Grande Levee is a celebration of the grand receptions once held during the mid-1800's to honor government dignitaries and important visitors. The first Grande Levee, in 1970, was a reception on the Statehouse lawn, with ladies in capitol era costumes, serving fruit punch and cookies with entertainment provided by a string quartet.

Held annually now, the Grande Levee has evolved into a three-day event held the third weekend in June at the Vandalia, Illinois Old State Capitol Historic Site. The purpose of the event is to provide the public with the opportunity to observe and participate in activities common to Illinois prior to 1840. Various aspects of the early years of statehood will be depicted by the use of period craft demonstrators, games, music, tours of the Statehouse, and other period activities. The event is free and open to the public. It is co-sponsored by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, the Vandalia Friends of the Old State Capitol, Vandalia Tourism Commission and local organizations and businesses.

Activities begin on Friday which include an old-fashioned ham and bean supper on the Statehouse lawn. The ham and beans are cooked in a huge iron kettle over an open fire and served with cornbread, coleslaw, applesauce, lemonade or iced tea. For dessert, local organizations offer homemade ice cream and funnel cakes. Throughout the dinner, entertainment is provided by various area musical groups. At 7:30 pm, following the old fashioned ham and bean supper, candlelight tours of the Statehouse are given. Visitors can tour the building on their own or take one of the tours provided by guides in period dress. Period music is also performed throughout the tours.

Saturday morning the period craftsmen and artisans beginning setting up their tents to demonstrate spinning, weaving, basket making, blacksmithing, wheat weaving, tatting, scherenschnitte, treenware, tin ware, candle making, and much more. Old-fashioned root beer, carmel corn, chicken and dumplings, and roasted corn are prepared as they were in the 1800's. On-going entertainment is provided throughout the Grande Levee by such groups as: Doc Morrissey's Great American Street Organ Jubilee, Boneyard Creek Cloggers, Baroque Folk, Kahok Indian Dancers and Abraham Lincoln impersonators. The Ritter Reproductions muzzle loaders set up an 1800's camp and demonstrate many activities of the period, including black powder gun firing, tomahawk throwing, open fire cooking and survival skills.

A Children's Activity Area is provided where children can create period items including: candles, tin punch, and scherenschnitte. They also play games from the 1800's and try their skills at writing with a quill pen.

Guided tours of Illinois' Oldest State Capitol are conducted all day Saturday and Sunday as well and concluding with a worship service conducted on the Statehouse lawn. For more information contact Mary Truitt at (618) 283-1534