10th annual Lincoln’s Festival on Route 66 brings history to life

With over 5,000 expected in attendance, the three-day Lincoln’s Festival on Route 66 is gearing up for its biggest festival ever. (Facebook/Lincoln’s Festival In Bloomington)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – With history on the roadways, Abraham Lincoln fans can now cruise into history with the 10th annual Lincoln’s Festival on Route 66.

The three-day fair will feature two outdoor concerts, a car show, Illinois Shakespeare and nearly five stops to celebrate observance of the Illinois Bicentennial in 2018 from July 20-22.

“If you are a fan of history or a fan of Abraham Lincoln history, Route 66 and you can see a bit of Shakespeare at 10 a.m. at Franklin Park on Saturday,” added Lincoln’s Festival on Route 66 Director Barb Adams. “There is a presentation of double-double by Nancy Steele Brokaw that combines Lincoln and Shakespeare. So there is all kinds of new exciting things going on. [The Lincoln’s Festival on Route 66] has anything to do with transportation and we have people talking about trains and bicycles, so you name it and it’s here [at the festival].”

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival is expanding its role in the festival this year, announcing a symposium exploring the fascination that Lincoln had with William Shakespeare’s writings which will tie into the history past and present of Route 66.

“This is the 10th year for the festival and we [festival coordinators] have added new things each year. Beginning last year we were known as Lincoln’s Festival on Route 66. We have pulled in Route 66 type items, we had a car show last year and we will have a car show this year at Franklin Park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday. The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts will have concerts [which feature The Neverly Brothers on Friday evening and MOJO and the Bayou Gypsies on Saturday evening]. Those two items [the concerts] are the only items that are ticketed for the weekend everything else is free.”

With three days of scheduled programming for children and adults a free tram will be offered to take fairgoers from stop-to-stop.

“We are privileged to have the Route 66 connection with Route 66 going through Bloomington-Normal. [We are also privileged] to have the Illinois Shakespeare Festival here and to have that,” said Adams. “Lincoln spent a lot of time in Bloomington, his friends helped him get to the Presidency and this area has a lot to be proud of and a lot to show people.”

For more information on scheduled events call (309) 824-8862, or visit www.lincolnsfestival.net.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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