•October 21, 2026•

The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society will host its annual dinner on Thursday, November 19th at the Moultrie County History Center, 1303 South Hamilton, Sullivan. This year’s event will celebrate the Village of Bethany’s music heritage, highlighting the quality and diversity of the music programs that shaped Bethany’s local, state, and national recognition over the past 150 years.

Starting at 6:00 p.m., guests can enjoy a paid buffet dinner provided by Judy’s Kitchen and Catering. Dinner tickets are $25 each. As limited seating is available for dinner, reservations must be received by MCHGS no later than noon on Thursday, November 12th and can be made by calling (217) 728-4085. During the dinner hour, guest pianist Julie McClarey-Smith will “tickle the keys” with music selections of the era.

Starting at 7:00 p.m., dinner guests as well as the general public can enjoy a free performance and history retrospective showcasing Bethany’s lauded music heritage. All guests will join Jack Scott as he strolls down memory lane back to 1877 when Bethany was first incorporated and the first band was organized. Sam Scott will then share the story of Bethany’s opera house. Local music directors Doug McCausland and Jack Rogers along with students Allen Webner and Ellen Ferrara will share the impact of the community’s musical heritage in their personal lives. Lastly, Jack Scott and Julie McClarey-Smith will close out the evening with some additional entertainment.