The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 36

D4 Pantagraph Thursday, June 29, 2006 www.pantagraph.com goicalendar SITES FOR SOUNDS ft Descendants' Reunion Reunion for descendants of original New Salem residents, with histo- ry programs; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 8-9, New Salem State Historic Site, Petersburg. Free. (217) 632-4000. ft Ford County Fair July fairgrounds at Melvin.

THIS WEEKEND (JUNE 29-JULY 2) ,1, yi. I I -IU 1.1 I .1 IP iV (M LoH i ill PantaqraphLORI ANN COOK Anna Adams Stark of Normal marches on stage with the flag during a rehearsal for the Pantagraph-sponsored Fourth of July program at the Miller Park bandstand. THIS WEEKEND (JUNE 29-JULY 2) Bloomington-Normal ft Franklin Park Thursday Night Concerts Community Concert Band concert (7 p.m.), preceded by ice cream social (6 p.m.); June 29; Franklin Park, Bloomington. Free. I Bands of America Summer Symposium ConcertEvent Series Bowfire, fiddle-violin ensemble, June 29, Braden DCI Summer Games, drum corps competition, 7 p.m.

June 30, ISU Hancock Stadium Concert, (309) 438-5444; DCI Sumer Games, (800)495-7469. ft IWU Chamber Music Festival Concerts Student concerts, 7:30 p.m. June 29, 3 p.m. July faculty-student concerts, 3 p.m. July faculty concerts, 7:30 p.m.

June 30; IWU Westbrook Auditorium. Free. Central Illinois I of I Summer Jazz Festival of I Concert Jazz Band, 7:30 p.m. June 29, Krannert Center, Ur-bana Woody Herman Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. June 30, Krannert Center trombonist Slide Hampton, 8:30 p.m.

July 1, Allerton Park Music Barn, Monticello ($25, includes hors d'oeu-vres). (217) 333-6280. ft Bement Country Opry Country music shows with Bement Country Opry Band and guest performers; 8 p.m. Fri. andor 7 p.m.

117 S. Macon Bement. Adults, under 12, (217) 877-6499. Guests: Band Nite, June 30. ft Metamora Concerts in the Park: Gus Gustafson Concert Band Pops band, 7:30 p.m.

June 30, downtown park bandstand, Metamora. Free. The Pleasant Hill Gospel Sing Regional gospel singers and groups, 7 p.m. June 30, Arlee Theater, Mason City. Free-will do-, nation.

(217)482-3137. ft Pontiac Municipal Band Summer Concerts Pops concerts with special guests; 7:30 p.m. June 30; downtown courthouse square, Pontiac (rain location: First United Methodist Church IT dlbrata a grand At a glance What: The Pantagraph's Celebrate America, co-sponsored by State Farm Insurance Cos. and Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department When: 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday Where: Miller Park Bandstand, Bloomington Cost: Free Added attraction: Monday night only, the concert will feature an ice cream social, with ice cream novelties and bottled water for sale Bloomington-Normal I Not In Our Town 10-Year Anniversary Events Events keyed to anti-racismdiscrimination group's anniversary; art show, June 29-July 15, Studio 222 E.

Market Bloomington; free children's programming, 6-8 p.m. June 29, and July 6, Children's Discovery Museum, Normal. (309) 433-3448. I Downtown Bloominqton Farmers' Market Produce and flower sales, cooking demos, fine art sales, live music, more; 6:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.

July downtown Bloomington square. Central Illinois I DeWitt County Museum Summer Quilt Show Displays in historic Victorian mansion; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. June 29-30; C.H. Moore Homestead, 17 E.

Woodlawn, Clinton. (217)935-6066. ft Streator Fourth of July Celebration Carnival, parades, contests, fireworks, more; June 29-July downtown Streator and various locations. ft Minier Farmer's Market 5-8 p.m. June 30, Veteran's Park, downtown Minier.

(309) 392-2338. -1 Lincoln Heritage Days Street Fest and Open Car Cruise-In Downtown street dance, 5 p.m.-midnight June 30; Taste of Lincoln food fair, Cruise-In, watermelon feed, street dance, all day July 1, downtown; walking Fourth of July parade, pool events fireworks at dusk, July 4, Lincoln Park District, Primm Road, Lincoln. (217) 732-8770. THIS WEEK (JULY 3-5) Bloomington-Normal I Fairview Aquatic Center and Anderson Aquatic Center July 4 Celebration Celebration swim and birthday party, 9-11 a.m. July pool games, contests and more; noon-5 p.m.

