent creatures. Visitors will learn to distinguish between immature and mature eagles, what they eat, why they winter in the area and more. Each program begins at 8:30 am at the Park’s Visitor Center. There will be a lecture and a short video presentation followed by an observational drive. Be sure to dress warmly and have a full tank of gas. Binoculars are highly recommended but not essential as the Park brings along a spotting scope.
If you are among the first to sign up for any given day, you have the option of riding in the Park’s van with the staff. Bald Eagle's aren't the only birds to be seen on these trips. Participants might spot the Great Blue Heron, Canadian Geese, Wild Turkeys and the Pileated Woodpecker, making this a recommended trip for birders.
PERE MARQUETTE MUSHROOM FESTIVAL
Sunday, April 23, 2023
Times: Noon - 3 pm
It’s back! The Mushroom Festival has returned to Pere Marquette Lodge and is bigger than ever before. Come listen to live music, browse venders, grab lunch in the restaurant, taste local wines and learn all there is to know about mushrooms. The Great Morel Hunt will be held at 1 pm (weather and morel permitting). Join fellow hunters from all over the area as they scan the ground for these delicious delicacies. Then bring your finds back to The Lodge and you could win a great prize! Find the smallest morel, the largest morel or the most morels and you just might go home with a free nights stay. Spring is in the air and mushrooms are on the ground…let’s get them!
Times: Noon - 3 pm
Free
FATHER'S DAY BEER GARDEN
Sunday, June 18, 2023
Times: Noon - 4 pm
Happy Father’s Day St. Louis! Bring your Daddy-o and meet us on the patio! We will be enjoying live music, tasty food, a gorgeous view, and cold beer all afternoon long! Get your dad what he really wants this Father’s Day, a trip to our beer garden! You won’t want to miss this event! There is no admission fee and no reservations are needed but seating is limited so feel free to bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets just in case.
Times: Noon - 3 pm
Free to enter, charges for food and alcohol.
PERE MARQUETTE PEACH FESTIVAL
Sunday, August 6, 2023
Times: Noon - 3 pm
It’s Peach Season in Grafton, Illinois and that means it is time for the great Peach Festival at Pere Marquette State Park. The Festival takes place once a year at the historic landmark and attracts visitors from all over the region. From young children to those who have been sampling peaches for decades, the Festival offers a chance to enjoy a free family outing and sample some of the most delicious peaches in the country. Local peach growers from all over the area will be presenting their carefully tended peaches for visitors to sample and purchase.
Times: Noon - 3 pm
Free
PERE MARQUETTE APPLE FESTIVAL
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Times: Noon - 3 pm
Set right in the heart of Illinois apple country, Pere Marquette State Park is excited to celebrate a delicious staple in every American diet…apples. Whether they are green, red or a mixture of the two, apples will be the star of the day and Pere Marquette Lodge has plenty to celebrate. Warm apple pie, hand-dipped caramel apples, handmade crafts, live music and fresh produce are just a few of the offerings at the Apple Festival at Pere Marquette.
Times: Noon - 3 pm
Free
PERE MARQUETTE WINE FESTIVAL
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Times: Noon - 3 pm
With great enthusiasm and anticipation, Pere Marquette Lodge is proud to host this annual Wine Festival. Guests can sample dozens of wines from around the world and be challenged to find their favorite at this giant wine tasting event. Festival goers will receive a Pere Marquette Lodge wine glass along with tasting rights to all of the featured wines displayed throughout the Lodge. Participants can enjoy dozens of wines, listen and dance to live music, munch on free appetizers, check out unique vendors and relish in a day full of wine all for a good cause.
Times: Noon - 3 pm
Free to enter, charges for food and alcohol.
