For more than forty years, Vandalia has been celebrating their history and heritage with the Grande Levee’ on the grounds of the Vandalia Statehouse, which is the Oldest State Capitol Building in Illinois. This year, 2013, the event will be held on the last Friday and Saturday in September, September 27 & 28. All events for the Grande Levee’ will take place on the Statehouse Lawn.

On Friday evening from 5-8pm, come enjoy an Old Fashioned Ham & Bean Dinner served by the local Ministerial Alliance and enjoy some Bluegrass Music. Bring some blankets or chairs and enjoy the evening outdoors. On Saturday, from 10am-5pm, come back to enjoy many period artisans, a young Abe Lincoln brought in on a stagecoach, stagecoach rides, blacksmiths, more bluegrass and country music, food vendors and a BBQ cook-off.

For more information contact Steve Riddle, Site Superintendent at 618-283-1161 or email:hpa.vandalia@illinois.gov.

Vandalia Grand LeveeHarvest Festival
To coincide with the Grande Levee’, the Vandalia Tourism Commission will be hosting their Annual Harvest Festival (formerly Corn Days). The Harvest Festival will be held in downtown Vandalia on Saturday, September 28th from 10-4pm. Visitors can enjoy vendors, downtown merchant sales, Little Miss/Mister & Miss/Mister Pageant and more. Kids can enjoy playing in the corn pit, painting a car and bouncing in the inflatable bounce house or trying their luck at the inflatable obstacle course and more.

National Road Interpretive Center 5K Walk/Run
Vandalia Grand LeveeThe National Road Interpretive Center in Vandalia will be hosting 5K Walk/Run at Ruemmelin Park that will coincide with the Grande Levee and Harvest Festival being held in Downtown Vandalia on Saturday, September 28, 2013. Runners are to meet and register at the National Road Interpretive Center (106 S. Fifth St.) beginning at 8:00 a.m. with the Walk/Run beginning at 9:00 a.m. Advance registration will be $20.00 prior to Sept. 4, 2013, after that will be $25.00. Advance registration forms are available by clicking the link below. For more information, you may contact the National Road Interpretive Center at 618-283-9380. First 5 male and first 5 female finishers will receive awards.
Click Here to download an entry form for the 5K Walk/Run

For more information, contact Vandalia Tourism Center at 618-283-2728 or email:tourism@vandaliaillinois.com.

For places to STAY in Vandalia, click Here

For a 2013 Vendor Application, click Here

 Courtesy: City of Vandalia website