Prairie State Wire

The Chester Municipal Band is set to perform its Independence Day concert at the newly renovated band shelter at Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site on July 1. The event, located along the Mississippi River in Randolph County, will begin at 7 p.m. and feature live entertainment and a food vendor.

Fort Kaskaskia has historical significance as it hosted the first State of Illinois public function when Garrison Hill Cemetery was dedicated on July 4, 1892. Recently, staff from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) completed renovations on the band shelter, including a new roof and upgrades to electrical systems and woodwork.

The site previously hosted the Fort Kaskaskia Traditional Music Festival, a bluegrass festival that attracted visitors for over two decades. With these renovations, Fort Kaskaskia aims to attract new events to its band shelter.

"IDNR is pleased to be making improvements at our remarkable state historic sites in Randolph County," stated IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. "We look forward to welcoming music lovers to Fort Kaskaskia on July 1 and hope to host more public events at this beautiful site in the future."

For those interested in hosting an event at Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site, contact can be made through the park office at 618-859-3741.

Fort Kaskaskia was constructed in the 1700s by the French for defense purposes and is located near the Pierre Menard Home State Historic Site. Pierre Menard served as Illinois' first lieutenant governor from 1818 to 1822.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is celebrating its centennial year throughout 2025. Established on July 1, 1925, originally as the Illinois Department of Conservation, it oversees various natural resources management across approximately 400 sites in Illinois today.