Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Scarecrow Festival, September 28




17th Annual Scarecrow Festival set for Sept. 28
in downtown Dixon
} Annual event to feature Doggy Zoo, The Great Pumpkin Patch and more

The 17th Annual Scarecrow Festival Presented by Hicks Insurance will be in downtown Dixon on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. This year, the event will feature many of the fan favorites like: Pumpkin Painting, The Great Pumpkin Patch, Craft and Food Vendors, kids games, Doggy Zoo, Pie-in-the-Face Throw, and much more.

The festival entertainment stage will feature three great shows throughout the day to entertain the crowds. At 10 a.m., Jeremy The Amazer will perform his magic show, at 11 a.m. bluegrass band Truman's Ridge will perform, and at 1 p.m. the Hoo Haven Wildlife Refuge animal showcase will take place. The festival stage will be set up at the corner of First and Hennepin Avenue in the heart of the downtown.

"The Scarecrow Festival is definitely one of the great fall traditions in downtown Dixon," said Josh Albrecht, executive director of Dixon Main Street. "It is a great day for families to come and explore the downtown."

The festival is a favorite for families and kids with a wide selection of activities for children. Nearly 5,000 people are expected to attend this year's event.

The Doggy Zoo continues to grow in popularity, as well. With more than 80 different dog breeds on display, kids can learn about what makes each dog unique while they talk with the dog's owner. The Doggy Zoo takes place on the Old Lee County Courthouse Lawn from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The Great Pumpkin Patch will be set up at the parking lot on the corner of First and Peoria Avenue, where families get to hunt for their gourd in a maze of pumpkins.

Again this year, the Lee County United Way Campaign Kick-off will take place during the festival. The United Way volunteers are planning many great family activities throughout the day. And Habitat for Humanity will host their garage sale fundraiser, and the 4-H clubs will host their annual bake sale.

"Every year we continue to grow with new events during the festival," Albrecht said. "And we are excited that the traditional events stay with us year after year."

For more information on the Scarecrow Festival, go online to www.dixonmainstreet.com or www.facebook.com/dixonmainstreet

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A listing of some events at Scarecrow Festival

PUMPKIN PAINTING

Located at the corner of First and Peoria Ave. Sponsored by Dixon Paint Company.

PIE IN THE FACE

Sponsored by Immanuel Lutheran Church corner of Hennepin & First Street.

DOGGY ZOO

Located at the Lee County Courthouse lawn. Over 80 breeds of dogs will be on display with their owners to answer questions. 10 - 1 p.m.


Habitat For Humanity Garage Sale
Located at the Kenzley Title parking lot at the corner of Commercial Alley and Hennepin Ave.

FLOWER POT PAINTING

Sponsored by Lee County Master Gardeners.
Located in front of Town Square Center on First Street.

JEREMY ‘THE AMAZER’ HAAK – 10 AM–3 PM

Performance at 10 a.m. at the corner of First & Hennepin.

PALMYRA HILLBILLIES 4H BOOTH

Located on First Street between Hennepin & Galena Avenues on the south side of the street, the 4H will feature crafts and a bake sale.

FARMERS MARKET - 8 a.m. - noon

Dixon Park District's weekly Farmer's Market. Come check out fresh foods, crafts, and more at Haymarket Square.

RETAIL AND DINING SPECIALS

Come and Visit the variety of retail and dining options in downtown Dixon during Scarecrow Festival. Try some great food, find some great shopping bargains and enjoy our wonderful downtown

Hunter's Hope 3K Walk

Hunter's Hope Every Step, the Walk for Expanded & Universal Newborn Screening
Every Child.  Every Time.  Everywhere.
3K walk on the Riverfront, 9am registration/10a.m. Start  $10 fee
Register online www.everystepwalk.org.
More info lisamc4674@hotmail.com

 

MOPS BOOTH

The local MOPS group will be holding a food booth featuring apples and other treats.

The GREAT DOWNTOWN PUMPKIN PATCH

The Great Downtown Pumpkin Patch featuring a field of pumpkins. Come and pick out your favorite pumpkin or try your luck at the Pumpkin Raffle. Enjoy homemade soaps, gourds, and other fall decorations! Corner of First and Peoria Ave.



VENDOR BOOTHS

A variety of craft vendors will be on display including Mary Kay, Thirty-One and more!

 

United Way Kick-Off Party

The United Way is hosting their campaign launch party during the festival. Corner of First and Galena Avenue.

Christmas Walk 50/50 Tickets

Dixon Main Street will be selling our 50/50 Christmas Walk Raffle Tickets during Scarecrow Festival. Drawing will be held at the Christmas Walk on Friday, Dec. 6.

Reagan Trail Days Post-Event Hightlights and Thank Yous!



The annual Reagan Trail Days saw another very successful week of events this year. Running from August 6-11, the events highlighted several famous "Reagan" sites throughout our town and showcased our beautiful Downtown and Riverfront. Thank you for your support of this great Dixon tradition. And a huge thanks to our Presenting Sponsor Midland States Bank. Additional sponsorship came from Dixon Tourism, Culver's, Mama Cimino's, and Venier Jewelers. Partnership sponsors included: Dixon Park District, Dixon Public Library, Dixon Municipal Band, Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home, Dixon Riverfront, Second Saturdays, and Sterling Federal Bank.

Highlights from 2013 include:

August 6 -- The Cowboy Randy Erwin Show brought more than 150 people to an evening show in the Riverfront Amphitheatre.

August 7 -- Ice Cream Social on the Riverfront brought 300 people to the downtown for ice cream and live music.

