Small-town festival offers carnival, parade, pageants, fun
This June, cruise 20 minutes south down I-55 and enjoy a small-town festival among the cornfields in picturesque Pawnee. This year’s Pawnee Prairie Days will be observed June 22-24. The three-day celebration features traditional festival fare, events and activities in a tight-knit community setting.
A carnival, courtesy of Connor Amusements, will be offered all three days. The carnival is an excellent value for families, who will want to take advantage of special “wristband sessions” where children can ride all carnival rides for one low price. Three wristband sessions will take place Thursday through Saturday from 6-10 p.m. nightly, as well as one on Saturday afternoon from 12-4 p.m. Wristbands will be available for advance purchase as a fourpack for $80; they can also be purchased on site during Pawnee Prairie Days for $25 per band.
In the evenings, the streets will fill with music by central Illinois’ most rocking acts. Festival-goers will enjoy country band Tennessee Borderline on Thursday night, Off the Wall (voted “Best Rock Band” in Illinois Times’ 2016 “Best of Springfield” contest) on Friday night, and nationally touring country group Broseph E. Lee closes out the music on Saturday night.
The pageants are always a Pawnee Prairie Days highlight, and PPD organizers are excited to present another year of multiple pageant opportunities for the young women of Pawnee. A queen pageant will take place on Thursday evening, offering girls residing in Pawnee Township the opportunity to compete for the title of Miss Pawnee Prairie Days (ages 14-18), Jr Miss (ages 9-13), and Little Miss Prairie Days Princess (ages 5-8). Get ready to say “aww!,” as there will also be a baby contest presented on Saturday morning, open to all babies of parents residing in Pawnee Township.
Saturday’s full-day schedule features a handful of additional attractions and ways to get involved, including the annual Pawnee Prairie Days parade. The theme of this year’s parade is “Wild Wild West,” and the procession is scheduled to leave from the high school at 5 p.m. Automotive enthusiasts will enjoy the all-day car show at the Pawnee Assembly of God Church plus the tractor show and kids’ tractor pull on the northeast corner of the square. Are you a grillmaster? Enter your own recipe or simply smell what your neighbors are cooking during the fourth annual backyard barbecue cookoff, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the northwest side of the Pawnee square. This year’s cookoff categories are ribs, chicken and “open.”
More information and updates about the Pawnee Prairie Days can be found on Facebook. – Nan Kording Hosted by Springfi eld Park District. Free. springfi eldparks.org. Washington Park, 1501 S. Grand Ave. W., 544-1751.
Springfield Mile Race 1 May 28. Motorcycles race a 1-mile oval track. $30 advance, $40 race week. amaproracing.com. Illinois State Fair Grandstand, 801 Sangamon Ave., 782- 6661.
Bike and Hike Days May 29-31, Jun 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 26-28, Jul 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24- 26, 31, Aug 1-2, 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 4-6pm. Enjoy safe recreation and minimized vehicular traffi c around a modifi ed loop. Hosted by Springfi eld Park District. Free. springfi eldparks.org. Washington Park, 1501 S. Grand Ave. W., 544-1751.
Artist on the Plaza Concert Series May 30-Aug 31, 12pm Tue and Thu. Complimentary performances on Tuesdays and Thursdays range from singer/songwriters to musical theater performers and dancers to jugglers. Weather pending. Free. Old State Capitol Plaza, between Sixth and Fifth streets at Adams, Springfi eld.
Jacksonville Farmers Market May 30-Aug 31, 7am-12pm. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through Oct. jaxfresh.org. Lincoln Square, Jacksonville.
Life Re-imagined May 30, 6-8pm. Innovative program helps people identify and achieve their goals, no matter where they are in life. Registration. local.aarp.org. Rochester Public Library, 1 Community Drive, Rochester, 498-8454.
Downtown Jacksonville Farmers Market May 31, Jun 7, 14, 21, 28, Jul 5, 12, 19, 26, Aug 2, 9, 16, 23, 4-7pm. Every Wednesday May-Oct. Sponsored by Jacksonville Main Street. jacksonvillemainstreet.com. 245- 6884. Southeast area of the Square, downtown Jacksonville.
June
Workout in the Park Jun 1, Jul 6, Aug 3, 6-7pm. Hosted by HSHS Central Illinois, Springfi eld Park District, FitClub and Scheels. Free. springfi eldparks.org. Washington Park Gazebo.
Legacy of Giving Music Festival Jun 2-3. SOHO Music Festival replacement features 70 bands across fi ve stages, vendor fair and kids area. Proceeds to charity. $5 per day. logmusicfest.org. Downtown Springfi eld.
Heritage Days Summerfest Jun 2-4, 5-11pm Fri, 4-11pm Sat, 11am Sun. 12th annual festival hosted by Little Flower Parish. Three days of live music, kids’ area, bags tournament, chicken-wing cook-off, mega-raffl e and more. Little Flower School, 900 Stevenson Dr., 529-4511.
Lincoln’s Legacy 5K and 10K Jun 2, 6pm. Beautiful but challenging race courses through a 160-year-old cemetery and past Lincoln’s Tomb. Registration. triharderpromotions. com. Lincoln Park, Fifth Street and Sangamon Avenue, 544-1751.
Rees International Carillon Competition Jun 2-3, 6-9pm. Five fi nalists from the USA and Europe compete for monetary prizes in this competition judged by an international jury. Free. carillon-rees. org. Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 546-3853.
Smashtag, The Vandoliers Jun 2, 6pm. Outdoor concert. Bring picnics, blankets, lawn chairs. Part of the Levitt AMP Jacksonville Music
