By Patrick Baron
BLOOMINGTON – If you’re a fan of local history, the McLean County Museum of History has an event coming up for you.
The Museum will be hosting Lincoln’s Festival on Route 66 during the weekend of July 14 through 16, with a plethora of activities planned. Museum Director Beth Whisman described some of the events that launch the Festival that Friday.
“We kick off that Friday night at the History Museum from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with ‘Encounters with Lincoln’s Bloomington’ and this is a historical acting troupe that will present stories of people who knew Lincoln in Bloomington,” Whisman explained. “It’s all about local history and it’s free.”
Festival activities include living history performances, a car show and cruise-ins for car enthusiasts, period crafts for children, Civil War skirmishes and cavalry encampment, as well as a traveling Abraham Lincoln. Museum spokesperson Barb Adams says Lincoln will be available for photos while moving around town during the festivities.
“The library will be having picture opportunities with Abraham Lincoln,” said Adams. “He’s going to be all around, he’ll be there on Saturday and Sunday. So if you don’t catch him in one place you can in another.”
In addition to the Museum and the public library, events will take place at the David Davis Mansion, Franklin Park, and Illinois Wesleyan’s Ames Library Lawn. More information on the Festival’s activities and schedule can be found at the “Lincoln’s Festival In Bloomington” Facebook page, as well as the Museum of History’s website.
Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].
