Fun for all seasons and for variety of tastes
It seems every weekend the city has some festival going on. Given Jacksonville’s rich history, it’s not surprising that many embrace historical themes: A Chautauqua, showcasing actors portraying famous people; a large, three-day Civil War re-enactment that fills a park with the sound of battle; and a festival celebrating 18th century, steam-powered agriculture.
For most families, Jacksonville seems to revolve around youth sports, with hundreds of children playing youth soccer on Saturday mornings; youth baseball leagues, one entirely free to boys and girls, thanks to support by the local Elks Club; football; basketball ... a league for almost every other sport that catches a child’s interest.
If those places don’t have what you want, the Sherwood Eddy YMCA does. This modernfacility provides a venue for swim teams,
basketball leagues and other sports, as well as exercise classes and a variety of instructional courses.
basketball leagues and other sports, as well as exercise classes and a variety of instructional courses.
The town’s 54 holes of golf on public and private courses make getting a tee time easy and offer numerous tournaments and evening leagues. The courses are of various ages, difficulties and styles, for golfers of all ages and abilities, with prices every golfer can afford.
Outdoors activities are a major draw to the area. Just to the west of Jacksonville are the Illinois and Mississippi river valleys, offering boating, hunting, fishing and scenic hiking and camping. Lake Jacksonville, for example, is ranked among the top in the state by Illinois Fishing magazine, and is home to about 30 fishing tournaments a year.
To the east is the state capitol, Springfield, with its numerous Abraham Lincoln-related sites.
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