Sunshine & Community Spirit Fills Macomb
From hot air balloons to the 55th Annual Gazebo Art Festival to the annual humane society fundraiser at The Wine Sellers, Saturday’s weather proved to be the perfect backdrop for the outdoor activities throughout Macomb.
Gazebo Arts Festival
The Gazebo Arts Festival showcased the talents of central Illinois artists in a variety of media, including metal jewelry, graphite drawing, ceramics, woodworking, painting, photography, fractal art, woven and handdyed textiles and more. There were also numerous demonstrations and hands-on activities taking place throughout the day.
2026 Event Winners:
Best In Show: Gayle Carper, Fine Art Jewelry Second place: Mary Beth St. Claire, Fine Art Jewelry Third Place: Jan Rockwell: Painting, Fine Art People's Choice Award: Eboni Bellot, Fiber Art Honorable Mention: Lily Dunsworth, Art Prints; Clara Robelin, Fantasy Art; Carrie Depoy, Fine Art Prints, and Deb Lutz, Fractal Art.
The 2027 event is set for Sept. 11 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in Chandler Park.
People’s Choice: Eboni Bellot, pictured with committee member Marietta Loehrlein. Photos by Darcie Shinberger, Lynne Campbell and/or Event Organizers/Volunteers
Balloon Rally
“Adventure is UP There” was the theme for the 39th Annual Macomb Balloon Rally, with numerous events taking place Friday and Saturday at Western Illinois University’s Vince Grady Field. Local Pilot Al Reusch of “Knot Crazy” served as this year’s balloonmeister. Reusch has been a part of the Balloon Rally since it started. In addition to Reusch’s balloon, 17 other pilots and their hot air balloons took part in the 2026 event.
Besides the crowd-favorite Balloon Glow Saturday evening, the WIU Jazz Studio Orchestra and local band, JAB, performed for the crowds Friday and Saturday nights, respectively.
Winners of this year’s balloon pilot events included Mike Boylan, first; Dan Reusch, second; and Chad Kerns, third.
Play it Forward
The annual Play it Forward, hosted by The Wine Sellers, brought music to the Back Door Beer Garden from 1-8 p.m. Saturday, with donations from the event going to the Humane Society of McDonough County’s building fund for the new animal shelter on West Jackson Street in Macomb.
Performers included area musicians Tim Harting, Dennis DeVolder, King Neptune, East Enders Two, Bill Maakestad and the House Cats.
This year’s event raised over $4,800 for the shelter campaign.
To donate to the building fund campaign, visit hsmcil.org/building-campaign to give online, Venmo @HumaneSocietyofMc-DonoughCounty or mail, checks payable to Humane Society of McDonough County (building fund campaign in memo), to P.O.
Box 7, Macomb, IL 61455.
