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July 30 – August 3

Riverfest Taste of Ottawa

Ottawa Riverfront

The city's annual summer festival hits full swing with Taste of Ottawa food booths, nightly entertainment and a spectacular carnival! The parade struts its stuff at 1:00 PM August 3 and fireworks end the festival with a blast at dusk that evening. Free admission; food booths and carnival tickets for sale. For additional information call 815.433.0161, ext. 31.

August 1 – 31

LaSalle Horse Pulled Canal Boat Ride

I&M Canal Boat Dock
Rt. 351 (Joliet Street) at the Canal, just south of downtown LaSalle
Daily at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM

Step back in time. Experience a horse pulled one hour trip along the historic Illinois & Michigan Canal. Our captain, crew and their pioneer passengers from 1848 will share their adventures as you ride along this route as it was 150 years ago. Minutes from Starved Rock. Adult: $12; Seniors (65+): $10. Special pricing for children, family, schools, charters and groups (20 or more). Call 815.588.1100 for sunset cruise information. For information you may email cca@canalcor.org.

August 1

BesPhoto Photoworkshop

Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center
Rt. 178 & Rt. 71, Utica

Interested in Photography? Do you want to learn more about how to operate your specific camera? We will cover camera operation, photographic theory, and composition while hiking the trails of Starved Rock. We will spend one-on-one time with you working with your specific camera. We welcome all types of cameras and photographers. Cost is $100. For more information visit www.BesPhoto.com or to sign up contact Mike Bessler at 630.667.5174 or email Mike@BesPhoto.com.

August 7 – 10

61st Annual Mendota Sweet Corn Festival

Downtown Mendota

Enjoy a carnival, food booths, crafter's market, flea market, FREE entertainment, Queen pageant, parade, and tons of free, hot, buttered sweet corn! Contact the Mendota Chamber office at 815.539.6507 or log on to www.sweetcornfestival.com for more information.

August 9

Spies Among Us

Ottawa Scouting Museum
1100 Canal St., Ottawa

Attend "spy" school, learn the ropes and be "deployed into the field for surveillance" – report back to headquarters to be "debriefed" – great program! Registration deadline is August 1 with a fee of $6. Call 815.431.9353 or visit www.ottawascoutingmuseum.org for more information.

August 10

Second Sunday Lecture Series

Hegeler Carus Mansion
1307 Seventh St., LaSalle
4:00 PM

A monthly lecture series on various topics. Donations gratefully accepted. Telephone 815.224.6543 or visit www.hegelercarus.org for information.

RC Flyers Annual Fly-In Breakfast

Streator
815.672.1689 for more information.

August 10 -16

Guys & Dolls Jr. - Children's Show

Community Players of Streator
Engle Lane Theater
1012 Columbus Rd, Streator
Call 815.672.4066 for more information.

August 16

Live Entertainment – Human Element

August Hill Winery Tasting Room
106 Mill St., Utica
5:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Enjoy a glass of wine while listening to some live jazz fusion by Human Element. Call 815.667.5211 or email info@augusthillwinery.com.

August 22

Music at the Mansion

Hegeler Carus Mansion
1307 Seventh St., LaSalle
5:45 – 6:30 PM

Monthly concert series featuring local musicians. Donations gratefully accepted. Telephone 815.224.6543 or visit www.hegelercarus.org for information.

August 22 – 24

Lincoln & Douglas Reunion Tour ‘08

Downtown Ottawa

Abe and Steve are together again, and Ottawa's got ‘em! Join us for a 3-day celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas senatorial debates. Meet Lincoln and Douglas (as portrayed by George Buss and Tim Connors) and sample the 1850's Ottawa-style, with a fashion show, costume ball, storytelling festival and other activities. Most events free; other admission may vary with activity. Call 815.434.2737 for more information.

August 24

"Hummingbird Workshop"

Starved Rock State Park Visitors Center
Rt. 178 & Rt. 71, Utica
11:00 AM

Join us to hear about the lives of hummingbirds. Hummingbird banding will be done on live birds. Call 815.667.5356 for information.

August 30 -31

Roamer Cruise Night and Roamer Car Show

Downtown Streator

The largest cruise night in downstate Illinois, featuring over 500 cars and 18,000 spectators in the downtown business district. On display is a 1917 Roamer originally built in Streator. Cars will cruise from 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM Saturday evening. Cruise pre-registration from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Bill Walsh Automotive, Rt 23 North, Streator. Food, music, prizes, family fun! The car show will be held in the City Park at 12 noon on Sunday where cars will be judged with trophies awarded. For more information call 815.672.2055 or email streatortourism@gmail.com.