Schedule of events for REAGAN TRAIL DAYS August 10 - 15.

Tuesday August 10 - Evening in the President's Shadow - Wine Tasting

The wine tasting will be from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Reagan Memorial Park, 816 S. Hennepin Ave, next to the Reagan Boyhood Home.

Wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages and finger foods available.  Must be 21 and older to attend.  Tickets after Aug 2 and at the event $25.

Wednesday, August 11 - Ice Cream Social on the Riverfront

Ice cream provided by Culver's from 6 - 8 p.m. with music by TBA.

Thursday, August 12 - Community Picnic at Lowell Park

Pork Chop cookout provided by Oliver's Corner Market and Memory Walk Volunteers from 5 - 7 p.m.

Free pontoon boat rides and Archery demonstrations -- Big Horn Archery from 5 p.m. until dusk.

Mid-Way Drive-in Theatre Movie

Showing of the Reagan movie The Killers, including a 50s news reel.  Entrance fee of 50 cents.  Show begins at dusk.

Friday, August 13 - Ronald Reagan Gala at Timber Creek Golf Club

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with coctails and music by the Ronald Reagan Centennial Jazz Quartet.  Dinner follow at 7 p.m. with presentations beginning at 8 p.m., music and dancing continue at 9 p.m.

Saturday, August 14 - Downtown Festival

Downtown sidewalk sales, food, games, music and much more.  Reagan sites are open throughut the day. 

Pancake Breakfast - First Christian Church  7 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Trolley Rides(start at the riverfront) 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Jelly Belly contests/Games/Music on the Riverfront 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Duck Races on the Rock River - 10 a.m.

Fireman's Water Fights on the Riverfront 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Horse Parade from memorial Pool Park - 3 p.m. Arrives downtown at 4 p.m.

Coverfest at Town Square Center - 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.  for information on tickets call 815-288-2308

Second Saturday Art Happenings throughout dpwntown Dixon 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Sunday, August 15

Annual Ronald Reagan Heritage Bike Ride

The ride will start and end at Reagan's hometown of Dixon at Page Park,  Moer information is available at www.rrvbc.net or call 815-288-1079.

V J DAY CELEBRATION 

On the riverfront from Noon - 10 p.m.

Music, Food, Veterans Ceremonies

The Cabela KingKat Catfish Tournament will be held on June 11th and 12th.  The tournament is made possible by the financial support of Dixon Tourism and Kodiak Outdoor Sports.

The Rock River is going to come alive with boaters and onlookers  the second week end in June when Dixon hosts their second annual Cabela's King Kat Tournament.  After a great nights sleep, Saturday morning begins with everyone ready to hit the Rock River by 6 am to compete for the biggest and best catfish. By midafternoon tournament participants will leave the Rock River to bring in their live catch for a weigh in and hopefully, a prize.  After the close of the tournament, the evening fun begins.

Applications are available at the Dixon Welcome Center and Kodiak Sports , sponsors for the event and at merchants throughout Dixon.

Schedule of events:

June 11, 2010 - Friday arrive and settle in -  Call the Dixon Welcome Center for dining choices at 815-284-3496.  Kodiak Sports will have sign-ups available and host seminars.

Contact Dave Rodebaugh at 815-284-3075 for details or visit www.kingkatusa.com or www.discoverdixon.com for applications.

June 12, 2010 - Cabela's KingKat tournament with entertainment following in the Bean Blossom Parking lot. on River Road downtown Dixon from 6 pm sponsored by Dixon Tourism.  Admission is $5 per person.  The Dixon Lions Club will be holding their 50/50 drawing to benefit local projects.  Drinks and food will be available for purchase. Entertainment will be provided by "Rocksters" band beginning at 8:30 pm.

 Kids events will take place at Page Park.  Visit our website www.discoverdixon.com for further information on events scheduled this weekend.

Other details will be announced as they become available.

