5 Weekend Activities In Starved Rock Country

It’s a big weekend in Starved Rock Country! From carnivals to car shows, check out these 5 great activities taking place 6/18-6/20:

1. Spring Valley Summer Fest returns this Saturday, June 19th, to Kirby Park! This day long festival will feature firefighter water fights (1 to 3 p.m.), a concert by The Steve Sharp Band (7 to 11 p.m), a beer garden (open at noon), food vendors and free admission to city’s swimming pool. There also will be a petting zoo, train rides for children and a bounce house, all capped off with a fireworks show at dusk.

2. Have some fun at the carnival. Oglesby Summer Fun Fest runs June 17-20 at the Oglesby pool grounds. The four-day festival includes a carnival, craft and food vendors, kid-friendly activities, live entertainment and closes with a fireworks display Sunday.

3) Honor those who gave all. You don’t have to ride a motorcycle to honor the fallen soldiers or their Gold Star families at the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles at roughly 11 a.m. Saturday, during the Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run. The names of those who died in Middle East Conflicts will be read aloud during the ceremony. Following the ceremony, Freedom Fest will kick off at about 12:30 p.m. with live entertainment on Main Street.

4) Catch an outdoor performance. “Back in the Act,” a Community Players of Streator children’s theater production, will be staged 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 18 and 19, at Plumb Pavilion in Streator City Park. Admission will be free. The show will feature three original skits as well as music ranging from source material such as “Les Miserables,” “Newsies” and “Dear Evan Hansen.”

5) Go where the action is Friday night. The La Salle County Cruisers are hosting the 23rd annual Ottawa Cruise Night at 6 p.m. Friday, June 18, in downtown Ottawa — the same time there will be a carnival in the lower lots near the north side of the Veterans Memorial Bridge presented by the Lions Club and Third Friday featuring art vendors, music, food and live events.