August 8 -- The picnic in Lowell park saw 236 people take a pontoon boat ride and 300 hot dog meals served.

August 9 -- The annual Gala at the Reagan Home had more than 100 people turn out for the awards program. The evening included free tours of the Reagan Boyhood Home.

August 10 -- The first-ever Beanblossom Music Festival brought just shy of 1,000 people downtown for a great night of music and food. Second Saturdays held their monthly events, too.

August 11 -- Annual RTD Municipal Band concert had one of the biggest crowds of the year for the Municipal Band with nearly 200 concert-goers enjoying the sounds in Page Park.

In total, our events drew over 2,000 people for the week. We also had 142 volunteers donate 244 volunteer hours.

Thank you for your support!!

Friday, August 2, 2013

Reagan Trail Days Updated Schedule for August 6-11

Tuesday, August 6 – Cowboy Randy Show on the Riverfront
Come enjoy an evening on the downtown Riverfront with the Cowboy Randy Show featuring trick roping, yodeling, cowboy stories and much more. Cowboy Randy has done voice work for Disney's Home on the Range, performances at The Library of Congress, Carnegie Hall , Queen Elizabeth Hall, The New Orleans Jazz Festival, The Seattle International Children's Festival, The Ravinia Festival, as The Artist in Residence at Grand Canyon, and at night clubs and folk festivals all over Great Britain, Canada, and the United States.   A great family-friendly event to kick-off Reagan Trail Days week! Show starts at 7 p.m. Free admission. Sponsored by the Dixon Public Library.

Wednesday, August 7 – Ice Cream Social on the Riverfront
Ice Cream Social on the Riverfront in Downtown Dixon from 6-8 p.m. featuring FREE Culver's custard and live music by Lowell Harp and Friends.

Thursday, August 8 – Community Picnic at Lowell Park
Community Picnic at Lowell Park, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m..  A perfect setting for an old-fashioned community picnic at Lowell Park, where Reagan once saved 77 lives as a lifeguard. Come enjoy FREE pontoon boat rides, and music by Wade Buzzard.  Enjoy a Community Cookout with Mama Ciminos cooking out. Dinner donation is just $3 for adults and kids 18 and under eat FREE!

Friday, August 9 –
Musical Fridays on the Riverfront @ Noon. Free concert sponsored by Community State Bank.

GALA in the PARK -- Friday, August 9 –  6 p.m. - 10 p.m. -- The Annual Ronald Reagan Gala in the Park at the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home. This year, the annual wine tasting reception and the Gala are joined for one big event at the Boyhood Home. Featuring music by Chameleon and Jimmy Jack Whitaker, elegant food by Basil Tree, and wine tastings by the Crystal Cork. Come sample the Dixon Welcome Center's Petunia Wine! The evening will feature the annual awards ceremony as we honor State Senator Tim Bivins, Courtney Fassler, and Peter Nichols.  The wonderful evening, celebrates Ronald Reagan and Dixonites that have gone on to do great things just as Ronald Reagan did, and is emceed by Tom Wadsworth. A can’t-miss event! Tickets are $35 per person and includes a commemorative wine glass and two wine tasting tickets. Tickets available at the Boyhood Home Visitor's Center or online at www.reaganhome.com.


Saturday, August 10 –
The Alzheimer's Association annual Duck Races on the Rock River -- 10 a.m. -- Come down to the Riverfront and watch hundreds of rubber duckies race along the Rock River. Join the fundraising effort by sponsoring a duck for just $5. Tickets are available at the Alzheimer's Association office at 93 S. Hennepin Ave. or call 285-1100.

Beanblossom Music Festival -- Downtown Dixon will play host to a new music and food festival on Saturday, August 10 at the Beanblossom Music Festival in downtown Dixon. Featuring JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, Gina Venier & the Gentlemen, and many more great musicians, this all-ages music festival will run from 5 p.m. - 1 a.m. at the Beanblossom Parking Lot in the heart of downtown Dixon. Along with the great music, the event will feature fantastic food by local restaurants Orom and Mama Ciminos. JC Brooks and the Uptown sound are currently touring to support their latest album Howl. Fresh off a performance at Milwaukee's Summerfest, the band continues to tour throughout the Midwest.  Gina Venier & the Gentlemen rocked the Riverfront Stage during Dixon's annual Petunia Festival on July 5. With a crowd of 3,000 people, Gina showed her hometown crowd what she has been up to while playing gigs throughout the Chicagoland area. Nate Gordon will open the festival with his acoustic blues/rock sound. Gordon has been playing locally at Rosbrook Studio, Books on First, and Musical Fridays. He has also been touring throughout Illinois and Iowa this summer. Advance tickets are just $5 at Venier's Jewelry in downtown Dixon, by calling 815-288-2308. For more information, call 815-288-2308 or online at www.dixonmainstreet.com


Second Saturdays Art Happenings -- 6-8 p.m. -- at various locations throughout the downtown. Maps will be available at the event or online at www.secondsaturdays.com

Sunday, August 11 --
RTD Dixon Municipal Band Concert -- 2 p.m. at the Page Park Band Shell. This year's program will feature "Music for Presidents", highlighted by "George Washington BiCentennial March"-John Philip Sousa, "Elegy for a Young American"-Ronald Lo Presti (in honor of JFK), "Lincoln Portrait"-Aaron Copland (Paul Katner-narrator), "Selections from Porgy and Bess"-George and Ira Gershwin (Dwight Eisenhower's favorite operetta), "Heartbreak Hotel"-Elvis Presley (Bill Clinton's favorite song to play tenor sax too), and "Reagan of Illinois Part 1"-David Holsinger (Paul Katner-narrator).