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Join Jessica Lotz and Jonathan Simmons Friday mornings for a snapshot of what’s happening in the O’Fallon and Shiloh (Illinois) area right now. We’ll give highlights of new developments and projects, details of upcoming events and report on good news happening in our community! Listen to The 618 Now to be in-the-know. This podcast is a production of the O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce.
Episodes
Thursday Dec 23, 2021
Thursday Dec 23, 2021
Happy Holidays from Nick, Jess and everyone at the O'Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce and O'Fallon Weekly!
Listen until the end for a little twist in the script....
Friday Dec 17, 2021
Friday Dec 17, 2021
In this episode, we discuss:
- Dueling Santas in O'Fallon!
- Last few chances to see Santa around town:
- Sat, Dec 18th 10am-2pm AllState across from Sam's Club, no charge
- Sat, Dec 18th noon-2pm Holiday Public Skate session at McKendree Metro RecPlex, tickets available
- Sun, Dec 19th 3-6pm Santa & Mrs Clause, Horse drawn carriages, Madrigals @ Keystone Place, no charge
- Wed, Dec 22 5-7pm Santa will be at the O'Fallon Station, no charge
Tips to make this next week a little less stressful
Birch Market's meal bundles are a great dinner option
Schools Out Days at Parks and Rec Dept and McKendree Metro RecPlex
Let The Regency Conference Center make your Christmas Dinner.
Follow us on Instagram @The618Now. Submit business updates, show ideas and events you'd like us to consider promoting to events@ofallonchamber.com.
Thursday Dec 09, 2021
Thursday Dec 09, 2021
In this episode, we discuss:
- Shiloh is the home of the first and only Freedom Rock in Illinois!
- Leadership Institute applications are open for young leaders wanting to learn more about all of the things that build our community. Applications close Dec 20th.
- Sat, Dec 11 3:30-7:30pm is the Winter Market at O'Fallon Station
- Sat, Dec 11, 8am-11am is Breakfast with Santa hosted by the O'Fallon Police Department
- Sat, Dec 11 from noon-3pm is a free COVID vaccine clinic at the O'Fallon Public Library (Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine)
- Wed, Dec 15 5-7pm Santa will be at the O'Fallon Station. Free event!
- Friday, Dec 17th O'Fallon Fire and Rescue are hosting a blood drive at Fire Station #4
- Monday, Dec 20th Cafe Biz 618 is hosting a holiday mixer event
- Newbold Toyota is hosting a train display during December!
Follow us on Instagram @The618Now. Submit business updates, show ideas and events you'd like us to consider promoting to events@ofallonchamber.com.
Thursday Dec 02, 2021
Thursday Dec 02, 2021
In this episode, we discuss:
- Someone is winning $500 cash
- Someone else is winning $250 cash
- Jingle Hike 2021
- Dec 3-5 is the high school Madrigal Performances, lunch tickets are still available but the dinners are SOLD OUT!
- Feed the LIVE Reindeer and meet Santa at Creative Landscapes
- Sat, Dec 4 9am-4pm OFallon Historical Society Open House
- Sat, Dec 11 8am is the Police Dept's Breakfast with Santa
- Sat, Dec 18th is the Downtown District's Christmas Carol Pub crawl
Follow us on Instagram @The618Now. Submit business updates, show ideas and events you'd like us to consider promoting to events@ofallonchamber.com.
Thursday Nov 25, 2021
Thursday Nov 25, 2021
We're off this week for the holiday, but wanted to share a few events happening this weekend... We'll be back next week with our usual episodes!
- Sat, Nov 27th is the Illuminated Holiday Parade through Downtown O'Fallon!
- Parade steps off at Parkview and 7th, proceeds to S Lincoln Ave where units turn right, proceeds North, Right on State St, Turn at Bike Surgeon and head to Santa's FREE post parade Party at Bike Surgeon and O'Fallon Station!
- If you need a live christmas tree, consider purchasing it from Creative Landscapes where purchases help support the OTHS Marching Panthers!
Follow us on Instagram @The618Now. Submit business updates, show ideas and events you'd like us to consider promoting to events@ofallonchamber.com.
Thursday Nov 18, 2021
Thursday Nov 18, 2021
In this episode, we discuss:
- We reached a podcasting milestone of 5,000 episode downloads!! Thanks for listening every week! We appreciate you!
- Listener shout outs- thanks for giving us feedback on what you like hearing!
- Snowman Selfie challenge begins on Monday- take selfies and win cash!
- Vine Street Market is up for a Governor's Conference Tourism award- like and comment on this post to help us bring home the award!
- Sat, Nov 20th is the Boy Scout's Scouting for Food drive.
- Sat Nov 20th, Kloss Furniture is donating 5% of daily sales to the O'Fallon Police Dept's Cops and Kids Christmas event! Fred Bird will be on hand from 12-12:30pm!
- Sat, Nov 27th is the Illuminated Holiday Parade through Downtown O'Fallon!
