Eagles are returning to their winter homes in southwest Illinois and the region is preparing for the upcoming eagle season with a full schedule of events including a kick-off festival on Saturday, Jan. 8.

To celebrate the return of this majestic bird, the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau along with the Audubon Center at Riverlands and National Great Rivers Museum will host the annual Eagle Ice Festival, Saturday, Jan. 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year’s event has been expanded to include additional activities in downtown Alton during the afternoon. For the first time, the National G...