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We’re Making a Comeback
We’re Making a Comeback! We hope to see you at our Bureau County Events soon!
Usually the Calendar of Events in the Bureau County Visitors Guide has many pages of listings of events like festivals, church suppers, races, parades and so many fun family events. With the Covid-19 pandemic still in place many of these events are still on hold while some are in tentative planning stages waiting for the Governor to ok group get togethers. Here’s an update on some of the events being planned for 2021
The Bureau County Fairgrounds is usually bustling with activity year- round. Most events were cancelled there since March of 2020 but since then the Fairgrounds exhibit halls have been used for several months for a Covid vaccination clinic.
Currently the plans are to hold the annual Bureau County Fair August 25 – 29. It will be a modified event due to Covid restriction with events to be announced soon. Other events at the Fairgrounds will be announced as the restrictions on attendance are lifted. Last year’s 4H Fair was done virtually with the exhibitors sending in videos of them showing their projects. Plans are underway now for the 4H Fair to be held July 14-16 with a modified, in person, showing schedule. A Fainting Goat Show will be held July 9 & 10.
Nightmare on Fairgrounds Road Haunted Attraction has been a huge part of the fall line up at the Fairgrounds. Instead of walking through the haunted fairgrounds buildings last year it was converted to a drive through event that hundreds of families were able to enjoy. Look for this event to return this October with fun and scares for the whole family. A Halloween Parade will be held on Main St in Princeton on October 9 at 5:30 p.m. Come out and see some of your favorite ghouls. A new event has been added in December called Home for the Holidays. This will be a drive through Christmas light spectacular which will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights beginning Dec. 4 and continuing through January 1. Get your hot rod shined up! Two Cruise-In’s have been planned for Princeton on Sunday May 16 and July 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Rotary Park at the north end of Princeton. Another cruise, the IL Valley Toy Run will be held Sunday October 17 starting at Soldiers and Sailors Park on South Main St in Princeton. Please bring a new unwrapped toy to donate to make some kids Christmas happier. You can enjoy the beautiful sights around Bureau County on the Toy Run cruise.
Psycho Silo Saloon, Langley, IL has several events planned for 2021. Langley is located at the intersection of US Rt 6, US Rt 34 and IL Route 40 near Sheffield. There will be a Back the Blue Parade of motorcycles starting in Chicago at Chi-Town Harley Davidson at 11 a.m. and riding down Interstate 80 to the Silo on Sat. May 22nd. Riders
will join in all along the route which will have a police escort to exit 45 where they will exit and head to the Silo. A Back the Blue ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. at Psycho Silo when a special hero will be honored.
The Vietnam Memorial Wall replica and tributes will be on display at the Psycho Silo Saloon on Memorial Day weekend, May 29-31. On Friday, May 28 there will be a Vietnam Wall Escort Parade and Veterans Open House at 4 p.m. The parade line up begins at 3 p.m. at City County Park and will travel down Main St in Princeton toward Sheffield. Come out and help honor our veterans. Memorial Day weekend is always a huge music weekend at Psycho Silo Saloon with many popular bands playing Friday through Monday. A Memorial Day service with a 21 gun salute will be held there at 3 p.m. on Monday with the Flags of Freedom.
Neponset is hosting their 10th Annual Cruise-In on Friday, June 11 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Along with the classic cars there will be music and food. On June 26, the Neponset American Legion will be presenting their new event the 2021 Truck and Tractor Roundup (T-N-T) and parts swap meet.
LaMoille Buffalo Days will be held June 11, 12 and 13 with live music and entertainment. Friday will feature the Brat Pack (totally 80’s music). Saturday will be Alika and Arlynn Band and Sunday’s musical entertainment will be Burn N’ Bush. Great food and many fun events are being planned.
The First Friday Markets return to the Art District in Princeton at Darius Miller (Rotary Park). May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, Sept 3 and October 1 from 2 to 8 p.m. Look for crafts, great food and music too.