- Parade steps off at Parkview and 7th, proceeds to S Lincoln Ave where units turn right, proceeds North, Right on State St, Turn at Bike Surgeon and head to Santa's FREE post parade Party at Bike Surgeon and O'Fallon Station!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!!
Follow us on Instagram @The618Now. Submit business updates, show ideas and events you'd like us to consider promoting to events@ofallonchamber.com.
Friday Nov 12, 2021
Friday Nov 12, 2021
In this episode, we discuss:
- specific ways we can support each other and those in need this holiday season
- cookie drive for Scott AFB dorm residents
- battery drive for O'Fallon Fire and Rescue
- fleece blanket drive for Fisher House residents
- food drive
- fundraiser to support Cops and Kids for the holidays
- Friday, 12-6 and Sat 10-5 is Three Sisters Gifts Holiday Open House in the Downtown District
- Sat, Nov 13th is Courage and Grace's Shop with a Cop workshop
- Sunday, Nov 14 @ 1pm is Wolfersberger Funeral Home Veterans' Funeral Forum
Follow us on Instagram @The618Now. Submit business updates, show ideas and events you'd like us to consider promoting to events@ofallonchamber.com.
Friday Nov 05, 2021
Friday Nov 05, 2021
In this episode, we discuss:
- Chief Van Hook is retiring- thank you, sir, for years of exceptional leadership!
- Gift ideas to give those who host holiday events (like chocolate bourbon balls!)
- Holiday Open Houses start this weekend in the Downtown District!
- 40th Annual Craft Fair at OTHS is this weekend! Sat and Sunday- click the link for a coupon to save on admission.
- Veterans' Day is Thursday, Nov 11. Thank to our veterans for all you've done!
- City of O'Fallon Veterans' Day celebration is Thursday @ 11am at First Baptist Church of O'Fallon
- VFW Post 805's Veterans' Day parade is Thursday @ 2pm
- Veterans: Stop by Texas Roadhouse Thursday 11am-2pm to pick up a voucher for a free meal
- Kids are out of school Thursday: Parks and Rec and McKendree RecPlex have Schools Out Days (day camps).
- Courage & Grace have a mini-makers workshop on Veterans' Day
Follow us on Instagram @The618Now. Submit business updates, show ideas and events you'd like us to consider promoting to events@ofallonchamber.com.
Friday Oct 29, 2021
Friday Oct 29, 2021
In this episode, we discuss:
- Thanksgiving is only 27 days away!
- Fezziwig's Marketplace in downtown O'Fallon has in-person and Zoom classes to help you prepare for the holidays. They sell out quickly!
- Several local restaurants offer Thanksgiving meals, sides, breakfast and desserts:
- The Regency Conf center has a full thanksgiving meal to go!
- SugarFire 64 offers a la cart options for a full meal!
- Birch Market in downtown O'Fallon offers a la carte options for a full meal!
- Sweet Katie Bee's
- The Happy Bakery
- We mentioned O'Fallon First United Methodist Church's Fall Fest but it's since been canceled due to weather!
- Sat, Oct 30th is the Rotary Halloween Parade in downtown O'Fallon
- Sat, Oct 30th 1-4 pm Serra Honda's trunk-or-treat
- Sat, Oct 30th 5-8 pm The Halloween Hunt in the Downtown District. Tickets are SOLD OUT! It'll be fun, though!
- Friday, Nov 5th 10-11am Badges and Bagels with the Shiloh PD at Klucker Hall
Follow us on Instagram @The618Now. Submit business updates, show ideas and events you'd like us to consider promoting to events@ofallonchamber.com.
Friday Oct 22, 2021
Friday Oct 22, 2021
In this episode, we discuss:
- US Air Force pilots at Scott AFB are training the Qatar Air Force in the skies over Southern IL!
- Congrats to Captain Kirk Brueggeman on being named the next Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police!
- Library offers free, in-person tutoring for kids K-8th grade, register online or call the library to schedule
- Friday, Oct 22 4-10pm is Tip-A-Cop at Texas Roadhouse in support of Special Olympics
- Sat, Oct 23 10am-2pm, DEA National Drug Take back day at O'Fallon Public Safety building (285 N Seven Hills Rd)
- Sat, Oct 23 9am-3pm Treasures in the Park craft fair in Shiloh
- Sat, Oct 23 10am-4pm Downtown Dog day in the Downtown District
- Sat, Oct 23 3-6pm Trunk or Treat at McKendree Metro RecPlex
- Thur, Oct 28 - Monday Nov 1 Library's Book Sale
- Sat, Oct 30 noon Rotary Halloween Parade downtown
- Sat, Oct 30 1-4pm Truck or Treat Serra Honda
- Sat, Oct 30 5-8pm Halloween Hunt in the Downtown District- pub crawl with puzzles and riddles to solve all night!
- Sun, Oct 31 6-9pm HALLOWEEN Trick or Treating in the City
Follow us on Instagram @The618Now. Submit business updates, show ideas and events you'd like us to consider promoting to events@ofallonchamber.com.