Feb 9  Postville Courthouse Abe Lincoln’s Birthday Celebration.  Postville Courthouse will once again be celebrating Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday in style, and the public is invited to attend!  Guy Fraker, Bloomington attorney and Abraham Lincoln historian, will be on hand to give two afternoon presentations on Abraham Lincoln and his law practice.  Postville volunteers will be conducting tours and will be serving birthday cake and punch.  Period music will be playing throughout the event and the Arts and Craft Guild will have their children’s event from 10 AM to 12 PM in the historic courtroom.  Contest winners will also be announced.  An Abraham Lincoln interpreter will be on hand to greet you.  The hours for the event are 10 AM to 4 PM.  This event is free to the public, but donations will be accepted.  For more information, call 217-732-8930 or 217-737-0979.  More information available soon!

Feb 10  Cast Iron Tombstone Trial Reenactment.  Mount Pulaski Courthouse 1854 Trial (time to be determined):  A full-dress historically true re-enactment of the 1854 trial in which Abraham Lincoln was the attorney for the defendant in a case over patent rights for cast iron tombstones in central Illinois.  The case went on appeal to the Illinois State Supreme Court, which handed down its decision in 1862 during the height of the Civil War.  A real jury is selected from the audience - the jury makes its decision, the court is adjourned and then the actual decision is revealed.  This re-enactment is full of narration and courtroom action which reveals how this particular trial probably that took place in 1854.  Research has been done at the Springfield Lincoln Presidential Library and elsewhere.  Due to lack of a court transcription, the re-enactment of this Cast Iron Tombstone Trial – while a true historical and documented case - has been edited for entertainment value.  For more information, please visit:  http://www.mtpulaskiil.com/

Apr 25  Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County Annual Dinner.  Come and see what the tourism bureau has been doing for you!  This annual event features dinner and entertainment at the Maple Club, as well as presentations by the Executive Director and an awards ceremony for the annual “Friend of Tourism Award.”  More details will be coming soon.  For more information, please call 217-732-8687.

Jun 13 & 14  Logan County Route 66 Garage Sale: 37 Miles of Smiles!  Are you looking for a great time on Route 66, but love to go garage saleing?  Well look no further, because we have the Garage Sale for you!  The Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County is pleased to present the Second Annual Logan County Route 66 Garage Sale.  Thirty-Seven miles of Route 66 in Logan County, covered in sales and vendors, flea markets and food.  It all happens on June 13 & 14 from 8 AM – 6 PM.  For visitor and vendor information, check out www.route66garagesale.com or contact 217-732-8687.  

June 27 – 29  Happy Birthday San Jose, Illinois; 150 years! Come celebrate the birth of our town with three days of celebration. On Friday, June 27th there will be a fish fry dinner and for your enjoyment there will be music in the air with live bands, for all to enjoy. Additional activities will be announced. On Saturday, June 28th there will be loads of fun with lost of activities including: a truck pull contest with the fire fighters, an antique tractor show, tractor games, wheat threshing, corn shelling, a water fight with the fire fighters, kiddy games for the children, 3 on 3 basketball tournament, and softball games. Craft vendors will be on hand to sell their wares and food vendors will be available for you to enjoy pork chops, brats, hot dogs and beverages. Saturday night there will be live bands to fill the air with the sound of music. Sunday, June 29th there will be a nondenominational church service in Memorial Park with music. Afternoon activities will include a parade as well as an antique tractor plow with horse drawn teams. There will be plenty of vendors to satisfy your palate as well as your thirst. Watch your local newspapers for additional information and times or call 309-247-3332 between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

July 3 - 5  Heritage Days.  Once again, the city of Lincoln will be opening its doors to celebrate our Independence!  Shops downtown will be holding sidewalk sales, there will also be dancing and music.  The annual fireworks show will begin at dusk on July 4.  For more information, please call 217-735-2815.

Jul 29 – Aug 3  Logan County Fair.  Come and relax and enjoy the Best of Logan County!  Daily activities include 4-H shows, a queen pageant, live entertainment, and a carnival full of food, games, & displays.  For more information, call 217-732-3311.

