Reagan Trail Days August 7-12

August 7-12 -- Reagan Trail Days!!

Tuesday, August 7 – Evening in the President's Shadow

Come enjoy an evening in the park at Reagan’s Boyhood Home. An Evening in the President’s Shadow Wine Tasting will be from 7 to 9 p.m. in Reagan Memorial Park.  Hosted under the shady canopy of Reagan Memorial Park, this is something not to be missed. Experience tastes of various wines, beers and other spirits complimented with treats from area restaurants.  Making an encore appearance for your listening pleasure is Jimmy Jack Whitaker. Get tickets at the Reagan Home or Dixon Welcome Center.

Wednesday, August 8 – 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 Jazzy Jeff.

Thursday, August 9 – 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, face painting and other games. Enjoy a Community Cookout with Fern's Cafe cooking out hot dogs, brats, and hamburgers with chips and a drink included. Dinner donation is just $3 for adults and kids 18 and under eat FREE!

Friday, August 10 –

NOON -- Musical Fridays on the Riverfront sponsored by Community State Bank. Performing is Ray Rose.

Friday, August 12 –  6 p.m. - 10 p.m. -- The Annual Ronald Reagan Gala sponsored by Dixon Health Care. The wonderful evening, celebrates Ronald Reagan and Dixon High School alumni that have gone on to do great things just as Ronald Reagan did. The evening will feature an elegant dinner, awards presentation and music by the Reagan Centennial Jazz Quartet. A can’t-miss event! Tickets are $35 per person or $300 for a sponsored table of 8. Call 288-2308 for reservations as seating is limited.

Honorees this year are Dr. David Kuter, Chad Mumford, and Lynn Knights.

Saturday, August 11 –

Riverfront and Downtown Dixon Activities Include:

10 a.m.--The Alzheimer's Association annual Duck Races on the Rock River. 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.

11 a.m. - 3 p.m. The Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home will be hosting a Kids' Day in Reagan Memorial Park with FREE activities from 11:00am - 3:00pm.  We encourage children of all ages to enjoy stories in our story corner & learn games from the 1920's such as hopscotch, jacks, marbles and more.  If your tummy starts to rumble while you're here, the Sauk Valley Hockey Club will host a concessions stand.  We wouldn't dream of forgetting Mom and Dad in all this.  Adults enjoy 2 for 1 tour rates all day from 10am-4:00pm.  Join us at the Reagan Home for a day of fun! 

Downtown Sidewalk Sales -- Come shop downtown Dixon and explore our quaint retail shops or enjoy some refreshments at our great restaurants and bars.

12 p.m. - 6 p.m. -- Historic Trolley Tours -- Join us for a FREE Trolley Ride tour of many of the local Reagan and Dixon historic sites. A local historian will tell stories as you ride the streets of Dixon.  The bus departs every 30 minutes from the Reagan statue on the Riverfront.

12 p.m. - 5 p.m. -- Art Trunk Show on the Riverfront sponsored by the Next Picture Show. Stroll along the Riverfront and enjoy seeing a variety of great art in this unique showcase.

2 p.m. - 11 p.m. -- Peoria Avenue Block Party presented by Mama Cimino's. Join Mama Cimino's as they celebrate 5 years in Downtown Dixon! Kids games, Bounce House and more provided by Dixon Athletic Boosters. Live Music throughout the night.

3 p.m. --  Bags Tournament at the Mama Cimino's Block Party -- Entry fee is $40/team in the Competitive division, and $20/team in the Recreational division. The tournament is double elimination, and every team is guaranteed 3 matches. There will be cash prizes for the Competitive division, and gift cards and prizes for the Recreational division. All teams have the option of bringing their own bags. There will be a limit of 48 teams total. Sign-up will start at 3:00pm and the tournament will start at 4 pm. For more info call Rudy (815)440-4096

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

Sunday, August 12 --

Dixon Municipal Band Concert -- 4 p.m. Dixon Theatre. Tickets are $5 each and are available at Trein's Jewelry and Dixon Main Street.

Lunch and Learn, Car Show and more

This week's Lunch and Learn will be a great one with Basil Tree providing lunch and Shawn Ortgiesen providing an update on the city. Sponsored by Hicks Insurance. The event starts at noon at the Post House Ballroom. Cost is $3.