For more information visit www.kingkatusa.com, www.catfishacademy.com, or www.discoverdixon.com

The Dixon Tourism Board and the City of Dixon is planning a re-dedication for the Monument and re-enactment of the speech given July 17th, 1856, by Abraham Lincoln. He was in Dixon giving  a campaign speech in support of Fremont for President. The speech was given in the 200 block of South Ottawa Avenue on the east side of the Old Courthouse Lawn, which is the location of the monument. There will be an Ice Cream Social (details to be announced later). Everyone is also invited to visit the Abe Lincoln Statue and the Old Settlers Log Cabin.  There will also be a commemorative card given out for this event.

The re-dedication and re-enactment will take place on the same spot, on Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. For more information please contact www.discoverdixon.com or call 815-284-3496 or the Mayors  Office at 815-288-1485.

The state along the old Lincoln Highway that has the best signage, Illinois, now has another gazebo interpretive center, this one in Dixon. It is one of 16 planned or already built along the state's stretch.

These gazebos are designed for tourism. Visitors can read about the Lincoln Highway and obtain information.

A Federal Highway Administration grant covers 80% of each one, while the city picks up the remaining part.

The new Dixon Lincoln Highway Gazebo is located at the corner of Galena Avenue and River Street.

Here is the Schedule of Events for this year's 14th Scarecrow Festival by Dixon Main Street.

This year's event includes pumpkin painting, hayrack rides, flower pot painting, pie-in-the-face booth, chalk the walk art contest, motorcycle show, sidewalk sales, food vendors, doggy zoo at Haymarket Square, crafts, kid's games and much, much more.  CLICK on "Read More" below for entire schedule.

DIXON – Ever wonder how a petunia tastes? Sweet, and “really good,” according to soon-to-be sellers of an exclusive petunia-infused wine.

The wine, a sweet blush laced with petunias, was made specially for the Dixon Tourism Board by Illinois River Winery in Utica.  The Welcome Center is the only place in town the wine will be available, Tourism President, Colleen Brechon said. Illinois River Winery also has agreed it won't make the same wine for anyone else.

To buy a bottle
Petunia Wine, described as a sweet blush, is available only through the Welcome Center, 106 W. River St.  Call 815-284-3496 or stop by.  The wine sells for $15 a bottle.

WORLD FAMOUS BUDWEISER CLYDESDALES TO APPEAR LOCALLY

Dixon, IL - The world famous Budweiser Clydesdales, the symbol of quality and tradition for Anheuser-Busch since 1933, are scheduled to make several appearances in the area. 

On Thursday September 10^th at 5:00 – 6:30 pm, a single Clydesdale horse will appear at Darius-Miller Park in Princeton and at the Depot Museum in Amboy for a photo opportunity with the public.  The public is encouraged to bring their cameras to have a picture taken up close with a Clydesdale. 

WHO:
World-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, representatives of Anheuser-Busch for more than 75 years.

WHAT:
LRB Distributors Inc. is sponsoring a visit from the Budweiser Clydesdales, one of the world’s most recognizable symbols. The “gentle giants” have been ambassadors of Anheuser-Busch since 1933. The public is invited to stop by to view and take photos with the Clydesdales.

WHEN & WHERE:

Single Clydesdale Photo Op:  Thursday, September 10th 5-6:30 pm

• Princeton, IL: Darius-Miller Park
• Amboy, IL:  Depot Museum

Hitching and Parade: Friday, September 11th 5:00 hitching / 6:00 parade

• Downtown Dixon, IL

Hitching and Parade:  Saturday, September 12th noon hitching / 1:30 parade

• Princeton, IL Homestead Festival Parade

FEATURE IDEAS:

• Talk with the Clydesdale handlers about what it takes to prepare these majestic beauties for more than 300 appearances made annually.
• Show how the horses are bathed, brushed and braided in a visual behind-the-scenes grooming piece.
• Illustrate the fascinating history of the Budweiser Dalmatian – the official mascot of the Clydesdales since the 1950s.
• Explain what it takes to be part of the famous hitch. As a symbol of Budweiser quality, horses must meet strict requirements to be chosen as a Budweiser Clydesdale.

MEDIA INFORMATION:

• For more information contact Dave Cain, LRB Distributors Inc. 815-288-4463