Free bicentennial program kicks off Lincoln Heritage Days, July 2-4

[June 30, 2009]  Heritage Days will kick off on Thursday with a celebration of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial. The opening event will be at the Lincoln College Johnston Center at 6:30 p.m., with Max and Donna Daniels, renowned Lincoln interpreters. Their presentation will consist of the Gettysburg Address as well as the feature presentation -- Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln just before they leave for Ford's Theatre. Refreshments will be provided. This event is free.

On Friday, get ready to dance in the streets on the downtown Lincoln square. "The Amazing Elvis Guy" will perform on the courthouse lawn from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by Vintage Daze performing from 8 to 11 p.m.  Food concessions will open at 11 a.m. and beverage concessions at 4 p.m.

Lincoln sisters Lori and Erin Eskra will do a mini performance as well at Chad's Blind on Friday at 8:30 p.m.

There will be a packed schedule Saturday, July 4. The fifth annual flea market and community garage sale at Scully Park is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. At 10 a.m., there will be an old-fashioned walking parade with the theme "Let Freedom Ring." A water balloon fight with the Lincoln Fire Department will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Lincoln Park District grounds.

The afternoon will get started with a Railsplitter Antique Auto Club cruise-in on Kickapoo Street from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well as a veterans tent on the courthouse lawn. The Lincoln Park District pool will have "Splashapalooza" kicking off at noon. The Oasis will have an ice cream social with entertainment at their center from 1 to 3 p.m., and free watermelon will be served on the courthouse lawn.

The day's activities will finish up at the Lincoln Park District with vintage baseball at 6 p.m. and a fireworks extravaganza kicking off at dusk.

The Heritage Days committee thanks all the sponsors who have helped make this celebration possible over the last several years.

Bicentennial activities will continue with the Lincoln christening scene re-enactment on Aug. 27 at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. School classes are welcome to this event, which is sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County.

Special bicentennial components of the National Railsplitting Festival in Lincoln will be announced soon.

[Text from file received from Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County]