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Annual Events
Some good things come year after year! Check out our list of much-loved Annual Events held around town and in our beautiful parks!
Daddy Daughter Dance
February
Join us for an evening full of dancing, laughter, and sweet memories at our Daddy Daughter Dance, a heartfelt tradition in Belleville for over 25 years! Dress your best and enjoy dinner, music, photo ops, and even guest appearances by some of your favorite Princesses! Don’t forget to practice for the Daddy Dance Off with jumbo prizes on the line! This event is very popular, and space is limited, so get your tickets early! Registration usually opens in late November.
Belleville Woofstock
Save the Date: May 9, 2026
Bring your furry friends and be prepared for a tail waggin’ good time at our annual FREE music and vendor festival at the Rotary Dog Park! Shop pet-focused vendors, participate in activities with your pets, enjoy tasty local food and don’t forget to grab your collectable tie-dye Woofstock T-shirt!
Bellevue Park Nights
Monthly May through September
Join us the second Friday of each month for a live music concert AND movie in the park! Starting at 7:00pm, different area bands will play under the bandshell in beautiful Bellevue Park. Set up your lawn chair, dance a little, and enjoy refreshments from vendors! After the music wraps, we'll switch gears for a movie in the park under the stars! Best of all? All this fun is FREE!
Fall Festival
September
When the air starts to cool and the leaves start to change, it’s time for Parks & Rec’s Fall Festival! Enjoy dozens of handmade vendors, live music, local food trucks, and vibrant youth vendor market where young entrepreneurs can learn about commerce with their own vendor stall. This event also features a showdown Pickleball Tournament at the courts and FREE youth & senior fishing derbies at the Stone Lodge above Bellevue Lake. The kid’s zone boasts games, face painting, the playground, and more fun activities each year! Bring the whole family, our Fall Festival is a great place to spend a Saturday in Belleville.
Howlin’ Hayride & Moonlight Movie
October
Grab your chairs and blankets for a cozy fall night in Laderman Park as we embark on our annual Howlin’ Hayride through historic Walnut Hill Cemetery where kid’s can check off a spooky scavenger hunt from the comfort of the wagon. The park is buzzing with Halloween games and a flickering bonfire to roast your own s’mores over. The pinnacle of the night is the Moonlight Movie shown on our big screen under the stars. Check back soon for the release of next year's movie!
Gingerbread Contest
November
Ready to get baking?! Let your imagination run wild! This long-standing Belleville tradition is a fun way to celebrate the holidays. With five categories of entries, there’s something for everyone! All gingerbread entries are evaluated by an experienced panel of judges with over $4,000 in prize money to be awarded! Entries are turned in for judging in late November. Your creations are then displayed in the windows of downtown businesses to be enjoyed by holiday visitors until after New Year’s Day. Registration is open May through November, so feel free to get a head start on your creation! Stay tuned for the release of 2026's categories!
Gingerbread 5K Run / Walk
Save the Date: December 5, 2026
This run begins at the Belleville Parks and Recreation office at 8:30am. The course takes you throughout the streets of beautiful downtown Belleville with an awards ceremony to follow at the Historic Lincoln Theater. And don’t miss the Ginger Loop! A kid’s 1-mile fun. Volunteers are always needed! Check out www.gingerbreadrun.com to register, volunteer, or purchase swag!
Angel of Hope Memorial Candlelight Vigil Service
December 6, 2026
7:00pm at Bellevue Park
This Candlelight Memorial Service is held at Bellevue Park for all parents, grandparents, relatives, and friends who have lost a child of any age for any reason. We come together on this night every year to remember and honor our children, beginning with a brief program at the Stone Lodge followed by a candlelight procession to the Angel of Hope Memorial for a moment of silence and reflection. Loved ones are encouraged to bring flowers to be placed at the Angel. If interested, you can view our donation and tribute information here.
Calls from the North Pole
December 1 - 2, 2026
Recommended for ages 3 - 8
Ring in the holiday season with a FREE personal phone call from Santa & the North Pole Elves to your little one. Calls are made by local volunteers who love to spread a little extra Christmas joy to local kids! Parents must complete a Call Request Form and return to the Belleville Parks & Recreation Department via one of the methods listed on the form. Calls will be made on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening between the hours of 6:00pm - 8:00pm. Please note: this is a jolly phone call, not a gift giving program.
Calls from the North Pole call request form will be available again next November! Happy Holidays!