Musical Fridays Presented by Community State Bank

July 20 -- This week's artist is Eileen Quest. Join us every Friday at Noon on the Riverfront from June - September. The full schedule is on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dixonmainstreet

Now on to the DMS Events and Updates ...

July 22 -- The 11th Annual Riverfront Classic Car and Motorcycle show is set for Sunday, July 22 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. in downtown Dixon. The cars will be showcased on the Riverfront, along Hennepin Ave and First Street in the downtown. The event is expected to draw between 200-300 classic cars. As usual, 3D Sound will be on hand to provide music and commentary for the show. This year's competition will have several judged categories, including Top 50 1985 and older, Top 5 1986 and newer, Top 5 Motorcycles, and Best of Show Modified and Original. Awards will take place at 3 p.m. Registration goes from 8 a.m. - Noon and cost is $15 per car. Throughout the day Mama Cimino's and Oliver's Corner Market will be hosting cook-outs. For more information, call Steve at 815-284-2763.

July 28 -- Midsummer's Jubilee is set for 6-11 p.m. on July 28 on the Riverfront in downtown Dixon. The evening will feature music by the Rock River Jazz Band and dinner by Mama Cimino's. The evening also will feature a live and silent auction. Proceeds from the event will go toward the Riverfront's boat dock project and Dixon Main Street's John Dixon statue project. Tickets are $35 per person or a sponsored table of 8 for $280. For more information, call 815-288-2308.

August 7-12 -- Reagan Trail Days!! Get the full scoop at www.facebook.com/reagantraildays or at www.dixonmainstreet.com

August 17-18 -- Mumford and Sons Festival Weekend!!

A few quick notes from around the community. . .

Farmer's Market -- The Dixon Park District hosts its Farmer's Market every Wednesday and Saturdays 7 a.m. -- Noon at Haymarket Square at the corner of  Highland Ave and Second Street.

DIXON'S REAGAN TRAIL DAYS SET FOR AUG 7-12

The festival will run from Tuesday, August 7 - Sunday, August 12. The celebrations will kick-off with the traditional In the President's Shadow Wine Tasting event at the Ronald Reagan Boyhood home on August 7. The event is expected to be a sell-out again this year.

On Wednesday, August 8 families are invited to come to the Riverfront in downtown Dixon from 6-8 p.m. for free ice cream by Culver's and music by the local musician Jazzy Jeff.

Thursday, August 9 is the Community Picnic at Lowell Park, where Reagan saved 77 lives as a lifeguard. The picnic will feature a cookout by Fern's Cafe. Cost for dinner is just $2 and kids 18 and under eat for free. There will be free pontoon boat rides, face painting, and activities for the whole family from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Friday, August 10 will feature the Dixon Main Street Musical Fridays concert at Noon on the Riverfront featuring music by Ray Rose. Also on Friday is the annual Reagan Dinner Gala at Timber Creek Golf Club at 6 p.m. The evening will honor former Dixonite's Dr. David Kuter, Chad Mumford and Lynn Knights. There will be music by the Reagan Centennial Jazz Quartet. Tickets for the elegant evening are $35 and reservations are required.

Saturday, August 11 will feature events throughout the day highlighted by Kid’s Day at the Reagan Home. At 10am the Alzheimer’s Association will hold its annual duck race on the Rock River. There will be Historic Trolley Tours of many local Reagan and Dixon historic sites from 12-6pm starting at the Riverfront.At 2pm The Next Picture Show will begin their Art Truck Show on the Riverfront and at 2pm join Mama Cimino’s as they celebrate 5 years in Downtown Dixon with a Peoria Ave. Block Party. There will also be a Bags Tournament starting at 4pm. And don’t forget that Second Saturdays Art Happenings will be going on in the downtown starting at 6pm that evening.

Sunday, August 12 -- A special concert at the Historic Dixon Theatre at 4 p.m. The Reagan Centennial Reprise Concert will be performed by the Dixon Municipal Band Tickets are just $5 and can be purchased at Trein's Jewelry in Dixon or online at www.dixontheatre.com. For ticket information, call 815-288-2308.