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University Newsletter

Spring Fest 2026 at EIU! April 23 through April 25

Join Doudna, EIU, and Charleston's local community in enjoying an art fair, live performances, amazing food, and more! Attendees can find a full schedule for the festival at eiu.edu/festival. The festival will take place during the following times:

• Thursday, April 23, noon to 7 p.m.
• Friday, April 24, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

There will be concerts each night of the festival in the Dvorak Concert Hall @ 7:30 p.m., after Spring Fest closes: (Get Tickets)

• EIU Concert Band & Eastern Symphonic Band | Thursday, April 23
• EIU Wind Symphony & Monticello High School Band | Friday, April 24
• Eastern Symphonic Orchestra | Saturday, April 25

Next year's (2026-27) season will be announced at the beginning of the festival, so attendees should be sure to pick up the new calendar to see everything EIU has to offer. Hear about all the premier events, music concerts, theatre performances, and festivals at Doudna next year!

Art Vendors

There will be 22 art vendors booths (both indoor and outdoor) spanning between Doudna and Buzzard. There will be vendors selling:

• Jewelry
• Clothing
• Ceramics
• Plants
• Sculptures
• Paintings
• Soaps
• Metal works
• Much much more!

Food Vendors

Be sure to come hungry; you won't stay hungry. This year's Spring Fest will feature:

• SweetTeaz
• IceIceShavings
• Grandma T's Soft Pretzels
• House of Brisket
• Sweet Island
• Mini Donuts
• CZ's FGT
• LJ's Famous Diner

With so many options, you can't try all of them in one day...all the more reason to come multiple days!

Live Music

Doudna will have a stage near the circle drive for live music performances from the following groups:

• Thursday, April 23
  
  • Reverend Robert at 3 p.m.
  • EIU Jazz Lab Band at 4 p.m.
  • EIU Singer Songwriter Showcase at 5 p.m.
  • Halos at 6 p.m.
• Friday, April 24
  
  • The EIU Percussion Ensemble at 1 p.m.
  • Motherlode at 2 p.m.
  • EIU Jazz Combos at 4 p.m.
  • Insomniac's Dream at 5 p.m.
  • EIU's Blue Fusion at 6 p.m.
• Saturday, April 25
  
  • Mitch Faulkner Trio at 11 a.m.
  • The EIU Dancers at 1 p.m.
  • Heather Latta at 2 p.m.
  • Chuck Vegas at 4 p.m.
  • The Insomniacs: Aux Port at 5 p.m.

Kids Day

Kids Day will be Saturday, April 25, from noon to 4 p.m. Activities consist of:

• EIU Dancers will perform and teach a dance to kids of all ages at 1 p.m.
• Free glitter tattoos and face painting
• Art & science projects
  
  • The portable EIU Portable Observatory will be in the Black Box all weekend with presentations every hour!
• The Scovill Mobile Zoo
• Arts and Science Activities for kids!
• And more!

After all the kids' activities are finished, attendees can stick around to listen to some live music, enjoy good food, and peruse the art vendor booths.