Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival in Lincoln, September 21-22

 

[September 19, 2019] 

This year’s Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival will be held at five locations in Lincoln, all located on Historic Route 66. Sites will include Postville Courthouse State Historic Site, Postville Park, VFW Post 1756, Logan County Courthouse and The Mill Museum on 66. The event is a celebration of the pioneer days that influenced Abraham Lincoln’s early life, including his time as a lawyer on the Eighth Judicial Circuit. Opening ceremonies begin Saturday, September 21st at 9am at Postville Courthouse, 914 5th Street (Old Route 66).

Traditional Saturday festival activities include the Women's Firewood Split, Log Rolling Contest, Cross Cut Saw Competition, Team Railsplitting Contest, Jr. Railsplitting Contest and the Amateur Railsplitting Contest - all at Postville Courthouse.

Sunday Railsplitting festival activities include a Community Church Service, the Dean Tibbs Tomahawk Throw, the Ray Begolka Corn Shelling Contest, Water Boil Contest, the Re- Christening of the City Lincoln at 3pm and the National Railsplitting Contest at 3:15pm.

Live Bluegrass music will be featured all day Saturday and Sunday at Postville Park. Postville Park will also host the festival craft vendors and include events such as the apple peeling contest and S’mores in the Park from 4-6pm on Saturday and the worship service on Sunday morning (complete schedule available at www.railsplitting.com).

A special event during this year's festival weekend is the Abe Lincoln World Record Attempt. The public is invited by the Logan County Tourism Bureau to help break the World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Abe Lincoln at the Logan County Courthouse (601 Broadway Street) on September 21st. Registration for the event will take place across the street from the courthouse at the Lincoln Art Institute (112 S McLean Street) Registration is be from 8am-2pm with the event starting at 3pm! All participants to qualify in the attempt must have the following: stovepipe top hat, an ear to ear beard without a mustache, black suit with a long coat and white collared shirt, black waistcoat and black bow tie. Each person must be instantly recognizable as Abraham Lincoln.

The Railsplitter Antique Auto Club and Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County will be hosting their 13th Annual Car Cruise-In at The Mill on Saturday from 11am to 3pm, located at 738 S. Washington. The event is being held in conjunction with the Railsplitting Festival and the 90th Anniversary of The Mill (1929-2019). All vehicles welcome. The event is free to the public, but there is a $5 registration fee for cars at the cruise-in. There will be a 50/50 drawing, door prizes, live music and hot pizza for the event. Live music from Sundown will be from 11:30am- 2:30pm. This will be the second appearance at The Mill by this popular are rock band.

The roots of the Railsplitting Festival began in 1970 at Jerry's Drive-In on Woodlawn Road in Lincoln. Daris Knauer met with the co-chairman of tourism of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, LeRoy Buckheit. LeRoy was "flipping burgers" in his restaurant as they talked about an event, because there was a busload of people in the restaurant. Daris had an idea about holding an event that was related to Abraham Lincoln’s days in Logan County. LeRoy mentioned that they should name the event the "Railsplitter" because Abe Lincoln was known for splitting rails.

One of the most famous festival visitors was President Gerald Ford, who made a campaign stop in 1976, and split a rail while he was at the event. Next year, special plans are already underway for the landmark 50th anniversary of the festival.

The festival committee would like to thank all our sponsors over the years for keeping the tradition going for this amazing family-fun event. For complete details and information, visit the www.railsplitting.com or contact Logan County Tourism at 217-732-8687.

[Morgan Gleason, Logan County Tourism Bureau]