Macomb festival weekend pairs art, balloons and disc golf

Macomb, Illinois, will host the Art, Wind & Fire Festival on Sept. 11-12, 2026, combining the Gazebo Art Festival, the YFC Disc Golf Open and the Macomb Balloon Rally. The weekend is designed to draw visitors downtown and showcase Forgottonia’s art, outdoor recreation and signature balloon tradition.

Why it matters: - The festival bundles three of Macomb’s best-known traditions into one weekend, giving visitors more reasons to stay longer and explore the city. - The event is aimed at art lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and families. - The weekend also spotlights Macomb’s broader tourism draw, including downtown attractions and regional history.

What happened: - Macomb will host the Art, Wind & Fire Festival on Sept. 11-12, 2026. - The weekend combines the Gazebo Art Festival, the YFC Disc Golf Open and the Macomb Balloon Rally. - Events will take place throughout Macomb. - Visit Unforgettable Forgottonia is promoting the weekend through more information.

The details: - The Gazebo Art Festival will be held in historic Chandler Park. - The art festival has been showcasing original juried artwork for more than 50 years. - Artists will display paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, ceramics and fiber art. - Local food trucks will be part of the festival. - The YFC Open Disc Golf Tournament will return to the Everwood Disc Golf Course in Everly and Glenwood Parks. - Tournament Director and professional disc golfer Johnnie Harrison will lead the Pro-Am event. - The disc golf tournament is open to players of all levels. - First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded. - The Macomb Balloon Rally will take place at Western Illinois University’s Vince Grady Field. - The balloon rally has been a community tradition for more than 35 years. - The rally is one of the region’s longest-running hot-air balloon festivals. - Visitors can watch balloon flights and the balloon glow. - The rally will also include food and live music. - The Balloon Rally is free, open to the public and handicap accessible. - Macombopoly sits on the historic downtown square and covers 170,000 square feet. - The app-powered experience pays tribute to Lizzie Magie, a Macomb native and inventor of Monopoly’s predecessor, The Landlord’s Game. - Macombopoly is free to play and available 24/7. - The game uses larger-than-life sculptures, interactive challenges, trivia and real prizes. - The world’s only Living Lincoln Topiary Monument is also in Macomb. - The monument is a 16-foot-tall, 3D-printed bust of Abraham Lincoln with real flowering whiskers. - The monument is part of Macomb’s Looking for Lincoln Tour.

Between the lines: - The festival is doing more than filling a weekend calendar; it is packaging Macomb’s arts, recreation and local-history assets into one visitor-friendly itinerary. - Macombopoly and the Living Lincoln Topiary Monument extend the event’s reach beyond the festival sites and give downtown a stronger tourism anchor. - The mix of free public events and family-friendly attractions lowers the barrier for casual visitors.

What's next: - Visitors can plan a full weekend around the festival and Macomb’s attractions. - More event and destination information is available at Visit Unforgettable Forgottonia. - Visit Unforgettable Forgottonia also directs visitors to its social channels, including Instagram and Facebook.

The bottom line: - Art, Wind & Fire turns Macomb into a single weekend showcase for art, balloons, disc golf and local tourism.