July Fairview Family Aquatic Center and Anderson Aquatic Center, Normal. (309) 454-9540. I Fourth of July Festivities -and Sky Concert Live music, Celebrate America concert, children's games, fireworks at dusk; 5 p.m.-dusk July Miller Park, Bloomington. Free. (309) 434-2260.

I Fourth of July Fireworks at Fairview Paik Fireworks synchronized to music, dusk July 4, Fairview Park, Normal. Free. (309)454-9540. ft Red, Whites, Blue Party Pool party with games, prizes, more; 1-8 p.m. July O'Neil Park Pool, Bloomington.

(309) 434-2260. Central Illinois ft The Fireworks Special Rides on vintage train to view fireworks display, 7:30 p.m. July 3, Monticello Wabash Depot, downtown Monticello. Adults, ages 2-12, under 2, free with adult. (877) 762-9011.

ft Glen Oak Park Fireworks Spectacular Concert, picnic and fireworks; 4-10 p.m. July Glen Oak Park Amphitheater, Peoria. Free. ft Bellflower Fourth of July Celebration Parade (10 a.m.), children's games, entertainment, ham and bean supper, fireworks at dusk, more; all day July downtown and other locations in Bell-flower. Hopedale Fourth of July Celebration Carnival, July 3-4; monster truck shows, tractor pulls, entertainment, food, flea market, fireworks, July Hope-dale Park, Hopedale.

ft Roanoke Independence Day Celebration Pork chop sandwich cookout, bake sale, fireworks, 5 p.m.-dusk July breakfast and bake sale, 7-11 a.m. July American Legion and park, Roanoke. ft Big Oldies Skyconcert Fireworks synchronized to music, family activities, food, more; 5 p.m.-dusk July downtown Peoria riverfront. Free. ft Capitol City Celebration Street festival with craft fair, street dance, ice cream social, sky concert and fireworks at dusk; p.m.

July Second and Monroe streets, downtown Springfield. Free. ft Champaign County Forest Preserve Freedom Fest Boat rides, concessions, evening entertainment, fireworks sky concert at dusk; July Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet. General, under 5, free. (217) ft Clinton Fourth of July Celebration Fireworks at dusk, July 4, Weldon Springs State Recreation Area, Clinton.

Free. I Downs Fourth of July Celebration Parade (noon), breakfast, kids' activities, food, games and contests, entertainment, fireworks at dusk; July downtown and Dooley Park, Downs. Free. ft Eureka Fourth of July Celebration Parade (10 a.m.), kids' fishing derby, food, entertain- Fellowship Hall). Free.

ft Kentuckiana Opry Weekly country music shows with special guests, 8 p.m. Kentuckiana Kampground, Hopedale. Adults, children, $1. (309) 449-6603. Scheduled guests: Kara Farmer Sutherland, July 1.

it.i r- i m. of July celebration's pre-fireworks evening entertainment on the park bandstand. "We thought about all different kinds of venues, but it just seemed like Miller Park is where it had to be," she says. "And they were looking for a special program of some kind." Eventually, a second performance, on July 3, was added, along with a one-night only ice cream social, featuring $1 ice cream novelties for sale. Though the Miller Park Bandstand stage won't be filled by all 300-odd HS cast members, the event's core group of singers will be on hand, promises Basolo.

A la her Holiday Spectacular narratives, writer Brokaw's script will provide a narrative framework for the patriotic musical interludes, which will offer the trademark mix of solo, duet, ensemble and full-cast performances (the latter totals 40, with a behind-the-stage crew of 12). Honoring America's veterans will be a major theme running through the performance, with everything from an armed forces salute by the entire cast to a presentation and retiring of colors by trumpeter Jeff Holbrook. Most assuredly, the 70 members of the Bloomington-based 33rd Military Police Battalion of the Illinois National Guard, who were deployed Monday for a year of active duty in Iraq, will be given their due before the evening is out. And, a la HS, a lot of Celebrate America is a family affair among crew and cast, with sons and daughters and husbands and wives and boyfriends and girlfriends, and various combinations thereof, collaborating. of my family is involved," notes Basolo.) It's too early to say whether this new event like Holiday Spectacular, an all-volunteer undertaking requiring enormous amounts of time and energy will become an annual Fourth of July fixture in the Twin Cities.

