• October 12 Summer Food Truck Days at Friendship Park 11am-1pm
• Swing by the garden at 1701 Lafayette Ave. in Mattoon to grab lunch from the La Luna Food Truck. Plus, a DHNC staff member will be available to answer any gardening or landscaping questions you may have. 

• October 12 Nature in the Arts, Douglas Hart Nature Center 6-8pm
• Nature in the Arts is every second Wednesday of the month thru April. Cost is only Adults - $15/Member, $20/Non-Member (price is per class) Repurpose old houseware, use pinecones to make wreaths . . . the possibilities are endless when nature is the inspiration for these monthly craft classes. Grab a friend, BYOB, and enjoy a night out crafting! In October make a Corn Husk Wreath. Sign up at:  crm.nonprofiteasy.com/6396/Pages/Events

• October 13 Mattoon Chamber Business Expo and Taste of the Expo
• The Annual Mattoon Chamber Business Expo is back this year at the Cross County Mall October 13th from 10am-3pm with the very popular Taste of the Expo from 11:30-2pm. For further details or more information on the Business Expo or the Taste of the Expo you can contact us at the Chamber office, (217) 235-5661, or e-mail us at [email protected].

• October 13 Planning meeting One Stop Community Christmas 
• It is not too late to volunteer to help with One Stop Community Christmas event. Meeting is held at the Salvation Army in Mattoon from noon-1pm. 

• October 13 Ailey II: Next Generation of Dance at Doudna Fine Arts, EIU, 7:30pm
• Come witness this universally renowned dance company known for merging the spirit and energy of the country's finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today's most outstanding emerging choreographers. Tickets can be purchased at www.doudnatix.com. 

• October 14 Veteran's Coffee Group at Lifespan Center
• LifeSpan will have hot coffee brewed for Veteran's of all ages the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month. All branches of service are welcome to attend and share conversation with like minded people. 

• October 14 EIU Open Studios at Tarble Arts Center, EIU, 1pm
• Spend the afternoon visiting the studios of EIU faculty and graduate students to learn about their research and practices. Hosted by the Tarble and EIU Department of Art + Design at the Tarble Arts Center, Doudna Fine Arts Center, and Burl Ives Studios. Visit TarbleArtsCenter.org for a map

• October 14-15 EIU Homecoming
• "Bring the beat back" at EIU Homecoming this week. Highlights include the 24th annual Homecoming Race at 9:30am on the 15th and EIU football at 2pm, EIU vs. Lindenwood Lions. For a complete list of events go to: https://www.eiu.edu/homecoming/events.php.

• October 15-16 Mattoon Pride Softball Classic/Showcase
• Mattoon Pride is hosting the Classic and Showcase at the Mattoon Roundhouse Complex located at 6th St. and Richmond. The Classic is a non-sanctioned event for 8u-18u. The Showcase is for 14u, 16u, and 18u. For more information contact tourney director Jason Bradley217-821-2875 or at [email protected]. www.mattoonpride.com

• October 15 Mattoon Library Book Sale
• The annual Fall Book Sale will take place in the Mattoon Library Lower Basement Community Room this Saturday. There will be a wide variety of books. This is a "donation-only" book sale, and all payments should be made in the form of a donation to the Mattoon Library. Please bring bags for your items.

• October 15 Art Classes at Wooden Nickel-Hidden Talents
• Wooden Nickel-Hidden Talents is hosting two classes this weekend. Cost is only $5 a class. At 11am there will be a kids craft class and at 1pm an adult crochet class. Registrations is required at 217-235-9663 and located at 2417 Lake Land Blvd.

Looking ahead:

• October 21-22 DHNC Haunted Hike 
• October 21-23 Cross County Mall Flea Market
• October 22 Camp New Hope Trunk or Treat
• October 23 2nd Annual 5K for Coffee and CASA, EIU
• October 27 United Way Auction, Mattoon Country Club
• October 28 Celebrate Downtown Mattoon Trunk or Treat
• October 28 Charleston Scare on the Square
• October 28-30 EIU Family Weekend
• October 29 Mattoon YMCA Ghouls in the Pool Swim Meet
• October 29 Lincoln Log Cabin Torchlight Halloween Hike and Wiener Roast
• October 29 2022 Witches gone Wicked, St. Jude Fundraiser
• October 31 Mattoon community Trick or Treating, 6-8pm
• October 31 Trick or Treating at the Cross County Mall
• November 3 Combined Chamber of Commerce Community Update Breakfast
• November 3 Planning meeting One Stop Community Christmas 
• November 4-6 Cross County Mall Sports Card Show
• November 10 Planning meeting One Stop Community Christmas 
• November 11 Veteran's Day Parade
• November 12-13 SBLHC Holiday Festival
• November 14 Mattoon Exchange Club Pulled Pork fundraiser
• November 17 Planning meeting One Stop Community Christmas 
• November 17 “Band Together for Kids” benefit to fight child abuse
• November 17 Mattoon Lightworks Walk Thru, one night only
• November 18 Opening night Mattoon Lightworks
• November 18-20 Christmas Gift & Craft Show at Cross County Mall
• November 24 Mattoon YMCA Turkey Trot
• November 26 Mattoon Arts Council 's Annual Holiday Artisan Market Cross County Mall
• December 1 Planning meeting One Stop Community Christmas 
• December 1,3-4 and 9-11 Secret Santa theatre production at the Lone Elm Room, Mattoon Depot
• December 2 Celebrate Downtown Mattoon Christmas
• December 2-3 Jingle and Mingle Market, Charleston Square
• December 3 Christmas in the Heart of Charleston
• December 3 Lincoln Log Cabin Old Fashioned Christmas on the Prairie
• December 10 One Stop Community Christmas LLC
• December 10 Battle Creek Band at the Cross County Mall
• December 26 Last Day of Lightworks
• December 27-29 MHS Girls Holiday Basketball Tourney