Walnut is planning their Walnut Day’s Celebration the weekend of July 2, 3 and 4. Their festival always ends with a bang with a huge fireworks display. Watch the Tourism web page and Facebook page for events as they are announced.
The Wyanet Festival will be held on July 8, 9 and 10 with a carnival, entertainment, Queen pageant, a craft/vendor/ farmers’ market, tractor and car show, baby contest and great food. The volunteers make this happen so please help support the Wyanet Community Club as they plan their events this year. Sunset Ridge Motocross track near Walnut has added the Nuclear-Sunset 2021 Power Series races on May 9, Sept 19 and October 9 plus they will have other race dates during the season. The Hennepin Hundred is a 100 mile long ultramarathon running race that is held on the Hennepin Canal State Trail. This year it will be held on Oct 2 & 3. Runners start at 7 a.m. in Sinissippi Park in Sterling and they run throughout the day and the night. The 50 mile runners finish at Lock 17 just outside of Wyanet. Runners can do a 50-mile leg of the race or turn around and run back to complete the 100-mile ultra-marathon which ends in Colona. The 50 and 100 mile course follow the Hennepin Canal State Trail, Illinois longest multi-use trail, across historic locks and lift bridges, past the autumn corn, picturesque farms and postcard towns of Northern Illinois. You are welcome to come out and cheer them on or even volunteer for the aid
stations along the route.
More on 34 Garage Sales will be held on Father’s Day weekend in June, the 18 and 19. This year the event will encompass all of Bureau County instead of just being on Rt. 34, as there is More than 34 in Bureau County. Updates will be announced soon. Take a drive across Bureau County on Friday and Saturday and keep your eyes peeled for garage sale signs. With everyone staying home a lot of closets have been cleaned out and there may be a bargain or two for you to find.
The Beef and Ag Festival returns on Saturday, June 19 with great steak sandwiches and music by Nashville artist Jake Mauer right on Main St in Princeton.
The Down on Main Street Concert Series in Princeton return on Friday June 18 and everyone is looking forward to bringing their lawn chairs and enjoying the free musical entertainment. Concerts are held on Main Street in front of the Prouty building.
Friday, June 18 – The Chicago Experience; July 2 – The Joe Stamm Band; July 16 – the Saturday June Band; Friday August 13 – The Jimmy’s; Thursday, Sept 9 – The Boat Drunks.
Do you just want to get outside and enjoy some fresh air and beautiful scenery? Check out the calendar of events at Hornbaker Gardens. They will have an Arboretum Walk on Sat. May 15. Their annual open house and Hosta Walk will be Friday June 11 to the 13 with Friday night featuring a Sip and Stroll event from 4 to 7 p.m. There will be a mini bar serving wine and beer and food specials too. The 8th annual Artisans Market is planned for Saturday Sept. 18. There will be over 30 fine artists, craft beer and wine tasting, music and wonderful food items. Free admission. 2021 is the 50th anniversary of the Princeton Homestead Festival which will be held Sept 9-12. The theme this year is “Rockin Down the Highway.” Plans are underway now for the annual activities like the parade, craft and vendor show, class reunions, BBQ Rib cookoff, beer gardens, live music and so much more. A Doobie Brothers tribute band – The Doobie Others – will perform in concert on Friday night at Soldiers and Sailors Park. A tribute to Keith Knudsen, a former Doobie Brothers band member, who lived in Princeton will be held at the Apollo Theater on Friday at 4 p.m. A Star in the Walk of Fame will be placed in his honor. The Shadows of the Blue and Gray Civil War living history reenactment returns to City County Park on October 9th and 10th. Look carefully and you might see President Lincoln visiting with the troops. Watch as the battle unfolds in front of your eyes and listen for the cannon fire. This is a great learning experience for students and adults.
The Lake DePue National Championship Boat races bring in racers from all over the United States to compete in the USTS Title Series. The event will be held July 28, 29 and August 1 if the restrictions will allow it to happen. Bring your lawn chair and sit on the bank of beautiful Lake DePue and watch the boats fly across the water. There will be musical entertainment and great food too.
