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There's plenty of outdoor offerings this summer
By Dan Craft
dcraft@pantagraph
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As we are reminded every summer, three little months can amount to quite a bit of stuff going on, especially when those months are June, July and August.

Lest you doubt that, just check out this final installment of GO!'s epic three-part summer arts and activities preview, which began two weeks ago with movies and theater, continued last week with concerts and music events, and climaxes this week with an overview of all of the festivals, fairs and other special events headed Pantagraphland-way from now through Labor Day weekend.

It's the most complete roundup of Central Illinois activities you'll find anywhere -- so save this valuable section for future reference and line that bird cage with something else.

A final note: If you have an event that should have been included here but isn't, please let us know anyway, and we'll make sure it gets included in the weekly GO! Calendar listings as the season progresses.

JUNE



• 1-30: Quilted Keepsakes 2007, annual summer quilt show, C.H. Homestead in Clinton.

• 1-2: Farmer City Garage Sales, citywide sales.

• 1-2: Paxton Town-Wide Garage Sales, various locations in Paxton.

• 1-2: Washington Cherry Festival, with entertainment, food and more, John Bearce Commercial Property grounds, 1800 Washington Road, Washington.

• 2: Farmer City Car/Truck/Tractor Show, with cruise-in, food and awards show, Main Street downtown.

• 2: National Fishing & Boating Week Celebration, with conservation displays, pontoon rides, guest speakers and more, Comlara Park, near Hudson.

• 2: Tri-Valley Fine Arts Boosters Garden Walk, tours of seven private gardens in the Downs/Bloomington area, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

• 2-3: Central Illinois Wine, Rhythm & Blues Festival, with eight Illinois wineries, live music and activities, Mackinaw Valley Vineyard, Mackinaw.

• 2-3: Grand Village of Kickapoo Powwow, Native American culture celebration, Grand Village of the Kickapoo Park, rural LeRoy.

• 2-3: Junction City Art Fair, more than 70 artists from Central Illinois and the Midwest, food, children's art area, more; 10 a.m.-4; Junction City Shopping Center, Peoria.

• 3: Central Illinois Ford Day, car show, swap space, exhibits and more, Bob Dennison Ford, Bloomington.

• 3: Sunday in the Park, summer kickoff celebration with concerts and food, 5:30 p.m., Glen Oak Park Amphitheater, Peoria.

• 6: Frank Lloyd Wright 141st Birthday Party, tours, special activities and more, noon-4 p.m., Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site, Springfield.

• 8: Toluca Coal Mine Living History Day, exhibits, activities and presentations, Toluca Jumbos (slag heaps), Toluca.

• 8-10: Atlanta Spring Festival, with carnival, wiener cook-off, vendors and more, downtown Atlanta.

• 8-9: LeRoy Summerfest, crafts, games, food and more, downtown LeRoy.

• 8-10: Route 66 Motor Tour, annual Mother Road motorcade with stops at various Illinois towns.

• 8-10: Tremont Turkey Festival, downtown Tremont and Tremont Park.

• 9: Cruisin' at Rockome, car and motorcycle show with live oldies bands and more, Rockome Gardens near Arcola.

• 9: DeWitt County Museum Open Auto Show, antiques and classics, noon-4 p.m., C.H. Moore Homestead grounds, Clinton.

• 9: Miller Park Fishing Derby, for ages 5 to 12, 9:30-11 a.m., Miller Park, Bloomington.

• 9: Sommerfest, German-themed summer festival, noon-9 p.m., Hickory Grove Park, Peoria.

• 9: Twin City Cruisers Tubbed/Blown or Big Block Night, 5:30-9 p.m., Shoppes at College Hills parking lot.

• 9-10: Broadwell 150th Birthday Celebration, downtown Broadwell.

• 9-10: County-Wide Route 66 Garage Sale, vendors and sales in Atlanta, Lincoln, Broadwell, Elkhart and Lawndale.

• 9-10: Eagle Landing Art Festival, Illinois Art League's annual juried show, Riverfront Park, East Peoria.

• 9-10: Gus Macker Tournament, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, Shoppes at College Hills, Normal.

• 9-10: Return to Pimiteoui Pow-Wow, Native American-themed festival, W.H. Sommer Park in Peoria.

• 12-17: Decatur-Macon County Fair, fairgrounds in Decatur.

• 12-16: 62nd Midwest Charity Horse Show, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield.

• 13-14: Movies in the Park, "Open Season," 9 p.m. Wednesday at Rollingbrook Park, Bloomington, and 9 p.m. Thursday at Clearwater Park, Bloomington.

• 13-17: Sangamon County Fair, fairgrounds at New Berlin.

• 14-16: Steamboat Festival, riverfront carnival rides and entertainment stages, Riverfront Festival Park in Peoria.