But one thing is certain, promises Basolo: "There are going to be some very special moments in this show that will leave people with tears in their eyes. And the vocals are just so amazing in one song after another. I really believe that these are some of the most talented people from one of the most talented communities in America." Holiday Spectacular folks bring music to Fourth of July By Dan Craft dcraftpantagraph.com BLOOMINGTON We ask you: Where else could you get two elected Yankee Doodle Dandys for the price of one? Or, for that matter, two Yankee Doodle Dandys of any kind? The two governmental Doodles are just a few of the flag-waving features on view in a brand new holiday extravaganza being brought to you by the creative brain-trust behind the Pantagraph's Holiday Spectacular. It's called Celebrate America. And it's about to explode in a shower of flags and music on the Miller Park Bandstand in Bloomington for two free performances, at 7 p.m.

Monday and Tuesday or, if you will, Fourth of July Eve and the Fourth of July itself. The dandy Doodles are cast members Bloomington Mayor Steve Stockton and State Representative Dan Brady, both of whom were, in fact, born on the Fourth of July (unlike "Yankee Doodle Dandy" author George M. Cohan, who was born on the third of July and rearranged the facts to suit his lyrics). Stockton and Brady will be both serving as the show's narrators, while Brady will duet with non-birthday boy Patrick Turner on a rendition of the Cohan standard. According to producer Marcia Basolo, producer of the annual Holiday Spectacular in December, there's more than just two governmental Yankee Doodle Dandys in the cast.

There's also (cue appropriate fanfare music): ft 20 men in white tuxedoes! ft 40 five-foot flags waving! I A giant 15-by-25-foot flag as a backdrop! ft 140 costumes! ft Tom Cruse and Tom Brokaw in the cast! (OK not THE Tom Cruise, who spells his name one letter differently, or THE Tom Brokaw, who doesn't spell his name differently but close enough) ft A real live Abercrombie Fitch underwear model dueting on "Don't Sit Under the Apple (Fully clothed mcLnn bounty uouiury Opry Country music show with Rick Roy Route 54 Band and Request Night; 7 p.m. July Bell-flower Community Building, Bell- flnwrnr. Aflnl r. (nrmpClH tt0. im der 6, free.

(309) 722-3290. I New Salem County Opry Weekly country music shows, 8 catalog cover-boy Chad Raile, who will sing with his girlfriend, Angie Basolo, daughter of Marcia) ft And no real live camels and llamas! (Those come in December, with the fifth edition of Holiday Spectacular, returning to Braden Auditorium with more animals than ever!) Seriously, though, Basolo thinks that folks who love Holiday Spectacular and there are thousands of them will feel right at home in front of the Miller Park Bandstand for the new Fourth of July event, sponsored by The Pantagraph, and co-sponsored by State Farm Insurance Cos. and the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department. With HS veterans like Basolo producing, Lori Adams directing, Nancy Brokaw scripting, Barb Mote musical directing and John Stark set-designing, the Spectacular vibe will be on full audio-visual display. On stage, several dozen singers from the HS will offer up everything from "Grand Ole Flag" to "Battle Hymn of the Republic" to "Give Me Your Tired, Give Me Your Poor." "This is an amazing group of vocalists," says Basolo.

"They enjoy singing together and so we thought, why just keep this group for Christmas when they could be doing other things for the community and singing throughout the year?" Basolo says the group began brainstorming for the show back in February, without a venue in mind. By March, they had sealed an agreement with Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department to take over the annual Miller Park Fourth jj.ih. iew ocuem Vjuumry Opry, 14305 111. 97, Petersburg. Adults, under 12, $3.

(309) 244-8894. Guests: Judy Bright, July 1. I Danvers Town Band Summer Concerts Free Sunday night pops concerts at 7 p.m., preceded by ice cream socials at 5 p.m.; July Danvers Municipal Park Bandstand, downtown Danvers. (309) 451-9214. ft Glenn Reader The Countrymen Country group, 2:30 p.m.

