Princeville’s festival back minus beer tent
By JEFF LAMPE
For The Weekly Post
PRINCEVILLE – While the beer tent is gone for another year, most activities that have made Heritage Days a popular event in Princeville are back this weekend after a one-year, pandemic-related hiatus.
Getting to this point was not always certain, though, according to Beth Duttlinger, president of the Princeville Civic Association, which organizes the festival.
“Some of this was like a wing and a prayer when we were doing the planning, because we weren’t sure how much would be open,” Duttlinger said. “So we’re very fortunate the state is open and we can do the carnival.”
The annual festival opens today at 5 p.m. with carnival rides and a food tent preceding a 6 p.m. concert by the Central Illinois Banjo Club at the Stevens Square Stage, to be followed at 7:30 p.m. by The Marriage Game.
Friday marks the official opening of the Art Show at Lillie M. Evans Library at 4:30 p.m., where Duttlinger expects up to 50 entries. Rides and the food tent start at 5, the Princeville High School football auction is at 5:30 on the stage and the talent show and vacation bible school performances start at 7. Among the talent show entries is skilled local pianist Daniel Herrmann.
Saturday starts with a Lions Club breakfast from 7-10 a.m. and the 5K run/walk at 8, with registration opening at 7 at Village Hall.
The parade is at 1 p.m. and will be led by grand marshalls Kerry and Ann Cordis.
Rides open after the parade along with children’s activities, including a balloon artist, temporary tattoos and rock painting in Stevens Square.
New this year are water fights on the lot on the corner of Santa Fe and Spring streets that normally houses the Akron-Princeville Fire Department beer tent. All ages can participate in the water fights.
Bingo is open from 3-5 p.m. at the food tent and Chris Delbridge’s band Hindsight performs from 6-8 p.m. on the stage.
Duttlinger said Sunday’s Worship in the Park was cancelled because no church wanted to coordinate the service.
“We need people to get involved in the Princeville Civic Association,” Duttlinger said. “We do some really great things for the community that support our businesses and associations, but we need help.”
To volunteer, attend a PCA meeting July 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the library or visit the website, princevillecivicassociation.blogspotcom.
