Eagle Fest is Saturday at Kaskaskia River Recreation Area in Modoc. (Photo courtesy of enjoyillinois.com)

FEB.  1

Make Balloon Rockets at the Library
Thursday, 6-7 p.m.
Wood River Pubic Library, 326 E. Ferguson Ave.
Free

Youths in grades 2-5 will study the science of air and rockets, creating their own balloon rockets. For more information, call (618) 254-4832.

FEB.  2

Groundhog Day at the Visitor Center
Friday, starting at 9 a.m.
200 Piasa St.
Free

Murray the Groundhog will star in the third annual Groundhog Day Celebration. Coffee and cookies will be served. For more information, call (618) 465-6676.

Eckert’s Cooking Class for Children
Friday, 9:30-11 a.m.
951 S. Green Mount Rd., Belleville
$18

Mommy-and-me class that will teach children aged 3-5 to make Easy Egg Cups, Lots ‘O Love Granola, and a Be Mine Breakfast Banana Split. At 1:30 there will be a similar class for youths aged 6 and older. For more information, call (618) 233-0513.

Opening Reception for Artist Jim Lynn
Friday, 5-7 p.m.
Jacoby Arts Center, 627 E. Broadway, Alton
Free

Jim Lynn’s “Abstract Art and Meaning” will be in the East Gallery through March 10. For more information, call (618) 462-5222.

Yarn Class with Christy
Friday, 6-8 p.m.
Afterwords Books, 441 E. Vandalia St., Edwardsville
Free

Ms. MacMorran will teach all levels of knitting and crochet in a relaxed setting. Registration is required by visiting http://paintwithchristy.com/knitcrochet.

Comedy Night Live with David Scott
Friday, 8 p.m.
The Wildey Theatre, 252 N. Main St., Edwardsville
$12

Stand-up comedian who holds the Guinness World Record for Longest Stand-Up Comedy show by an Individual at 40 hours and 8 minutes. For more information, call (618) 307-1750.

FEB.  2-4

6th Annual O’Fallon Design Challenge
Fri., 5 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., noon.
430 N. Oak St., O’Fallon
Fri. $10; admission Sat. and Sun. is $1 or can of soup

“Soup”er Bowl Weekend Design Challenge in which local home decor and furniture businesses come in and decorate a vacant house into a home and sell the decor. For more information, call (618) 416-3969.

Disney on Ice at the Scottrade Center
Fri., 10:30 a.m.; Sat. 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m.; Sun., noon and 4 p.m.
1401 Clark Ave., St. Louis, MO
$15-$70

Professional skaters represent the stars of Disney stories. For more information, visit scottradecenter.com/events.

FEB.  3

Orchid Mania
Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis
$5

Hundreds of orchids on display from the garden’s collection. For more information, call (314) 577-5143.

Gabbing About Groundhogs
Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Treehouse Wildlife Ctr., 23956 Green Acres Rd., Dow
Free

Groundhog Day is February 2, but the Center will feature groundhog-related activities and information, plus cookies and hot cocoa. For more information, call (618) 466-2990.

Eagle Fest
Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Kaskaskia River Recreation Area, 4800 Lock and Dam Road, Modoc
Free ($5 donation appreciated)

Activities include a tent where kids can make eagle crafts and go home with an eagle souvenir, short interpreted walks both upstream and downstream from the dam, and eagle-watching with spotting scopes. Experts will be on hand to tell you about the eagle-nesting sites located nearby. A warming tent features hot sandwiches and warm beverages. For more information, call (618) 284-7160.

Indoor Flea Market
Saturday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Edwardsville American Legion Post #199, 58 S. State Route 157
Free admission

Fine unique treasures. For more information, visit edwardsvillelegion.com.

Illinois Concealed Carry Class
Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
American Legion Post 435, 190 S. Main St., Glen Carbon
$79-$119

Sixteen-hour training class, $119; Eight-hour class $79. Veterans can attend for $75. For more information, visit http://www.metroeastfirearmstraining.com.

CPR Training in Edwardsville
Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon
Momentum Wellness & Learning, 201 Hillsboro Ave.
$60

American Heart Association Basic Life Support Class is appropriate for both lay and professional persons. For more information, call (618) 401-7434.

Beginning Beekeeping
Saturday, 1-2 p.m.
Willoughby Heritage Farm and Conservation Reserve, 631 Willoughby Ln., Collinsville
Free, donations appreciated

William Klopfenstein will show how to get started, the equipment you need, and the kinds of honeybees available. For more information or to register, call (618) 346-7529.

Moonlight Masquerade Ball
Saturday, 7-11 p.m.
The Falls Reception & Conference Center, 300 Admiral Weinel Blvd., Columbia
$49.50 per person

Historic Main Street Columbia Association and the Columbia PTA sponsor the fundraiser featuring costumes, live music and hors d’oeuvres. For more information, call (618) 281-7144.

FEB.  4

Bankside Repertory Theatre Company Presents “Leaves In the Wind”
Sunday, 4 p.m.
Jacoby Arts Center, 627 E. Broadway, Alton
Free

Premier reading of an original play by Liesl Ehmke. For more information, call (618) 462-5222.

Sunday Movie Matinee in O’Fallon
Sunday, 2-3:45 p.m.
120 Civic Plaza
Free

The movie to be shown is ‘Despicable Me 3.’ For more information, call (618) 632-3783.

FEB.  5

Experiential Learning Snack & Learn Session
Monday, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Edwardsville Children’s Museum, 722 Holyoake Rd.
$10-$15

Mini professional development workshops on experiential learning for educators. Earn 1 PDU. The subject for February is Nature. For more information, call (618) 692-2094.

Big George Brock Jr. Blue Band
Monday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Lewis & Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey
Free

Big George will entertain inside the Reid Cafe. For more information, call (618) 468-3220.

FEB.  7

African Dance Performance
Wednesday, 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Lewis & Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey
Free

Celebrating Black History Month there will be a performance of African dance in the Reid Cafe. For more information, call (618) 468-3220.

–Metro East Calendar of Events Feb. 1 – Feb. 7–