Mark your calendars now for the Third Annual Momence Heritage Day Saturday, June 8, 2019. This is a family-fun educational day full of totally free events all day. Here’s a brief list of some of the activities planned. Visit the website often for news of more events and activities to chose from!
New this year will be free trolley rides to and from every area of the festival. Chicago Trolley will provide an authentic trolley moving from Island Park, to downtown and surrounding areas and back again all day. Hop on and off as many times as you wish because it’s also totally free!
The Civil War encampment returns at Island Park, but you also will be able to find French Canadian fur trappers, hunters, mountain men and even Voyageurs coming down the River. The Voyageurs are due to land at Island park from the River after the opening ceremonies.Street vendors will be available during the day, both historical and traditional, while live music plays from 12:30 lunchtime until 11:00 p.m. on East Washington Street. Local restaurants will be open to serve you all day,or you can stop by the Johnsonville Brat wagon for a quick bite!
Other highlights include Mrs. Lincoln at the Mt. Airy Little Red Schoolhouse, where local teachers will be honored all day. Teachers, make sure you stop by and receive a small token of our appreciation for your service to Momence students, and find your name among hundreds on our old blackboards recognizing your achievements. Conrad Park Pioneer Cabin will host the blacksmith and forge, along with yarn spinning demonstrations inside the Cabin. Graham House and Earl D. Schoeffner Farm Museum will tag team on a great exhibit “Life and Music of the Civil War!” Ron and Darlene will entertain us with tunes from days gone by, while the Graham House will have historical exhibits about the life and musical experiences of the Civil War era. Ms. Nina Nightingale will again be cutting silhouettes at the Edward Chipman Library from 12:30 to 4 p.m.
The Momence Train Depot, Jensens Drug Store, Main Street Momence, and many other museum and storefront locations will be open with exhibits, too. Get in the spirit and visit at least 5 of the locations, where your ticket will be stamped and you can enter a drawing for a prize basket drawing around 4:30 p.m. at City Hall.
City Hall will once again be transformed into “Heritage Hall.” Stop in and visit local historians and see exhibits on our town’s history. The City celebrates 185 years this year, so make sure City Hall is on your list to visit! Over 15 other buildings and organizations also will be celebrating significant milestones and anniversaries this year, and all will be honored during Heritage Day.
Also new this year is the Heritage Day Street Dance, kicking off at 7 p.m with the band Loretto Lane live in front of Off The Vine. Free to everyone, the band will be playing for all audiences and the dance is free, too!
Island Park will host our traditional Civil War encampment complete with horses, real cannons and a medical tent re-enacting the care given soldiers on the field during the war.The Park District also has plans to have a magic act and other exhibits as well. By the time we add the fur trappers, voyageurs and other exciting exhibits, you will want to make sure to take the kids over to Island Park for the full experience! Abe Lincoln plans to stroll around town same as last year, but this year, keep your eye out for even more historical characters roaming around town! Stay tuned for more information on everything happening by visiting www.Momenceheritageday.org
