Annual Lincoln re-christening
scheduled    

Abraham Lincoln joined by special guest Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn

[SEPT. 16, 2004]  While Founders Day falls on Aug. 27, the annual re-enactment of Lincoln's christening will take place next week. (This is a correction.)

The city proudly boasts of being christened by Abraham Lincoln himself. While there are many cities that carry the honorable name of Lincoln, the Lincoln in Illinois was the first city named for that great man, and it was years before he was to become president of the United States. 

The city's birthday happens to fall the same week as the Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival.  

This year's christening re-enactment will be in the usual place at the original site outside the Lincoln Depot at 4:55 p.m. Sept. 24.  

This year Lincoln will have an honored guest who will share in the festivity. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn will join Abraham Lincoln in the traditional squeezing and pouring of watermelon juice.  The public is invited as Lincoln and a cast of city forebears dressed in full period clothing once again cast their fair wishes for prosperity on the city we now call home.

The local Looking for Lincoln group is sponsoring the event. A reception will follow inside the Restaurant at the Depot.

Anyone interested in the activities of Looking for Lincoln or anyone who would like to get involved in the state-initiated tourism organization is invited to attend. "We will be highlighting some past projects and looking forward to new ones. ... And, as always, new volunteers are always welcomed," Cynthia McGill said.

The Lincoln chapter of Looking for Lincoln is currently sponsored under Main Street Lincoln. For more information, contact Main Street Lincoln Executive Director Cynthia McGill at [phone].

[LDN and news release]