Vandalia Statehouse to host annual Grand Levee celebration

VANDALIA, Ill. — The Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site will host its annual Grand Levée celebration on Saturday, Oct. 14.

The Grand Levée is a celebration of the grand receptions held during the 1800s to honor government dignitaries and important visitors. The event, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is free and open to the public.

Activities include period artisans demonstrating their crafts, including wool spinning, pottery, blacksmithing, rug making, chair caning, and more. Performances will feature Lincoln presenter Randy Duncan and folk musician Chris Vallillo. Charles Lyons will present Times in History, a traveling museum featuring a magnificent collection of Lincoln memorabilia. Trolley rides will be offered by the Vandalia Historical Society, and Bryan Dale Headley, the Singing Blacksmith from Rural Heritage on RFD TV, will demonstrate the forging of an unfolded cross, which will be given away to a member of the audience.

Children’s activities will include 1800s-period games, World Bird Sanctuary, and Animal Tales, which will present creepy critters.

The Vandalia Statehouse served as the Illinois capitol building from 1836 to 1839. It is open to the public 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The site, which is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, is at 315 W. Gallatin St. in Vandalia.

For more information about Grande Levée, call (618) 283-1161 or visit the Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site Facebook page.

For more local news, follow Heartland Newsfeed at @HLNF_Bulletin on Twitter.

Additionally, you can follow Heartland Newsfeed on Facebook and Reddit among other platforms. You can now follow our news updates on Telegram, Flote, and MeWe.

Support independent journalism. Become a patron on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. There are other donor options as well.

Get the latest news updates on our radio network via Spreaker, TuneIn, and other platforms.

HLNF Staff Report

+ postsBio

Nothing special. We cover news items that don't necessarily require an author.

• HLNF Staff Report

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/staffreport/

  Montgomery 708 Board accepting grant applications
• HLNF Staff Report

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/staffreport/

  Nokomis library to celebrate Dr. Seuss
• HLNF Staff Report

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/staffreport/

  Gillespie police blotter: January 26 – February 15
• HLNF Staff Report

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/staffreport/

  Media group office, newsroom closed Wednesday