• 15-17: Fairbury Sesquicentennial Celebration, with parades, crafts, entertainment and more, downtown Fairbury.

• 15-17: General Grierson Days Civil War Re-enactment, largest mounted re-enactment in Midwest, Jacksonville.

• 15-16: Glorious Garden Festival, self-guided tours of 11 B-N gardens, start at David Davis Mansion, Bloomington.

• 15-24: National Counted Cross Stitch Show, more than 400 pieces, Rockome Gardens near Arcola.

• 15-17: Olde English Faire, medieval celebration, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Jubilee College State Historic Site, near Brimfield.

• 15-17: Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games, Olympic-style competition for disabled athletes, ISU Sports Complex, Normal.

• 16: Comlara Park Beach Blowout & Wacky Water Olympics, special water-related activities and contests, noon-3 p.m., Glasener Beach at Comlara Park near Hudson.

• 16: '50s-'60s Days/Hang Loose Weekend, car show and '50s-'60s celebration, downtown square and Humiston Riverside Park in Pontiac.

• 16: Moss Avenue Antique Sale, sidewalk sales up and down historic Moss Avenue in Peoria, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

• 17: 3rd Sunday Market, 450 dealers in 300 booths, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Interstate Center, Bloomington.

• 19-24: Piatt County Fair, fairgrounds at Cerro Gordo.

• 20-21: Movies in the Park, "Charlotte's Web," 9 p.m. Wednesday at Rollingbrook Park, Bloomington, and 9 p.m. Thursday at Clearwater Park, Bloomington.

• 22-23: Mack-Ca-Fest Farm Days, Veterans Park and downtown area, Mackinaw.

• 22-24: Metamora Old Settlers Celebration, with food, entertainment and more, downtown Metamora square.

• 22-24: Taste of Champaign-Urbana, food fair and juried art show, West Side Park in Champaign.

• 23: Scovill Zoo Family Fun Day & Turtle Race, kid games, displays and turtle race, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Scovill Zoo, Decatur.

• 23-24: GridleyFest, entertainment and carnival, Gridley village park.

• 23-24: Railroad Days, railroad heritage celebration, downtown Galesburg.

• 23-24: Rhapsody in Bloom Arts Festival, art, music and food festival, Luthy Botanical Gardens in Glen Oak Park, Peoria.

• 27-28: Movies in the Park, "Over the Hedge," 9 p.m. Wednesday at Rollingbrook Park, Bloomington, and 9 p.m. Thursday at Clearwater Park, Bloomington.

• 30: Independence Day 1860, pioneer July 4th celebration and activities, noon-4 p.m., Rock Springs Nature Center, Decatur.

• 30-7/1: Glory Days: An 1830s Militia Muster, with marching and drilling, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., New Salem State Historic Site, Petersburg.

• 30-7/1: Lakeside Music & Arts Festival, with more than 100 artisans and multiple entertainment stages, Nelson Park, Decatur.

• 30-7/1: Saybrook Freedom Festival, 6 a.m.-dusk, downtown Saybrook.

JULY



• 3-8: Streator's 4th: America's Best, week-long July 4 celebration, downtown and beyond

• 4: Capital City Celebration & Fireworks, all evening, New State Capitol grounds, downtown Springfield.

• 4: Champaign County Freedom Celebration, parade and fireworks, U of I Memorial Stadium and vicinity in Champaign.

• 4: Chenoa July 4th Celebration, parade and day-long events, downtown Chenoa and City Park.

• 4: Clinton Fourth of July Celebration, fireworks at dusk, Weldon Springs State Recreation Area near Clinton.

• 4: Decatur Fourth of July Celebration, entertainment and fireworks, all day in Nelson Park, Decatur.

• 4: Downs Fourth of July Celebration, fireworks and special activities, Dooley Park in Downs.

• 4: Dwight July 4th Celebration, downtown Dwight.

• 4: Eureka Independence Day Celebration, downtown Eureka.

• 4: Fourth of July Celebration at Fairview Park, activities and fireworks, Fairview Park in Normal.

• 4: Freedom Fest 2003, games and entertainment, 3-10 p.m., Lake of the Woods Park at Mahomet.

• 4: Hopedale Fourth of July Celebration, parade, car show and fireworks, all day downtown and in Hopedale Park.

• 4: LeRoy Freedom Fest, fireworks and entertainment, L.A. McKean Memorial Field in LeRoy.

• 4: Lincoln Fourth of July Celebration, all day at Lincoln Park District in Lincoln.

• 4: Metamora Fourth of July Celebration, God & Country concert and events, Metamora Park bandstand.

• 4: Miller Park Fourth of July Festivities & Sky Concert, all day, Miller Park in Bloomington.

• 4: Mount Pulaski 4th of July Celebration, downtown events and fireworks at dusk, Mount Pulaski.

