KEEP CARBONDALE WEIRD

Carbondale is unlike any other city or town in Illinois. It has the highest percentage of millenials: 85%. It has one of the highest education rates in the United States ranking in the top 3%. It's Southern Illinois' religious center for Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, and other "non-traditional" adherents. It has a flourishing music scene both public and underground. Of course its because of SIUC that we have the young people, the intellectuals and the music. But the towns that it best resemble are places like Athens, Ga., Austin, Texas, and Portland, Oregon. Austin has a slogan: Keep Austin Weird. We think that slogan applies to Carbondale as well. At any time of the day or night, at any time of the year, something is happening whether its the Polar Bear Festival in deep winter, the neighborhood Mardi Gras in the Arbor District, the biannual Tour de Carbondale, random HulaHoop affianacios, or workmen displaying snakes they have found. And the Mother of all street parties, Halloween, is back. Carbondale is random and weird. And that's a good thing. Photos ©  D. Gorton

​