Dixon ready to jump and jive
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| Elijah Ankney, 7, weeds a bed of petunias along state Route 2 in Dixon Monday afternoon with mom, Vanessa. The Palmyra Hillbillies 4-H club members are taking turns taking care of the flowers at this spot. ( Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@svnmail.com) |
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DIXON – The Petunia City may be a small town, but it knows how to put on a big celebration.
Come Wednesday, it will do just that as it celebrates America’s independence with the 45th annual Petunia Festival.
This year’s theme is “Jump and Jive, We’re 45,” and the festival runs throughs Sunday.
»Related link — Petunia Festival Entertainment Schedule.
To save on production and shipping costs, festival organizers will sell a $5, 3-day pass instead of admission buttons.
“It’s actually more bang for the buck,” festival Board President Tom Schwamberger said. “We do our best to have something for everyone.”
»Related link — Petunia button replaced, admission $5.
He said he’s excited to see everything coming together.
“We meet every month of the year – we never stop planning – so when we can just step back and watch everyone have a good time, it makes it all worthwhile.”
There are opportunities to attend the festival without paying for the pass, he said. Admission will be free July 1, the first day of the festival, and will include the popular “Taste Trail” of local restaurants and free entertainment provided by a steel drum band.
The following night, July 2, will kick off one of the most anticipated events, the Country Concert. This year, the normally 1-night-only affair at Walgreen Field will run instead for 3 nights at Page Park.
Three stages will showcase Steve Holy, Whiskey Falls, Telluride, Tin Horse, Dayna Malow and last year’s big draw, Cat Fight. Concert admission is included in the $5 pass.
The familiar bingo tent will be open from July 2-4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the third annual beanbag tournament will take place July 4 at noon. The craft show begins at 9 a.m. that morning.
Nearly all events will take place this year at Page Park, Schwamberger said, with just the fireman’s water fight being held on Lincoln Statue Drive on July 3 at 6 p.m.
Fireworks, as usual, are the finale of the event. They’ll kick off July 5 at 9:30 p.m. Admission for the last day of the festival, which also includes the 1 p.m. parade, also is free.