• 4: Paxton Old-Fashioned July 4th Celebration, games and fireworks, Pells Park in Paxton.

• 4: Peoria Independence Day Celebration, 5-11 p.m., downtown riverfront in Peoria.

• 4: Pontiac 4th of July Event, fireworks at dusk, Pontiac Elks Lodge grounds, Pontiac.

• 4-7: Lincoln Heritage Days Celebration, with dancing, games and shopping, downtown Lincoln.

• 7: Taste of Downtown Springfield, food fair with entertainment stages and more, Fifth and Washington streets, downtown Springfield.

• 7-8: Sugar Creek Arts Festival, juried art fair and entertainment, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., downtown Normal and ISU quad.

• 8-14: Ford County Fair, fairgrounds at Melvin.

• 9: Carson & Barnes Circus, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. at location TBA in Pontiac.

• 9: Twin City Cruisers T-Bird/Corvette Night, 5:30-9 p.m., Shoppes at College Hills parking lot.

• 10-14: Fisher Community Fair & Horse Show, fairgrounds at Fisher.

• 11-15: LaSalle County 4-H Show & Junior Fair, fairgrounds at Ottawa.

• 11-15: Marshall-Putnam County Fair, fairgrounds in Henry.

• 11-12: Movies in the Park, "Hoot," 9 p.m. Wednesday at Rollingbrook Park, Bloomington, and 9 p.m. Thursday at Clearwater Park, Bloomington.

• 13-21: Heart of Illinois Fair, nightly grandstand shows and carnival midway, Exposition Gardens, Peoria.

• 13-15: Peoria Balloon Fest 2007, mass hot air balloon ascensions and events, O.S.F. Medical Center grounds, Illinois 91 north of U.S 150, Peoria.

• 14: Comlara Park Ice Cream Social, ice cream and entertainment, noon-4 p.m., Comlara Park near Hudson.

• 15: DeWitt County Museum Ice Cream Social & Vintage Baseball Game, C.H. Moore Homestead grounds, Clinton.

• 15: 3rd Sunday Market, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Interstate Center, Bloomington.

• 15-17: Middletown 175th Birthday Party, with carnival, entertainment and more, downtown Middletown.

• 16-19: Livingston County 4-H Fair, Livingston County Fairgrounds, Pontiac.

• 17-21: Farmer City/DeWitt County Fair, fairgrounds in Farmer City.

• 17-22: Menard County Fair, fairgrounds, Petersburg.

• 18: Summertime Stories in the Park: Bears, themed stories from Twin City Tale Spinners storytellers, 6:30 p.m., Miller Park Bandstand, Bloomington.

• 18-23: Iroquois County Fair, fairgrounds, Crescent City.

• 18-19: Movies in the Park, "Happy Feet," 9 p.m. Wednesday at Rollingbrook Park, Bloomington, and 9 p.m. Thursday at Clearwater Park, Bloomington.

• 20-28: Champaign County Fair, fairgrounds in Urbana.

• 20-22: River City Air Expo 2007, Red Baron Squadron and other performers, Peoria Regional Airport in Peoria.

• 21: Pontiac Cruise Night, with car cruise, food, prizes and more, downtown Pontiac square.

• 23-28: Fulton County Fair, fairgrounds in Lewistown.

• 25: Summertime Stories in the Park: Magic of Three, themed stories from Twin City Tale Spinners storytellers, 6:30 p.m., Miller Park Bandstand, Bloomington.

• 25-26: Movies in the Park, "Flushed Away," 9 p.m. Wednesday at Rollingbrook Park, Bloomington, and 9 p.m. Thursday at Clearwater Park, Bloomington.

• 25-8/5: Ottawa Riverfest Celebration, 10-day community festival, various locations downtown and at riverfront in Ott

• 27-29: Great Balloon Race, 30 hot-air balloons in various events, Lake Storey Park near Galesburg.

• 27-28: Thunderbird Convention, vendors, community events and more, downtown Lawndale.

• 28: Morgan Horse Exhibit & Demonstration, daylong Morgan Horses events, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., New Salem State Historic Site, Petersburg.

• 30-8/2: Tazewell County Fair, Mineral Springs Park in Pekin.

• 31-8/ 5: Logan County Fair, fairgrounds at Lincoln.

AUGUST



• 1: Summertime Stories in the Park: Jungle, themed stories from Twin City Tale Spinners storytellers, 6:30 p.m., Miller Park Bandstand, Bloomington.

• 1-5: McLean County Fair, Interstate Center grounds, Bloomington.

• 3-5: Decatur Celebration, 13 entertainment stages and more, downtown Decatur.

• 4: Annual Auto Exhibition at Clover Lawn, antique vehicle displays and more, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., David Davis Mansion, Bloomington.

• 4-5: Historic Wrestling at New Salem, professional interpretation of wrestling match between Abraham Lincoln and Jack Armstrong, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., New Salem State Historic Site, Petersburg.

