JERSEYVILLE – Free Halloween fun for the whole family is coming to Jerseyville this weekend from the Jerseyville Public Library and Jersey County Business Association.
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The Annual Jerseyville Halloween Festival returns this year from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 at City Center Park, located across from the Stadium Theater on Pearl Street. Shopping at participating businesses along State Street will also be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
An all-ages costume contest begins at 10 a.m. at City Center Park. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners of certain costume categories, including age, group and pop culture categories. No registration is required in advance; participants simply show up in costume and let the judges know which category they’re competing in.
Jerseyville Public Library Director Judy Pruitt said the festival has been running in various iterations for over 30 years, with the costume contest becoming a Halloween tradition for several local families.
“They love that it’s a family-oriented, grassroots event.” Pruitt said, noting the event draws attendees from Alton and other nearby communities. “For a lot of families, it’s a very long-standing tradition for them to participate in the costume contest. They put a lot of time and thought into not just individual costumes, but those group and family costumes, and so it’s a really important part of the Halloween tradition for a lot of families.”
Starting at 11 a.m., State Street businesses will welcome trick-or-treaters throughout downtown Jerseyville. Royal Banks of Jerseyville will provide free hot dogs, while Jersey County Arts Council volunteers will be on hand to help attendees make their own crafts.
The festival also features a hayride, inflatables and a petting zoo, with all activities available for free and open to the public until 1 p.m. Pruitt said the wide variety of events at the festival offer something for everyone, including perfect photo opportunities for parents.
“We like to have a variety of those events on the City Center lot to appeal to every age level and every personality,” Pruitt said. “The trick-or-treating up and down State Street, those are real picture moments – not just for the merchants along the street, but also for families to capture their kids growing up and walking in costume up and down State Street, that’s a real unique opportunity.”
While Pruitt said costumes “run the gambit from silly to scary,” the festival itself does not feature any spooky or haunted attractions, instead keeping the focus on providing a “nice, fun time for everybody.”
The Jerseyville Public Library will open late at 2 p.m. to fully staff the event. For more information on the 2026 Jerseyville Halloween Festival, see the event page on Riverbender.com or the official Facebook event page.
