Three action-packed days are planned for young and old alike!
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Tomorrow is the first day of May 2026 and that means it is nearly time for the Annual Eaglefest in Chester. This year’s event is scheduled to take place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday May 7,8, and 9, on the grounds of the Chester Eagles Aerie 3252.
Eaglefest fans enjoy the midway at the 2025 Chester Eaglefest. The 2026 Chester Eaglefest will take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday May 7, 8, & 9 with loads of fun planned for the 2026 event. Jim Beers Photo
The carnival that received rave reviews last year is back for an even bigger and better festival. The “Egyptian Exposition” will be providing a wide array of rides and attractions all three days, and the Eaglefest Midway will stretch down Hacker Street including a new location that was recently rocked and prepared for more carnival rides.
Armbands will be available all weekend for $25 per session. There will be four sessions including Session 1: Thursday May 7 from 6-10 p.m.; Session 2: Friday May 8 from 6-10 p.m.; Session 3: Saturday May 9 from 1-5 p.m., and Session 4: Saturday May 9 from 6-10 p.m.
The popular Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament takes place Saturday May 9, beginning at 10 a.m. There will be six-person teams with a cash payout. The entry fee is $60 per team. Please contact Jamie Peck (618) 615-7719, or call the Eagles Club (618) 826-3933, for more information or to register a team.
The Annual Eaglefest 50/50 Drawing will take place Saturday night May 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets are now on sale for $5 each or 6 for $20.00. The Eagles Ladies Auxiliary will also be selling chances for a Summer Gift Wagon full of prizes.
On Saturday Night May 9, the Eagles will announce the five winners in the 2026 “Chester Eagles Aerie # 3252 Gun Drawing”. At 8 p.m. the drawing will take place. Every ticket sold will be entered into ALL 5 drawings. The guns to be given away include: Henry American Beauty .22; Henry Silver Eagle 17HMR; Henry Big Boy Revolver; Henry Side Gate Brass 360 Buckhammer; and Henry All Weather Picatinny Rail 45/70. Winners are subject to all firearm Requirements. All guns will be available for pickup at Hick’s Trading Station in Pinckneyville, Illinois.
A fun and exciting event at the picnic will be the Annual Wing Eating Contest. That event will take place at 5 p.m. Saturday May 9. The entry fee for the competition is $30 the day of the event or $25 in advance. Each contestant will receive a FREE T-Shirt and cash prizes will be provided to winners.
A real crowd favorite at the Eaglefest will be a wide variety of picnic food items including Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Puller Pork Nachos, Hamburgers, Cheese Burgers, Cod Fish Squares, French Fries, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, and Giant Pickles. Also available will be Snow Cones, Funnel Cakes, and Cotton Candy. The Beer Tent will features a wide variety of beers provided by Robert “Chick” Fritz & Donnewald Distributing.
Finally, a huge crowd pleaser each year is the presence of LIVE music each night. Thursday May 7 will feature “Cory Evitts” from 6-10 p.m. inside the Eagles Club. Friday Night May 8, “Black Top Junction” will perform from 7-11 p.m. outside on the grand stage. To close out the 2026 Eagle Fest Picnic, “Southern Gypsy” will perform Saturday May 9 from 7-11 p.m. They will also perform on the outside Grand Stage.
The Chester Eagles made monetary donations to more than 25 different entities in the past year totaling more than $5,200!
Some of those recipients include St. Mary’s Catholic School, Chris Urquhart Golf Tournament, Chester Grade School Fitness Day, St. Marks Dinner Auction, Trico High School Golf Tournament, Lindenberg/Beattie Golf Tournament, Paul Zemlyn “Zoomer” Golf Classic Golf Tournament, Randolph County Sheriff Office, Tucker Search/St. Jude’s Golf Tournament, Alma Lodge/Dale Deppe Golf Tournament, Steeleville Eagles Summerfest, Wayne Luedeman Golf Tournament, Raddle the Bottoms Music Festival, Chester Fall Festival, Rebecca Young Memorial Scholarship Glo-Golf Tournament, St. John Lutheran Dinner Auction, Chester Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament, Toys for Tots, Memorial Hospital Tree of Remberance, City of Chester Christmas on the River, Chester High School Scholarship, Chester Shop with a Cop, Steeleville High School Bowling Team, Chester High School Winter Coat Program, and the Chester High School YellowJacket Football Team “Game Night Meals”.
The Eagles further provide shelter to bicycle riders passing through Chester. They host the summer volleyball league. The Eagles offer their hall for elections as a Polling/Voting Place. Finally, the Eagles is an Emergency Shelter in times of trouble and need.
Sponsors for this year’s 2026 Eaglefest include the following:
Platinum Sponsors: Fritz Distributing, Donnewald Distributing, City of Chester, Dieterich Bank, Stephens Trucking, Partners Insurance, LLC, First Baptist Church in Chester, Fisher, Kerkhover, Coffey, & Gremmels Law Office, J & J Gaming, Knight Hawk Coal, and Chester Family Dental Office.
Gold Sponsors: Tom & Lisa Page, Kuna Food, Ames Construction, Colvis Investments, Bert’s Auto, Derek’s Lawn Service, Steeleville Eagles Aerie 3960 and Ladies Auxiliary, Buena Vista National Bank, Jan’s Horseshoe Inn, Chester Animal Hospital, Flexline Automation, and Rogers Redi Mix.
Silver Sponsors: Young Appliance, Memorial Hospital of Chester, Cushy’s Creations, Paul Gentry State Farm Insurance, Chester Country Club, Z & M Mounts, Rozier’s Country Market, Blue Dub’s BBQ, and SILKWORM, Inc., Jim Beers Local Sales Representative.