PEORIA MAGAZINE June 2023

WASHINGTON GOOD NEIGHBOR DAYS MAY 31-JUNE 4 1800 Washington Road (John Bearce lot) Carnival rides, music events, 5K race, nightly fireworks, etc. ELMWOOD STRAWBERRY

CHILLICOTHE DAYS CARNIVAL JUNE 14-17, 2023 City Park, Downtown Chillicothe Kick off summer with carnival rides, games, food, live music and entertainment, a talent show, Mr. Chillicothe contest and more. facebook.com/chillicothechamber JUNETEENTH FEST JUNE 17, 2023 Carver Center, John H. Gwynn Jr. Park emancipation of slaves in the U.S., was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021 and the Juneteenth Fest marks the occasion. Juneteenth, which commemorates the OLD SETTLER’S DAYS MACOMB HERITAGE DAYS JUNE 21-24, 2023 Metamora Village Square A reunion, a family tradition, a time to gather and enjoy being part of a community. Old Settler’s Days is food, vendors, carnival rides and live music every night near the historic Metamora Courthouse. villageofmetamora.com MACOMB HERITAGE DAYS JUNE 22-25 Macomb Municipal Airport Bands, food and a carnival plus a Sunday pancake breakfast. macombheritagedays.com ILLINOIS SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL JUNE, JULY, AUGUST 2023 Multiple venues, Bloomington Celebrate the Bard with performances, educational programs and community events throughout the summer. This year’s works include “The Comedy of Errors,” “The Book of Will” by Lauren Gunderson and “The Tempest.” Illinoisshakes.com VOLKSFEST JULY 1, 2023 Hickory Grove Park, Dunlap peoriagermans.net

PLAYING IN PEORIA

IT’S SUMMERTIME, HAVE SOME FESTIVAL FUN BY STEVE TARTER S ummer is festival time in Illinois. That’s the time for towns across the central swath of the state to pull together and pack in the locals and tourists alike. Since towns don’t have a monopoly on crops grown on the premises, you’re likely to find a little duplication. If you’re a strawberry fan, there’s the Elmwood Strawberry Festival, always held on the first Saturday in June. But strawberries are also the theme for festivals in Arthur, Kankakee, Long Grove and Tiskilwa. This is the corn belt, after all, so while most of the maize you see from the roadside isn’t for human consumption, there are sweet corn festivals aplenty in these parts, including in Minier and Normal. Meanwhile, there’s plenty to savor right here in Peoria. Some 30 events, including a trio of three-day festivals and a pair of two-day festivals, will take place on the banks of the Illinois River in Downtown Peoria from late May through the end of September, said Nick Conrad, supervisor of riverfront events for the Peoria Park District. The biggest crowd can be expected for the Carle Health Red, White and Boom fireworks display on July 4 but the Peoria Irish Fest and Oktoberfest will each draw from 5,000 to 8,000 people over the course of their three-day runs, said Conrad. “The longest-running festival on the Peoria riverfront is the Peoria Blues and Heritage Festival, which dates back to the early 1990s,” he said. There’s also a new three-day festival this year—Park A-Palooza—to be held June 8-10 complete with concert, bounce house (the world’s biggest) and drone light show, said Conrad. Here is a list of summertime and early autumn festivals in central Illinois:

FESTIVAL JUNE 3, 2023 Central Park, Main and Magnolia, Elmwood Crafters, vendors, local

entertainers, a 5K color run/ walk and good food including lots of strawberry desserts. facebook.com/ elmwoodstrawberryfest CANTON ART ON MAIN FINE ART FESTIVAL JUNE 3-4, 2023 Jones Park, Canton View and purchase original art from some of the Midwest’s best artists, plus food, local music and wine. cantonillinois.org/main-street/ main-street-events/art-on-main BLOOMINGTON GOLD JUNE 2-3, 2023 Redbird Arena and Horton Field House, Normal Corvette, Camaro and other car enthusiasts are invited to two days of automotive excitement including a road tour, judging, vendors, dealer displays and a gala reception. bloomingtongold.com TREMONT TURKEY FESTIVAL JUNE 9-11, 2023 Community Park (on Route 9) Turkey is a big part of this festival, which traces its roots back 57 years. In addition, enjoy entertainment, family activi ties, the Miss Tremont Pageant, carnival rides, tractor pulls, a parade and more. turkeyfestival.com SOMMERFEST JUNE 10, 2023 Hickory Grove Park, Dunlap peoriagermans.net

72 JUNE 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE