Our Daily Show Interview! 250 on the Mississippi With Great Rivers and Routes and Duke!
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ALTON - The City of Alton will celebrate America’s semiquincentennial with three days of fun at 250 on the Mississippi.
From Wednesday, July 1, 2026, to Friday, July 3, 2026, community members can enjoy a variety of activities, live music, crafts, food and fireworks in downtown Alton. Sponsored by Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, the experience promises to be a fun few days for all.
“We're so excited to have 250 on the Mississippi here in Alton to really celebrate the semiquincentennial,” said Grace Sakry with Great Rivers and Routes. “It’s going to be a really great event, really getting to celebrate everything that has to do with the 250, but also how Alton contributed to shaping the country in that timeframe.”
On Wednesday, July 1, the celebrations kick off from 4–8 p.m. at Haskell Park. Sheafor and Simes will play music and family-friendly activities like a balloon artist, face-painting, food trucks, crafts and more will be available.
The Middletown Neighbors group will lead a kids’ bike parade, where kids are encouraged to decorate their bikes and parade around the park, at 5 p.m. The kids donut hole eating contest will start at 6 p.m., followed by the adults donut eating contest at 7 p.m. You can register for the contests here.
Donuts and cakes will be provided by Duke Bakery, which is also debuting their new food trailer at the event to celebrate their 75th anniversary. A 75-foot-long cake will celebrate America’s birthday and that anniversary. Ben Hollis, co-owner of Duke, noted that each eight-foot section of the cake weighs 50 pounds and he is eagerly preparing for the big event.
“You’ve got to figure out the timeframe of when you’re going to bake everything. You’ve got to have enough icing. You’ve got to have enough staff there to put it all together. We’re still finishing up the final touches on the food trailer, trying to get that all wrapped together,” he explained. “Without Great Rivers and Routes and Grace, Duke Bakery wouldn’t be able to do it on our own. We greatly appreciate the help they’ve given us.”
On Thursday, July 2, the fun continues at Alton Godfrey Rotary Park from 4–7 p.m. You can stroll along Broadway to meet a few special guests, including Thomas Jefferson, Betsy Ross and Abraham Lincoln impersonators. American Jackals will provide live music. There will be a variety of activities for kids and food and drink vendors.
On Friday, July 3, Alton rings in Independence Day with their annual Fireworks on the Mississippi. The LustreLights will play from 5–9 p.m. at the Alton Amphitheater, where you can also enjoy glow games, food trucks, and kids’ activities. At 9:30 p.m., a “bigger and better” fireworks display will launch over the river.
“It’ll be so fun,” Sakry said. “The Amphitheater Commission has purchased a bigger package this year, so there will be bigger and better fireworks than there ever has been before, really continuing the amazing tradition that Alton has always had with fireworks on the Mississippi.”
Sakry and Hollis noted that these events wouldn’t be possible without the community’s support. They are grateful for the people who work together to create experiences like 250 on the Mississippi
“We couldn’t do it without our partnerships and community members and small businesses. That is really at the core of what we do,” Sakry added. “It’s getting to work together with so many people who care about our area.”
For more information about the 250 on the Mississippi events, visit the official Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau webpage.
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