| The Bicentennial event combines three successful
Springfield summer events, Taste of Downtown, Springfield
Jaycees Capitol City Celebration, and the Secretary of
State’s Ice Cream Social as the anchors for this
two-day festival encompassing several blocks of downtown.
Partners, including the Lincoln Home National Historic
Site, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, the Illinois
State Museum, Lincoln Land Community College, the Old
State Capitol and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
and Museum have joined forces with these three events
to combine traditional Springfield 21st century celebrations
with authentic period entertainment and activities representative
of a Lincoln-era festival.
The Bicentennial Celebration opens Friday, July 3rd
at 5:00 p.m. with a procession from Lincoln Home National
Historic Site to the Old State Capitol lead by Abraham
and Mary Lincoln in a horse-drawn carriage and serenaded
by Lincoln’s Own 10th Illinois Volunteer Regiment
Band at the Old State Capitol. Friday evening continues
with the Springfield Jaycees offering a great line up
of eclectic entertainment throughout the evening on
the Liberty Stage, at 5th & Capitol. Kicking things
off at 7:00 is local band “ReFuse Life”, with
Rod Stewart tribute band "The Young Turks"
taking the stage at 8:00, and then alternating hourly
for the evening’s duration with area hard rock
favorite “X-Krush”. The capstone for the evening
will be a patriotic laser show at the Old State Capitol.
Activities on Saturday, July 4th open at 11:00 a.m.
with period performances throughout the day throughout
downtown. Other activities include Recycled Records
Wii Rock Band Contest at 4th and Capitol, musical entertainment
(see information below) - WIBI Patriotic Kids Choir
and Secretary of State Bicycle Safety Course at 2nd
and Capitol. Enjoy free ice cream from 6:30 p.m. to
8:30 p.m. at the Secretary of State's Ice Cream Social
on the new State Capital lawn and enjoy food refreshments
from our many vendors.
At 6:45, the Liberty Stage at 5th & Capitol starts
rockin’ with longtime Springfield mainstays the
“Groove Daddies”, and then tropical-rockin’
Jimmy Buffett tribute band "The Boat Drunks"
sail in at 8:30 p.m. to keep the party going ‘til
midnight.
At 9:30 p.m., enjoy the fireworks on Capitol Street
simulcast on ABE 93.9. Additional times and locations
of musical entertainment listed below.
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