• 5: Minier Corn Daze, fresh-cooked corn and events, all day, downtown Minier.

• 7: Bloomington's National Night Out, family entertainment and carnival games, 6-9:30 p.m.; Miller Park, Bloomington.

• 8: Summertime Stories in the Park: Campfire Stories, themed stories from Twin City Tale Spinners storytellers, 6:30 p.m., Forrest Park Campfire Shelter, Bloomington.

• 8: Taste of Peoria, food from 50 Peoria restaurants, 4 p.m.-midnight, Riverfront Festival Park, Peoria.

• 8-11: Cullom Junior Fair, fairgrounds at Cullom.

• 10-19: Illinois State Fair, carnival midway and nightly grandstand shows, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield.

• 10-11: River City Soul Fest, African-American heritage food and entertainment festival, Riverfront Festival Park, Peoria.

• 11: Grape Stomp Festival, wine, food and music fest, Furrow Winery, El Paso.

• 11: Twin City Cruisers Custom Paint/Chrome or Lowriders Night, 5:30-9 p.m., Shoppes at College Hills parking lot.

• 11-12: Route 66 Tractor Roadshow, traveling antique tractor show, with stops in Dwight, Odell, Pontiac and the ISU Farm near Lexington.

• 14-18: LeRoy Fall Festival, first fall fest of the season, downtown LeRoy.

• 15-19: Fairbury Fair, fairgrounds at Fairbury.

• 16-19: Annual WGLT Recycled Music Sale, used LPs and CDs sale, location to be announced.

• 16-19: Washburn Festival, entertainment and special events, downtown Washburn.

• 17-19: Cultural Festival Weekend, cultural and ethnic music and events, Miller Park, Bloomington.

• 17-19: Danvers Days, village festival, Danvers Village Park in Danvers.

• 17-19: Galesburg Heritage Days, pre-1840s rendezvous and Civil War re-enactment, Lake Storey Park near Galesburg.

• 18-19: Farm Heritage Days & Threshing Show, demonstrations and displays, Three Sisters Park, Chillicothe.

• 18-19: Grand National TT Weekend, motorcycle races, swap meet and parade, concerts and more, downtown Peoria and Peoria Motorcycle Club at Bartonville.

• 19: 3rd Sunday Market, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Interstate Center, Bloomington.

• 21: Pontiac Heritage Days and Antique Tractor Show, with old-time demonstrations, arts and crafts, tractor displays and more, downtown Pontiac square.

• 24-25: Sangamon River Festival, carnival, music and entertainment, Main Street in downtown Mahomet.

• 24-25: Urbana Sweetcorn Festival, fresh-cooked corn and entertainment, downtown Urbana.

• 24-25: Erin Feis, Irish heritage culture and music celebration, Riverfront Festival Park, Peoria.

• 24-26: Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival, balloon festival at Logan County Airport in Lincoln and art festival and other events in downtown Lincoln.

• 25: Reagan Fest, Ronald Reagan-themed festival, 7 a.m.-4 p.m., downtown Eureka.

• 25-26: Downtown Normal Sweet Corn, Sweet Blues Festival, fresh-cooked sweet corn and entertainment, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., downtown Normal.

• 25-9/3: DuQuoin State Fair, nightly grandstand shows and more, 8 a.m.-midnight, DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin.

• 26: 1800s Craft Fair, demonstrations and displays, noon-5 p.m., Postville Courthouse State Historic Site in Lincoln.

• 30-9/5: Annual Theshermen's Reunion, festival at Threshermen's Park near Pontiac and parade at 1:15 p.m. Sept. 2 in downtown Pontiac.

• 31-9/3: Delavan Fall Festival, with parade, carnival, entertainment and more, downtown Delavan.

• 31-9/2: Ethnic Festival, ethnic foods and activities, Illinois State Fairgrounds Ethnic Village in Springfield.

Take a look
Roaul and Aroni Anderson, of Bloomington, hold on while taking a ride on the Orbiter during the 2006 McLean County Fair at the Interstate Center in Bloomington. (Pantagraph file photo/CARLOS T. MIRANDA)
A grand entrance is made at the 2001 Grand Village of Kickapoo Powwow near LeRoy. (Pantagraph file photo)
Ron Hardwig of Bloomington, right, owner of the 1922 steam powered "Stanley Steamer" in the foreground watched Troy Blunier of Danvers prepare to drive the solar-powered car that Illinois State University entered in the North American Solar Challenge. The cars were on display during the McLean County Antique Automobile Club's exhibit, at the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington in July 2006. (Pantagraph file photo/DAVID PROEBER)
"Burgess the Penguin" was seen high in the skies over Lincoln during the 33rd annual Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival in 2006. This year's festival will be Aug. 24-26. (For the Pantagraph)
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