July 2, Arlee Theater, Masofl; City (217) 482-3137. State Elsewhere "IEz ft MIssIssIddI Vallev Blues Festival Outdoor blues festival with Delbert McClinton, Mavis Staples, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Guitar Shorty, Chris Thomas King and others; June 30-July LeClaire Park, Davenport, la. Three-day pass, $35; single-day, $15. (563)326-1111. TWKWFFK I IIMV3.i; Zeppelin and ACDC tribute bands, July Daryle Singletary and Pete Schelgel, country singers, July Meshelle, Christian comedian, July dEAf PEdeSTRIANS, rock group, July 13; Strutter, KISS tribute band, July 14; Buckcherry, rock group, July 15.

Bishop Hill Antique Market Antique dealers from five-state area, live folk music, food, more; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. July Old Colony School at Bishop Hill State Historic Site. $3. (309) 927-3037. ft Taste of Downtown Springfield Cuisine from 25 downtown restaurants, children's activities, entertainment, more; noon-midnight July Fifth Street, between Jeffferson and Adams.

Admission, $2. (217) 544-1723. cally grown produce, flowers, plants, meat, baked goods, art, crafts, more; 4-6 p.m. July by railroad tracks on southwest edge of Downs (309) 378-4223. NEXT WEEKEND (JULY 6-9) BEYOND Bloomington-Normal ft Twin City Cruisers Cruise Nights "Mopar Night," with displays, oldies music, door prizes, more; 9 p.m.

July K's Merchandise lot, Veterans Parkway and Clearwater Drive, Bloomington. Free. (309) 827-8281. ft Sugar Creek Arts Festival Juried fine arts and crafts fair, food vendors, live bands, children's activities, more; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 8, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

July downtown Normal. Free. (309) 454-9540. ft Votes for Women! Tea Tea Ladies event, with women's suffrage-themed tea; 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

July David Davis Mansion, 1000 E. Monroe Bloomington. $17, with reservations at (309) 827-2200. Central Illinois Heart of Illinois Fair Carnival rides, entertainment, agricultural displays, more; 4 p.m.-midnight, July 7 and 11-14, 10 a.m.-midnight July 9-10 and 15; Exposition Gardens, Northmoor Road, Peoria. Adults, ages 6-11, under 6, free.

(309) 691-6332. Entertainment tent schedule (7 p.m. and $5 each): ZOSO and Big Guns, Led I IIIW WVhl Bloomington-Normal ft ISU Concerts on the Quad: Special Consensus Bluegrass band, 7 p.m. July 3, east side of Cook Hall on the ISU Quad. Free.

I Celebrate America! Concert Patriotic concert featuring the cast of The Pantagraph's Holiday Spectacular, 7 p.m. July 4, Miller Park Bandstand, Bloomington. Free. ft Downtown Lunchtlme Concert Series: Double Trouble Variety, 11:30 a.m.-l p.m. July 5, downtown Bloomington Square.

Free. (309) 434-2260. MORE CALENDAR.jvJEXT PAGE ment, fireworks at dusk; all day July downtown and other Eureka locations. ft Freedom Fest 2006 Food vendors, family activities, live entertainment, Decatur Park Singers concert, fireworks at dusk; 8 a.m.-dusk July Nelson Park, Decatur. Free.

(217) 422-5911. ft LeRoy Fourth of July Celebration Fireworks and entertainment, dusk July 4, L.A. McK-ean Memorial Field, LeRoy. Free. I Paxton Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration Breakfast, flea market, children's parade, car and antique tractor shows, games, entertainment, food, fireworks at dusk; 7:30 a.m.-dusk July 4, Pells Park and Memorial Field, Paxton.

Free. ft Sibley Fourth of July Celebration Children's games, antique car and tractor show, parade (1 p.m.), food stands, games, evening entertainment, fireworks at dusk; 9 a.m.-dusk July downtown and Fred Meyer Lake Park, Sibley. Free. ft Downs Village Market Lo flu Cattish Sutl-Eone S1I iiWr" MAI CALL U5IIS Sw.mfiidCkcm $695 Washington Prospect Sts. Bloomington 663-4142 eed I po i and Knitting 102 South East Street, 4th Floor (309) 820-0174 Corner of Front and East Streets, Downtown Bloomington Email: stitchinggirl2000yahoo.com Serving LUNCH llam-2pm.