 A free bluegrass concert kicks off the festival on Friday at
6 p.m. in Scully Park. Come and listen to the traditional, and
not-so-traditional, music of Leftover Biscutz as they take the stage
from 6 to 8 p.m. Stick around for bluegrass and gospel music
performed by Long Creek from 8 to 10 p.m. Don't forget your blankets
and lawn chairs. Donations will be accepted.
The fun continues over the weekend with new events presented by
Bob Church, Guy Fraker and Mike Anderson.
Anderson is back this year to entertain you with songs and
stories. He is a superb communicator, has won many awards and has
performed from the Atlantic coast to Canada and to the Gulf. He has
honed his skills as a storyteller and is one of the best
yarn-spinners and worst pun-tellers anywhere. His performances will
be on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.
Bob Church will have his 129-slide PowerPoint presentation titled
"A. Lincoln With Compass and Chain," based on a book of the same
name. The book, by Adin Baber, is the only one written about
Lincoln's career as the deputy Sangamon County surveyor when he
lived in New Salem. Church is the executive director and lobbyist of
the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association, headquartered
in Rochester. He was born and raised in Springfield and has always
been interested in the life of Abraham Lincoln and the history of
land surveying. His presentation will be at 1 p.m. Sunday
For the first time ever, Guy Fraker, a noted Abraham Lincoln
historian, will be giving presentations at the Railsplitter
Festival. You might have seen him give talks at other events in
Logan County, and he has graciously agreed to give two talks here at
the festival. Fraker is a practicing attorney in Bloomington, a
board member of the Bloomington Jaycees, a founding director of the
Parklands Foundation, a member of the board of the Illinois chapter
of the Nature Conservancy and a past president of the McLean County
Bar Association. Fraker is also a lifelong student of Abraham
Lincoln and is recognized as an expert on the 8th Judicial Circuit.
He speaks frequently at Lincoln events and has authored many
articles on Lincoln. He is a member of the Advisory Committee for
the national Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. Fraker
received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of
Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. His presentations will be on Saturday
afternoon at 1 and 2:30. Each hour-long presentation will be
followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session.
Also back this year is the Civil War Ball. On Saturday night,
come out to the Lincoln College Student Center and experience the
music and dance of a time long past. With the help of very talented
demonstrators, you will learn how to dance the way they did in the
olden days of the Civil War era. Don't worry about how to dress,
just come right on out! If you don't know how to dance and you think
you cannot learn, we will prove you wrong. Anyone can learn these
simple steps, and before the night is over, everyone will be dancing
and having a lot of fun. The dance will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday and
will end at 10. Tickets are $5 per single, $7.50 per couple and $10
per family.
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 The "I Spy Lincoln" bike tour will also be taking place during
the Railsplitter Festival. The tour is presented to you by Boy
Scouts of America Troop 1102. This event lets riders of all skill
levels ride through various routes in Logan County, checking out
historic sites and looking for Lincoln. There are three routes to
choose from: 15, 30 or 62 miles. All routes take you through the
flat to rolling countryside of historic Logan County. You will have
the opportunity to ride where Abraham Lincoln once walked. You will
also be able to visit historic sites along the route. Rest stops are
available on the 30- and 62-mile routes, complete with snacks, fruit
and drinks. The routes will be well-marked, so bring the entire
family to this fun event. Registration is $20. All registered riders
will be entered into the drawing for a new bicycle. The starting
point of the bike tour will be the Logan County Fairgrounds, where
the Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Contest & Crafts Festival
will be in progress. Your registration fee includes your ticket to
see this exciting event. For more information, please contact
217-735-4339 or
ispylincoln@hotmail.com.
The Captain Bogardus Trap Shoot will take place again this year
at the Lincoln Sportsmen's Club. Bogardus is possibly one of the
best-known trapshooters in history. He traveled with the Buffalo
Bill Wild West Show as a sharpshooter, was named Champion Wingshot
of the World in 1876 and is even credited with inventing a trap
thrower designed to throw glass targets. Bogardus is buried in
Elkhart. Competition will be in three classes: muzzleloaders,
old-style shotgun and modern. There will be two different events.
One is a 10-bird "meat shoot," with prizes of steaks, chicken and
roast beef for first place, and bacon and sausage for second place.
The entry fee is $3.50. The other event is the 25-bird derby, with
trophy prizes. Registration begins at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, and the
competition will start at 12:30 p.m.
In the tradition of helping other organizations, the Rutledge
Youth Foundation will be on hand with a 2007 Harley Davidson
motorcycle to be raffled off. Tickets will be $10, or six for $50.
The foundation serves several counties, including Logan, and
provides outreach services to youths in need.
Don't miss the other events at the fairgrounds, including cooking
demonstrations by the Boy Scouts, a barn-raising and chain saw
carving. There will also be lots of great food, activities for kids,
craft vendors and historical displays.
The "track events," such as the National Railsplitting Contest,
the log rolling contest and more, will be on the grass in the
pioneer village area this year, so don't forget to bring your lawn
chairs and blankets.
For more information on these, or other, events at the Abraham
Lincoln National Railsplitting Contest & Crafts Festival, please
call 217-732-8687.
[Text from file received from
Abraham Lincoln Tourism
Bureau of Logan County] |
