Along the Lincoln Highway, April 2020: Rochelle's Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival Canceled Because of You-Know-What and a Pot Palace in DeKalb

APRIL 28

The 2020 festival in Rochelle, Illinois, was canceled.  Safety, as you know.  This would have been the 23rd festival and is the first time in its history that it has been canceled.

But, dates have been set for 2021:  August 20, 21 and 22.  Always sad that these dates always conflict with nearby DeKalb's Corn Fest.

We've been to it several times.  Lots of fun and entertainment.

See Ya Next Year.

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And, in unrelated Lincoln Highway News, in nearby DeKalb, Illinois, home of Northern Illinois University.

DeKalb has approved a second  pot shop, though it will be awhile before you can buy product.  It will be at the Junction  Shopping Center at 818 W. Lincoln Highway.   Hmmmn.  A pot shop at a college.  Now, who'd have figured.

Of course when we went there, we always had the rumors of marijuana growing wild along railroad tracks.  In the last several years, thanks to my World War II blog, I have found that there was some truth to those rumors. There was a thriving hemp industry in DeKalb County during the war.

--Old RoadHead

Events Along the Illinois Lincoln Highway in 2016-- Part 3: Corn Fest in DeKalb

AUGUST 19-21:  Annual Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival in Rochelle.  Car show Saturday.

AUGUST 23:  Tuesday evening: Karl "Red Bird" Teller,, Annual Hobo Dinner, hobo stew, storytelling and songs, Chaplin Creek, Franklin Grove.  This annual event is turning into one of the top hobo events in the country.

AUGUST 28:  Geneva Concours d'Elegance, Geneva.

AUGUST 26-28:  Corn Fest, DeKalb, with Car Fest.  They block off Lincoln Highway through the miiddle of town.

Hit the Road, Jack.  --RoadDog

Talking About Creston's 51st Annual Booster Days

I came across a column by Fred Cederholm in Axcess News where he talked about his hometown of Creston, it's upcoming festival, and other community parties along the stretch of the Lincoln Highway between Dekalb and Rochelle in Illinois.

He said that Booster Days marks the end of the community celebrations along his stretch of the Lincoln, now Illinois Highway 38. Malta, home of Illinois' first seedling mile kicks it off first, then Rochelle has its Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival (this year the 10th annual) to honor the Hub City's role in the nation's transportation. At the same time, DeKalb has its Corn Fest (this year the 30th annual) to welcome the NIU students back and salute its agricultural heritage. If you see those DeKalb signs along the roadside, that is from DeKalb Agri Research Corp., now a part of Monsanto. (I proudly have a DeKalb corn sign in my garage, but, I BOUGHT it and didn't purloin it as do many NIU students.)

We went to both of these celebrations the weekend of August 24-26th. I just wish DeKalb and Rochelle would work out an agreement not to continue having both celebrations on the same weekend. They're only about 15 miles apart.

Cederholm says that Creston's claim to fame is being the highest point along the Union Pacific Railroad, formerly the Chicago & Northwestern. I would imagine that refers to Illinois only.

Creston always has its celebration the third weekend in September.

This year's kicks off with a steak cookout Friday. Then there is a pancake breakfast on Saturday, entertainment, carnival, and auction.

Already Busy, but Sounds like a Great Time if You're Out That Way. --RoadDog