Things to do in Sullivan

In town

• The Little Theatre on the Square ↗

  Harrison Street, on the square in Sullivan

  Professional theater since 1957 in a 1924 movie house — by its own account the only professional theater between Chicago and St. Louis — with a summer main-stage season and year-round programs.

• Wyman Park ↗

  Sullivan

  The park Albert Wyman’s will paid for: picnic grounds, ball diamonds, tennis, disc golf, a skate park and Wyman Lake, and the home of Sullivan’s Fourth of July.

• Tabor Park ↗

  North Worth Street, along Asa Creek

  The quieter of the two parks Sullivan was bequeathed: walking and jogging trails with exercise stations through prairie grass along a tree-lined creek, picnic pavilions, and wildlife you will actually see. Wheelchair-accessible.

• Sullivan Civic Center ↗

  Downtown Sullivan

  The city’s indoor pool and gym: lap swimming, swim lessons and the Blue Dolphins swim team, pickleball, racquetball, fitness classes and memberships by the month or year. The answer to a rainy day or a January.

• Moultrie County Historical & Genealogical Society ↗

  East Harrison Street, on the square

  The county’s history center and research library: exhibits, artifacts and the genealogical archive for anyone tracing a Moultrie County family. Open set afternoons and by appointment; the society posts its hours.

On the lake, from the Sullivan side

Sullivan Beach, Sullivan Marina and the Corps campgrounds on the west arm are the town’s front door to the water.

• The beaches — Dam West, Wilborn Creek, Sullivan Beach, Wolf Creek ↗

  Around the lake

  Three Corps swimming beaches and a fourth at Wolf Creek State Park. The Corps’ maps page has a printable map of each recreation area.

• Boat rentals — pontoons, party barges, kayaks, houseboats ↗

  Lithia Springs Marina, Findlay Marina, Sullivan Marina

  All three marinas rent through 32 Marine. Lithia Springs has the widest fleet, including houseboats for a night on the water, and Nessie’s floating bar and grill.

• Fishing — the state biologist’s outlook ↗

  Lake-wide, and the tailwater below the dam

  White bass and white crappie rated excellent; walleye, sauger, muskie, largemouth and channel catfish very good. The muskie that escape over the dam make the spillway tailwater a fishery of its own.

• Chief Illini Trail ↗

  West shore, Lone Point to Eagle Creek State Park

  An eleven-mile backcountry trail along the west shore, over rolling hills and prairie openings with the lake in view, blazed and mile-marked. Start at either end.

• Wolf Creek State Park ↗

  East shore, eight miles northwest of Windsor

  Wooded campgrounds, a swimming beach, and horseback and snowmobile trails facing Eagle Creek across the water.

• Hunting on Corps and state ground ↗

  Lake-wide

  Public hunting areas around the lake are managed by the Corps and the IDNR, including the state’s Kaskaskia and West Okaw units. The Corps and Wolf Creek State Park host an annual deer hunt for hunters with disabilities and wounded veterans each November.

Farms and family, a short drive

• Okaw Valley Orchard ↗

  North of Sullivan, County Road 1750 N

  A working orchard outside town: apples in season and the market that goes with them.

• The Great Pumpkin Patch ↗

  South of Arthur, twenty minutes north

  The 200 Acres’ fall attraction: hundreds of pumpkin and squash varieties grown on the farm, a bakery, and a season of weekend events from mid-September through October.

• Aikman Wildlife Adventure ↗

  Arcola, half an hour northeast

  A drive-through wildlife park with a walk-through zoo, animal encounters and a prehistoric-life museum.

• Illinois Amish Country ↗

  Arthur, northwest of Sullivan

  The Amish settlement around Arthur: furniture makers, bakeries, buggy roads and the shops along Vine Street.

The calendar

The Sullivan Chamber’s calendar is the running list for the town; dates below are the organizers’ own for the year shown.

1. Summer

   Little Theatre summer season ↗

   Sullivan

   The professional main-stage season on the square.

2. Summer, alongside the main stage

   Little Theatre — Theatre for Young Audiences ↗

   The Little Theatre, Sullivan

   The children’s shows sell out; the Chamber’s advice is to book before you come.

3. July 1–4

   Sullivan Fourth of July ↗

   Wyman Park, Sullivan

   Four days at the park: a noon parade on the Fourth, contests through the afternoon, fireworks at dusk.

4. July 4, at dusk

   Fireworks over the lake ↗

   Launched from Ramp Point, Dam West

   The Corps’ show over the dam, with the Chamber’s parade, concessions and inflatables at Dam East and Dam West and a community picnic the next day. Watch from Dam West, Dam East, the visitor center or the overlook; parking fills, so the Corps lists overflow lots.

5. October 30, 2026

   Safe Trick or Treat ↗

   Downtown Sullivan

   The Chamber members’ downtown trick-or-treat the evening before Halloween.

6. Year-round

   Sullivan Chamber — events calendar ↗

   Sullivan

   Bingo nights, member events, seasonal happenings — the Chamber’s own list, kept current.