September 2010

September 2

Farmers Market
Dale Ave. & Walnut Streets, Oglesby
3:00 pm

Locally-grown produce, bakery items, jams, jellies, and a variety of crafts available from more than 20 vendors. Shop while enjoying performances from local musicians. Sandwiches, etc. also available. For more information, call 815-883-9722 or visit www.oglesby.il.us.

September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Casual Dinner and Evening Cruise
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Board a Starved Rock Lodge Trolley and travel to the “Belle of the Rock” an authentic paddle wheel boat. For a leisurely cruise on the picturesque Illinois River. After the cruise the trolley will bring you back to the Lodge where you will enjoy a special dinner served with cheesecake. Please call 800-868-7625 ext.386 for reservations.

September 3

Lake Michigan Yachting Association Open House
Starved Rock Yacht Club
Dee Bennett Road, Ottawa
All Day Event

Approximately 55-65 boats will attend and visitors from across the Midwest are expected. Enjoy food, live music, and fun! Open to the public and admission is free.Free dockage and electrical service for boat captains attending the open house. For more information visit www.starvedrockyachtclub.org.

September 3 – 6

Mendota’s Tri County Fair
Tri-County Fairgrounds
1st Ave & 6th Street, Mendota

Exhibits, foods, entertainment. For more information on events, visit www.tricountyfair.net or call (815) 539-7974. Free Admission to the grounds.

September 3, 10, 17, 24

Canal Boat & Trolley Tours
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica

Join us for the newest history tour that Starved Rock Lodge has to offer. Start off with a delicious Hot Lunch Buffet in the rustic dining room at Starved Rock Lodge. Next, board one of our trolleys for a ride to our State Park’s Visitor Center. Your trolley will also take you on a relaxing ride to the New Canal Boat located in LaSalle. Step back in time with period dressed interpreters on this 1-hour mule-pulled canal boat ride. Finish the tour with a final stop at the Lock 16 Visitor Center.

September 3, 10, 17, 24

Mule Tender's Friday Lunch and Boat Ride Special
Lock 16 Visitor Center
754 First Street, LaSalle
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
(815) 223-1848

Enjoy lunch at the Lock 16 Center Café, a Mule Tending 101 class, and a hour long trip on the LaSalle Canal Boat for a special price every Friday. Lunch includes a lunch platter with ice cream for dessert. Reservations strong recommended. www.lasallecanalboat.org.

September 4 – 5

Roamer Cruise Night & Car Show
Downtown Streator

The largest cruise night in downstate Illinois, featuring 400 cars and 18,000 spectators in the downtown business district. On display is a 1917 Roamer, originally built in Streator. Cars will cruise Saturday evening. Car Show will be held on Sunday with Trophies awarded.

September 4, 11, 18, 25

Land and Water Cruise
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica
9:00 am and 11:00 am

Tour includes a historical trolley ride, hot lunch buffet at Starved Rock Lodge and a leisurely 1 hour river cruise on the “Belle of the Rock”, an authentic paddle wheel boat. For ticket information, call 800-868-7625, ext 386.

September 5, 12, 19, 26

Trolley Tours
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica

Board a trolley outside of the Great Hall area of the Lodge. Enjoy a historic trolley ride with stops at the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center where you will see a short video of the area. You will also travel to the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center where you will see Starved Rock from across the river and watch as the river traffic lock through the locks. You will also travel through the village of Utica and hear about the Illinois and Michigan Canal. While aboard, the driver will narrate the history and legends of the area. For tickets and information please call 815-220-7386.

September 6, 13, 20, 27

Land and Water Cruise
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica
11:00 am

Tour includes a historical trolley ride, hot lunch buffet at Starved Rock Lodge and a leisurely 1 hour river cruise on the “Belle of the Rock”, an authentic paddle wheel boat. For ticket information, call 800-868-7625, ext 386.

September 6, 13, 20, 27

Casual Dinner and Evening Cruise
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Board a Starved Rock Lodge Trolley and travel to the “Belle of the Rock” an authentic paddle wheel boat. For a leisurely cruise on the picturesque Illinois River. After the cruise the trolley will bring you back to the Lodge where you will enjoy a special dinner served with cheesecake. Please call 800-868-7625 ext.386 for reservations.

September 11

Jeepster Auto Show
W Lafayette Street, Ottawa
9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Hosted by the Midstate Jeepster Association this vintage car show will feature convertible "rag tops" built between 1948-195. Touted as "America's Last Production Touring Car" only a few thousand automobiles were produced during this time by Willy's Corporation.

Music at the Mansion
Hegeler Carus Mansion
1307 Seventh St., LaSalle
7:00 pm
(815) 224-5891
www.hegelercarus.org

Moonlight Serenade - An annual outdoor concert

September 11-24

2010 USPA National Skydiving Championships
Skydive Chicago
3215 E 1969 Road, Ottawa

One of the largest skydiving competitions in the country. Spectators can watch aerial athletes take the plunge at a number of competitions including canopy formations, freefall style and accuracy landings. Free and open to the public.

September 12

Paint the Rock Pink
Rte 178 & 71, Utica
Noon

Hike the Cure at noon. $10.00 donation request. Advance reservation suggested. Hikes to the top of Starved Rock leaving every hour from the Back Door Lounge. Call to reserve (815) 220-7386.

