Monticello
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2026
Celebrating with fun festivals all year long
Monticello is a city that loves to celebrate year-round. In addition to longtime favorites like Riverfest and Let’ s Chalk, the community hosts seasonal festivals that bring residents together in every season, from the depths of winter to the height of fall.
Glow Fest
Lighting up the winter calendar is Glow Fest, a signature MontiArts event held each February that brings color, creativity and warmth to the coldest time of year. The festival features a half-mile community glow parade along Walnut Street to West Bridge Park that is open to everyone— anyone who shows up can march. Participants and spectators alike are encouraged to embrace the glow, with LED lights, lanterns, illuminated costumes and handmade creations transforming downtown into a moving work of art. The evening also includes interactive art, entertainment, bonfires, food and hot drinks. Spectators can line Walnut Street with chairs or watch from the comfort of their vehicles.
Monticello Heritage Day
After years of bringing the community together, Walk & Roll will take a pause in 2026 to make room for a new celebration: Monticello Heritage Day, set for Saturday, June 13.
Heritage Day will highlight Monticello’ s history, local culture and community pride through family-friendly activities and opportunities to explore the stories that have shaped the city. City officials expressed appreciation for the energy and participation that defined Walk & Roll, noting its legacy helped pave the way for new traditions.
More information about Monticello Heritage Day will be announced as plans take shape.
Downtown Trick or Treat
A beloved fall tradition, Downtown Trick or Treat invites families to celebrate Halloween in the heart of downtown Monticello. Costumed kids visit participating businesses along Walnut Street and Broadway, where storefronts marked with bright orange pumpkins hand out candy and treats.
The event is a joint effort between the Monticello Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Monticello Parks, Arts, and Recreation, with additional activities often taking place in West Bridge Park. Many businesses and community groups go beyond candy, decorating storefronts or creating light haunted attractions to add to the fun.
After returning in 2024 following a brief pause due to road construction, Downtown Trick or Treat continues to draw strong crowds, with thousands of young ghouls and goblins filling downtown each year.
MONTICELLO COMMUNITY GUIDE | 2026 | 21