The National Road Festival in Illinois is held on Father’s Day weekend and offers food, music, unique activities and family fun on a tank of gas. In 2009, thirteen communities participated in the event: Marshall, Martinsville, Casey, Greenup, Altamont, St. Elmo, Brownstown, Vandalia, Greenville, Pocahontas, Highland, Troy, Collinsville plus Cahokia Mounds. Visitors enjoyed bluegrass music in Vandalia, a circus-themed party in Casey, a classic car show in Greenville, city-wide yard sales in several towns. Traditionally the Illinois High School Rodeo Competition has been held the same weekend as the National Road Festival.
New in 2009 was the National Trail River to River Run, a motorcycle poker run sponsored by the Farm Bureau chapters along the National Road. Around 70 bikers participated in the event that ended in Marshall with a party and antique motorcycle show. The event is slated again for 2010.
2010 National Road Festival Schedule
Martinsville, downtown
June 19
Masonic breakfast (6-10am), Farmers’ Market (8am-1pm), DJ (11am-1pm), community wide yard sales
Contact: Belinda Roddy (217) 382-4170
Casey, downtown
June 18
Food (5pm), live music by Motherlode (7pm)
June 19
Pancake & sausage breakfast (6am), Circus parade (10am), artisan street fair, children’s activities and games, petting zoo, historical & garden tours, Coles County Barbershop Singers (7pm), vintage aircraft fly-ins and rides at Casey Airport (10:30am-4pm)
Contact: Kim Groothuis (217) 932-9229
Altamont, Effingham County Fairgrounds
June 17-19
IHSRA State Finals
June 19
Food served at the “triangle,” yard sales, specials at all antique malls
June 19-20
Tours of the Dr. Charles Wright House (built 1889) from 1-4pm, corner of Main & Jackson, (618) 483-6397
Contact: Terry White (618) 267-9082 or click here.
St. Elmo, Main Street
June 18
Movie on Main Street.
June 19
City-wide garage sale (7 am), Flea Market (Phillips Building), Local Bands (5 pm), St. Elmo Public LIbrary Book Sale and Museum, Food Booths, Art Show, Games, Contests, Swimming Pool (Free), and Knitting, Crocheting and Spinning Show.
Vandalia, Grand Levee, Statehouse Historic Site
June 18
BBQ dinner, George Portz and Fiddlers’ Frolic, guided tours of Statehouse
June 19
Period arts & crafts, “Taste of Vandalia” food booths, live entertainment, St. Louis Zoo program (1:00pm), Ed Taylor & Thunder Road Band (4-8pm), BBQ dinner and cook-off
Contact: Mary Cole (618) 283-1161
Greenville, downtown square
June 19 9:30am-4pm
Car show, food, music, street vendors, Rock Band contest. No registration fee for car show. T-shirts & dash plaques to first 100.
Contact: Liz Kious (618) 664-9196
Pocahontas
June 19
Community yard sales
Contact: Karen Heilig (618) 669-2295
Highland, downtown
June 18
Peanut Butter & Jam Festival with live music and kids activities (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) Municipal Band concert (8 p.m.)
Contact: Highland Chamber of Commerce (618) 654-3721
Troy
June 19
City-wide garage sales, Boy Scout BBQ and rummage sale at Tri-Township Park, flea market/bake sale at historic Mersinger Log Cabin (610 E. Center St.), tours of U.S. Senator Paul Simon Museum (10-noon)
Contact: Mae Grapperhaus (618) 667-6662
Cahokia Mounds
June 18
Guided tours (10:30am and 2:30pm) and view archaeological excavations (8am-3pm)
June 19
Guided tours (10:30am and 2:30pm), Mounds Trail Interpretive Bike Ride from Cahokia Mounds to the former mound sites in St. Louis (9am-noon)
June 20
Guided tours (10:30am and 2:30pm)
Contact: William Iseminger, Cahokia Mounds (618) 346-5161; Trailnet, bike ride www.trailnet.com
Click here for PDF of Brochure