Preserving the Past, Conserving Your Money
Hegeler Carus Mansion
1307 Seventh St., LaSalle
4:00 pm
(815) 224-5891
www.hegelercarus.org

Presented by Anthony Rubano, Project Designer, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

September 12 – 18

Death of a Salesman
Engle Lane Theatre, Streator
815-672-3584
www.englelane.org

September 13

Starved Rock Overnight Excursion
Spirit of Peoria
100 NE Water St, Peoria
800-676-8988
spiritofpeoria.com

2 days/1 night. Embark on a journey north from Peoria to Starved Rock State Park, Utica, Illinois. This excursion features two days of cruising along with an overnight at the historic Starved Rock Lodge. Cruise includes meals and non-alcoholic drinks, transportation, entertainment, taxes and gratuities as well as one night lodging at Starved Rock Lodge.

September 16

The Legacy Girls
Fabulous 50’s and 60’s Review
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica
Noon - 2:30 pm

Take a trip back to the 50’s & 60’s and get ready to rock to the songs that shaped the decades! From the Supremes to the Chordettes, and the Beatles to Elvis Presley, The Legacy Girls will bring their own sassy style to all your favorites. Start with a delicious Homestyle Lunch Buffet in the Great Hall of the Starved Rock Lodge and then relax and enjoy the show. For tickets call 815-667-4211 ext. 386.

September 17

Half Saint Patrick's Day
Lock 16 Visitor Center
754 First Street, LaSalle
(815) 223-1851
www.lasallecanalboat.org

Celebrate Half Saint Patrick's Day at a Tea! Enjoy afternnon tea with sandwiches, scones with Devonshire cream and jam, sweets, and a variety hot and cold teas. Reservations required.

September 18 & 19

Vintage Illinois Wine Festival
Matthiessen State Park
11:00 am - 6:00 pm Saturday
Noon - 5:00 pm Sunday

Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and enjoy Illinois wine, great food, music and the atmosphere of beautiful Matthiessen State Park. For information and tickets call 1-800-868-7625, ext 386.

September 20

September 25

24th Annual Scarecrow Festival
Downtown Ottawa
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Experience Ottawa’s Old Town District decorated with fabulous scarecrows! Out mix of shops, boutiques, and restaurants will be offering special events inside their facilities as well as buckboard rides, a petting zoo, live bands, and numerous family activities.

Art on the Prairie
Streator City Park
815-672-6215
www.streator.org

Seventh Annual Fine Arts Festival and Wine Tasting sponsored by the Streator Tourism committee. Includes juried art displays, demonstrations, music and food booth.

September 26

Valley Carvers Woodcarving Expo
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica
9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Come view magnificent wood carvings first hand, meet the carvers from all over the Midwest. Event open to public – no admission.

Archaeology Awareness Afternoon
Illinois Waterway Visitor Center
950 N 27th Road, Ottawa
(815) 667-4054
11:30 am - 4:30 pm

As a part of "Archaeology Awareness" month in Illinois, this event feature an afternoon of exploration into the past with posters, exhibits and displays. In addition to the Center's own materials, member of the Illinois Archaeological Society will share their knowledge, scrapbooks, experiences and piece of history from places and peoples of the past. No fee.

September 30

Lock 16 Fall Dinner & Lecture Series
Ron Solberg, Illinois Road Scholar, Author
Lock 16 Visitor Center
754 First Street, LaSalle
(815) 223-1851
www.lasallecanalboat.org

"The Whizbangs of Oohs and Ahs; Those Magnificent Traveling Salesmen of Illinois"
Join Ron Solberg as he recounts the amazing stories of the traveling salesmen of Illinois. Reservation required.

Ongoing September

September 10 – October 31

Norman? Is That You!
Follies Theatre
122 Mill Street, Utica
(815) 667-7008
www.folliestheatre.com

August 28 – October 24

Land of Oz Corn Maze
2662 E 1951 St, Ottawa
815-488-5000

Get lost in some corn! Open weekends in the fall. The corn maze will accommodate groups during the week. Night hikes are available by reservation only, with a minimum of 6 participants required. Event is weather permitting.

Every Sunday

Every Monday and Thursday

Casual Dinner and Evening Cruise
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Board a Starved Rock Lodge Trolley and travel to the “Belle of the Rock” an authentic paddle wheel boat. For a leisurely cruise of the picturesque Illinois River. A special dinner will be served at the Lodge upon your return. 800-868-7625, ext 386 for reservations.

Every Monday and Saturday

Every Friday

Canal Boat & Trolley Tours
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica

Join us for the newest history tour that Starved Rock Lodge has to offer. Start off with a delicious Hot Lunch Buffet in the rustic dining room at Starved Rock Lodge. Next, board one of our trolleys for a ride to our State Park’s Visitor Center. Your trolley will also take you on a relaxing ride to the New Canal Boat located in LaSalle. Step back in time with period dressed interpreters on this 1-hour mule-pulled canal boat ride. Finish the tour with a final stop at the Lock 16 Visitor Center.

Every Saturday

Old Town Farmers Market
Washington Park
Jackson & LaSalle, Ottawa
8 am - 12:30 pm

Purchase freshly grown goods at the Ottawa Old town Farmers Market. With a motto of we BAKE it, we GROW it, we SELL it FRESH, you're sure to find something fantastic.