Dick Tracy Days in Woodstock, Il

The yellow fedoras and raincoats were out in force this past weekend as the 18th annual Dick Tracy Days celebration took place, culminating in Sunday's parade through the town and the historic square dating back to the 1850s.

This was done to honor Chester Gould (1900-1985), who moved to Woodstock about the same time he got a job with the Chicago Tribune in 1931 and created the famous comic strip which still runs today. Chester Gould was born in Oklahoma, went to college at what is now Oklahoma State and graduated from Northwestern.

Today, the city honors him with a Dick Tracy Museum in the old courthouse located right on the square.

Woodstock is a city steeped in history, with the old city hall now serving as the Opera House with plays and performers. This Friday, I will be seeing a favorite group, Asleep at the Wheel there. Other events scheduled for the square this summer are the Folk Festival July 15, the Woodstock Mozart Festival July 28-August 12, Woodstock on the Square Car Show August 18th, Art Walk August 25, Old-Fashioned Harvestfest Fiddler's Contest & Fair September 26th.

Movie fans will note that Woodstock was the setting for the movie "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray. If you go to the square, you will see a lot of the sites from the movie. You can even pick up a pamphlet of sites and walking tour or download it. Every Groundhog Day, Woodstock Willie (Woodstock's answer to Punxsutawney Phil) prognosticates and there is a free showing of the movie at the theater where Bill did his Clint Eastwood impersonation.

Love That Woodstock. --RoadDog