Plans are under way for the 16th Annual Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival scheduled to take place on August 16, 17 and 18 in downtown Rochelle. The festival provides a wholesome, fun-filled weekend for the entire Rochelle community and surrounding area. The theme this year is “Let the Good Times Roll.”
Throughout the weekend there will be plenty of food, games and entertainment for families to enjoy. The weekend kicks off at 4PM on Friday with carnival rides by Great American Amusements and mouth-watering fare at the food court. The Little Miss Peanut Contest begins at 6PM and then “Miles Neilson and the Rusted Hearts” take the main stage. The Beer Garden will be open Friday evening from 7-10PM. Carnival wrist band will be available on Friday and Sunday for a reduced fee of $15.00 in advance or $20.00 at the carnival. Purchase wrist band coupons at City Hall, RMU Customer Service, Colonial Flowers, Ray’s New & Used and Quinn’s Jewelry.
The Lions Club will be up bright and early Saturday morning to serve their annual pancakes in the park beginning at 7:30AM. While you’re eating you may hear the rumble of car engines a block away as the Hub City Cruisers line up classic cars and motorcycles downtown. The tractor show, craft and business booths and Kids Zone begin at 10AM. Amusement Rides and the Food Court run from 11AM-11PM. There will be entertainment throughout the day including a K-9 Demonstration on the Main Stage and Kids Zone at the Library from 10AM-4PM with a caricature artist, face painting, games and more; and raising of the flag at the car show at Noon. The Main Stage will be rockin’ all evening with “Shuvlhed”, “Burn N Bush” and headline band “The Vodka Boys” from 8-10. Enjoy a cold beverage in the Beer Garden hosted by Abraham’s Bar and Grille, located on North Main Street, between the hours of 2-11PM. Raffle prizes are awarded throughout the day – pick up your tickets in advance from a Committee member or at City Hall or during the Festival at the Gazebo.
Head downtown Sunday at 11AM for the newest Festival event – the Rock County Garden Tractor Pullers. The event will take place in the 400 block of Lincoln Highway until 3PM when the parade begins.
Sunday festivities also include pancakes in the park, carnival rides, food court, business and craft booths, an ice cream social, the LHHF parade at 3PM, Rochelle’s Got Talent at 4:15PM and “Southern Charm” from 7-9PM. The Festival ends with the announcement of the $500 Cash Prize Raffle Winner.
Pastor Greg Hoffman from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church will be conducting a service on the main stage on Sunday, August 18 the Praise Team will play music at 9AM; message at 9:30AM; and more music from 10 – 10:30AM.
The LHHF Parade will begin at 3PM led by the RTHS Marching Band and featuring five bands of varying musical types such as rock’n’roll oldies, country, country rock, 1980’s tributes and of course the favorite Old Tymers Band. The Jolly Giant Stilt walkers, The Wacky Wheelers, Tebala Air Squadron and the Vince Carney Community Theater will also add their talents to the parade.
Other events and places to see in the area include the Rochelle Railroad Park, The Tourism Filling Station, The Fire Station Museum, Flagg Township Historical Museum, Robert’s Armory and the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library.
The Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival, emphasizing family, entertainment and community pride, is a celebration of the past and the present of Rochelle’s history of tourism, transportation and technology.
For a full list of activities logon to www.lincolnhighwayheritagefestival.com