Minonk Sesquicentennial
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To the left is the image that will be on Minonk Koozies that are being sold as a commemorative item for the upcoming sesquicentennial. Click here to order.
Minonk, Illinois is 150 years old and is having a Sesquicentennial Celebration June 10-13 with many, many events, new and old. We look forward to enjoying the history of Minonk in the many windows and businesses around town and to visiting with friends new and old. This is a chance where we can all celebrate the fact that our town has been here for 150 years and to enjoy all the many changes that have occurred throughout the years.

The celebration will start off Thursday, June 10th with a Euchre Tournament at the Immanuel Lutheran Church and a brand new carnival, CDAC Amusements, opening that night as well. Our committee was extremely fortunate to contract with CDAC Amusements for this year's celebration. CDAC Amusements is from Peoria, Illinois and prior to coming to our celebration some of the venues they will be at are State Farm Park and Hudson, Illinois. We look for them to roll into town Sunday the 6th of June to start setting up. We urge everyone to visit www.cdacamusements.com to see this carnival and all its attractions. Advance tickets will be available at many of the local businesses and from the Sesquicentennial committee members as well.

On Friday, June 11 the celebration really starts to get underway with the Antique Tractor Display at Sauder and Rippel and later on that day with the Bible School Program at Sutton's Park. After the Bible School program check out the Pet Parade, it's sure to be a really fun event. This will be an event where anyone can show off their favorite pet. The entry classes are: largest dog; smallest dog; look a likes; best dressed (period costumes); and best costume. In the beer tent that evening "Johnny Cosmos" will be performing with the Sesquicentennial drawdown event starting at 6:30 p.m.

On Saturday, June 12 the celebration continues with a Craft Show/Flea Market that will be sure to have something just for you. Fieldcrest students will be performing Music Man Jr. at 10:30 a.m. in the Fieldcrest High School gym with 2 additional performances at 6:30 p.m. that evening and again on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. The Millennia Park Grand Opening Ceremony is slated for later that morning. Bocci Ball will start at 1 p.m. at the beer tent and later on in the day we will see the many antique and classic cars coming to town for the Cruise In. This is a popular event in our celebration and we expect between 100-150 vehicles to participate. While walking around the cruise in be sure to check out the beards and moustaches that you see. The Beard/Moustache Growing Contest Winners will be awarded that evening. The band this evening is "Shotgun Charlie" in the beer tent.

Several kids events are also scheduled during the day as well, including pony rides; a kiddie tractor pull; riding the kid's train; kids games - including a 3 legged race, sack race, tug-a-war, bicycle races, shoe races, wheel-barrel obstacle course; water balloon games; and a watermelon eating contest.

Sunday, June 13th is the final day of the Sesquicentennial Celebration with an Ice Cream Social and the Jim Markum Swing Band scheduled for the afternoon at West Side Park. Following the swing band performance will be the dedication of the West Side Park Pavilion and a Combined Church Service. That evening everyone is invited to the burial of the Time Capsule in Memorial Park - downtown.

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Minonk Sesquicentennial Celebration and 4th of July

Schedule of Events 2004

 

THURSDAY, June 10

Carnival – CDAC Amusements (Sutton’s Park)........................................................................................     5:00 p.m.

Euchre Tournament (Immanuel Lutheran Church) (Sign up 5:30 p.m.)...................................................     6:00 p.m.

 

FRIDAY, June 11

Minonk History Exhibits  (Maps Available at Pop’s & www.minonktalk.com – for times and locations)

Antique Tractor Display (Sauder & Rippel) (Kettle Corn available)......................................................   12:00 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Tour of Minonk Township Cemetery............................................................................................................   4:00 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Carnival – CDAC Amusements (Sutton’s Park)........................................................................................     5:00 p.m.

Bible School Program (Sutton’s Park – bring lawn chairs).......................................................................     6:00 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Beer Tent Opens  (City Hall Parking Lot) (Drawdown 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.).........................................     6:00 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Pet Parade (Sutton’s Park) (Largest Dog, Smallest Dog; Look A Likes; Best Dressed; Best Costume).......     7:30 p.m.

Band in Beer Tent - “Johnny Cosmos” (City Hall Parking Lot)...............................................................     9:00 p.m. – 1 a.m.

