The 35th annual Hampshire Coon Creek Country Days festival, set for August 3 to 6, will be held on village-owned property along North State Street.
The Hampshire village board recently approved a license agreement with the Hampshire Coon Creek Country Days Committee, an Illinois not-for-profit entity, to hold the fest on the village’s vacant property for the next four years.
“We decided to move the event this year because of renovations to Bruce Ream Park,” said Carl Palmisano, fest committee president.
According to the fest’s website, this year’s event will include the same activities as in previous years such as Alpine Amusement carnival rides, fireworks by Mad Bomber, food vendors, beer garden, petting zoo, pony rides, the annual Earl C. Engel Award of Excellence, corn boil, and crafters.
The Engel Award recognizes the contributions of a community volunteer or employee on behalf of Hampshire Township. A 150 to 300-word narrative about the nominee should be submitted by Tuesday, July 4, to: Bonnie Engel, P.O. Box 740779, Orange City, FL 32774.
Bands lined up for the fest include: 4th Point, Friday Jackson, Young Guns, Hi Infidelity, Shindig, Gary Nelson Band, Stateline Band, Modern Day Romeos and Peaches Beach Party.
The annual parade will march through town starting at noon on Sunday.
Two other events on Sunday morning will be the Hampshire Lions Club pancake breakfast and the Hampshire Park District Coon Creek Classic 2k/10k beginning and ending at Hampshire Middle School, 560 South State Street.
The fest was originally held on State Street 35 years ago. It later moved to Ralph Seyller Memorial Park, 400 East Jefferson Avenue, and then to Bruce Ream Memorial Park, 368 Terwilliger Avenue.
Bruce Ream Park is owned by the Hampshire Township Park District.
According to Laura Schraw, park district executive director, the district received an Open Space Land Acquisition & Development Grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for a splash pad, playgrounds, sand volleyball court, basketball court, bank shot court, ball field landscaping, shared use path, new parking lot, fitness stations, exercise/sled hill, Pickleball court and general upgrading to improve Bruce Ream Park’s landscaping.
“We are moving as safely, quickly and cost effectively as possible,” said Jason Schlieben, the park district’s athletic and safety director. “Hopefully the majority of the work at the park will be done toward the end of fall.”
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