Aug 22 – 24  Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival.  Come out to the Airport in Logan County to experience the beauty and wonder of Hot Air Balloons in flight.  Downtown, see all of the art vendors and pick up some beautiful pieces.  Activities include several balloon launches, evening balloon glows, musical entertainment, food, an art and craft show, the Art of Wine, and much more.  For more information, please call 217-735-2385.

Aug 24  1800’s Craft Fair.  Postville Courthouse will once again be hosting their 1800’s Craft Fair on the final day of the Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival.  The Public is invited to come and see 19^th century crafters from surrounding areas demonstrating their skills.  Local crafters are also included.  Music and other entertainment will be provided.  Call 217-732-8930 or 217-737-0979 for more information.   

Sep 11 – 13  Atlanta Fall Festival.  Enjoy music, carnival rides & games, a petting zoo, a car show, art & craft vendors, great food, and a pie & cake baking contest/auction.  Call 217-648-2351 for more information.

Sep 11 – 13  Mt. Pulaski Fall Festival.  Fun family event with a carnival, games, music, shopping and more!  For more information, please visit http://www.mtpulaskiil.com/

Sep 12 – 14  Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Contest and Crafts Festival.  38^th Annual festival will be a fun and educational event for all ages – rail splitting, corn shucking, tomahawk throwing, pioneer village, antique car and tractors, historical displays, Lincoln presentations, quilt show, crafters, flea market, kids games, food vendors and much more.  Check out www.railsplitting.com or call 217-732-8687 for more information.   

Sep 21  Fall Farm Day 2008.  Our first Fall Farm Day was such a success, we’ve added this new event to our annual list.  This year’s Fall Farm Day will be held on September 21, 2008.  More details will be coming soon, so keep an eye on our calendar!  For more information, please call 217-732-8687.

Oct 11  2^nd Annual Fall Car Show at the Mill.  Come over to the Mill from 11 AM – 3 PM to enjoy a car show sponsored by the Railsplitter Antique Auto Club and the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County.  This fundraising event brought in a lot of visitors last year, so don’t miss out on your chance to help save the Mill!  More details will be coming soon!  For more information, please call 217-732-3519 or 217-732-8687.

Oct 25  25^th Anniversary Harvest of Talents for World Hunger.  Lincoln Christian Church, 204 N. McLean St., Lincoln, IL.  Open to the Public, No Admission Fee, Handicap Accessible, Plenty of Free Parking.  Doors open at 7 a.m.  Outdoor Snacks, Music, Spacious Indoor Dining for Breakfast and Lunch.  Lots of Handcrafted Items and Foods for sale.  Unique Handmade Items on Live Auction at 2 p.m.  ALL proceeds go to hunger relief around the world.  Total Amount Raised-to-date in 2008 will be announced at Celebration Services on Sunday Morning.  For more information, contact harvest@lincolnil.us, (217) 732-7618, or http://www.ides.org/hungerprograms.php

Nov (TBA)  Christmas Memories Quilt Show.  The Christmas Memories Quilt Show at Postville Courthouse State Historic Site will be back again this year.  Featuring lovely period quilts of all designs and holiday themes.  Hours are 12 PM to 4 PM.  This show is co-sponsored by Postville Courthouse and Sew Many Friends.  Come and enjoy the beautiful quilts and vote for your favorite.  Tour the historic site at 914 Fifth Street in Lincoln.  Free and open to the public.  For more information, please call 217-735-4977 or 217-732-4527.  

Nov 29  Pride of the Prairie Folk Art & Craft Show.  The Lincoln Park District is proud to present the Pride of the Prairie Folk Art & Craft Show of 2008.  Featuring area artists and crafters bringing together a collection of their finest.  A great place for holiday shopping!  Call 217-732-8770 for more information.

Dec 6  1840’s Christmas Open House.  Come out to Postville Courthouse State Historic Site to enjoy the holidays 1840’s style.  The building will be decorated in 1840’s style, with period music, an Abraham Lincoln interpreter, pumpkin cake, tours, and even an historic speaker!  Call 217-735-4977 or 217-737-0979 for more information.