 

SATURDAY, June 12

Minonk History Exhibits  (Maps Available at Pop’s & www.minonktalk.com – for times and locations)

Claire Street 4 (Mixed Quartet)......................................................................................................................     during the day

Antique Tractor Display (Sauder & Rippel) (Kettle Corn available)......................................................     9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Craft Show/Flea Market  (Sutton’s Park)....................................................................................................     9:00 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Tour of Minonk Township Cemetery............................................................................................................   9:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Music Man Jr. presented by The Fieldcrest Drama Dept. (FHS Gym) (summer fund raiser)..............   10:30 a.m.

Millennia Park Grand Opening Ceremony  (Millennia Park – North Chestnut Street).........................   11:00 a.m.

Carnival – CDAC Amusements (Sutton’s Park)........................................................................................   12:00 p.m.

Beer Tent Opens  (City Hall Parking Lot)....................................................................................................   12:00 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Bocci Ball (Tent - City Hall Parking Lot) (Sign up 12, start 1 p.m.)..........................................................     1:00 p.m.

Pony Rides  (Sutton’s Park)..........................................................................................................................     1:00 p.m.

Kiddie Tractor Pull  (OSF Parking Lot)........................................................................................................     1:00 p.m.

Kid’s Train  (OSF Parking Lot).....................................................................................................................     1:00 p.m.

Kids Games  (Millennia Park)........................................................................................................................     2:00 p.m.

   3 Legged Race, Sack Race, Tug-A-War, Bicycle Race, Shoe Race

    Wheel-barrel Obstacle Course, Water Balloon Games

Watermelon Eating Contest  (Millennia Park), ages 1-5, 6-10, 11 and up!.............................................   4:00 p.m.

Cruise In (Hot Wheel Racing)(DJ – Rick Halberg)(Sutton’s Park) (Rain Date Sunday, June 13).......    4:00 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Illinois Air National Guard C130 Flyby......4:30 p.m. approx.

Music Man Jr. presented by The Fieldcrest Drama Dept. (FHS Gym) (summer fund raiser)..............    6:30 p.m.

Beard/Moustache Growing Contest Winners (Sutton’s Park)................................................................    6:30 p.m.

Band in BeerTent – “Shotgun Charlie” (City Hall Parking Lot)...............................................................    9:00 p.m. – 1 a.m.

 

SUNDAY, June 13

Minonk History Exhibits  (Maps Available at Pop’s & www.minonktalk.com – for times and locations)

Music Man Jr. presented by The Fieldcrest Drama Dept. (FHS Gym) (summer fund raiser)..............   12:30 p.m.

Claire Street 4 (Mixed Quartet)......................................................................................................................   during the p.m.

Ice Cream Social/Jim Markum Swing Band (West Side Park) (Bring Lawn Chairs)..............................  

     (Rain Location Fieldcrest H.S. Gym).......................................................................................................    2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Dedication of West Side Park Pavilion (West Side Park).........................................................................    5:30 p.m.

Combined Church Service (West Side Park) (Rain Location – Immanuel Lutheran Church)..............    6:00 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Burial of Time Capsule (Memorial Park – Downtown  - Chestnut Street)..............................................    7:30 p.m.

 

SATURDAY, July 3

Decorating for Kiddie Parade (426 Chestnut Street)................................................................................. 10:00 a.m.

Beer Tent Opens  (Veterans Park Pavilion).................................................................................................    7:00 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Band in Pavilion – “Sister Groove” (Veterans Park Pavilion)..................................................................   9:00 p.m. – 1 a.m.

 

SUNDAY, July 4

Kiddie Parade (starts at corner of 4th & Chestnut) (Judging 12:30)......................................................... 12:45 p.m.

Parade – Theme “Celebrating 150 Years – Minonk’s Sesquicentennial”..............................................   1:00 p.m.

Young Americans Self Defense Demonstration (Memorial Park – Downtown)...................................     after parade

Volunteer Appreciation Picnic (West Side Park)(anyone who has volunteered for anything is welcome)..after parade    

Cake Walk  (Sutton’s Park)...........................................................................................................................   6:00 p.m.

Main Stage - “Modern Cowboyz”  (Suttons Park) – Intermission – Parade Winners.........................   6:00 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Balloon Launch (Sutton's Park)......................................................... ..........................................................   6:30 p.m

Fireworks  (Sutton’s Park) (RAIN DATE for Fireworks – Saturday, July 10th.....................................   at dusk