Weekend Activities – BBQ and Backpacks and Bulls

I know we say this every weekend, but ... there's a lot going on around the area, and the forecasters say we should have beautiful weather for whatever outdoor plans you have.

The Hannibal Arts Council is accepting entries 3-6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday for the Art Club's ORiGINALE exhibit and competition.

Friday through Sunday is the Pack the Park camping weekend at Wakonda State Park at LaGrange. It's a benefit for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

The annual Smoke on the River event starts at 5 p.m. Friday and runs all day Saturday at Kesler Park in Quincy, with lots of music and BBQ.

There's a country music show fund raiser at the Senior Citizens Center in Pittsfield, IL at 7 p.m. Saturday with music by Jessie & the South.

Pirate fun is the theme for an event at the M.W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitors Center at Mark Twain Lake from 1-8 p.m. Saturday.

It's the Champ Clark Heritage Festival on and around the downtown square in Bowling Green from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

The Tate Shade Memorial Bull Bash happens Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Palmyra. Proceeds benefit the Marion County Jr. Fair.

The 10th annual Perry Summer Shootout garden tractor pull happens beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday in Bill Trower Memorial Park in Perry.

The LaGrange United Methodist Church hosts a hog roast from 5-7:30 p.m. Saturday.

There's a fund raiser for the Buddy Pack program Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Ayerco on Mark Twain Avenue in Hannibal.

Scott's Chapel United Methodist Church hosts a block party in the 1800 block of Hope St. in Hannibal from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday with food, games and prizes.

The new Vet's Memorial Monument in Nebo, IL will be dedicated at the park at 10 a.m. Saturday with a poker run starting at noon.

The annual New Canton, IL Harvest Festival starts Friday night and continues with a full day of activities Saturday in the city park in New Canton.