WEEKEND: Things to Do
<p class="p1">STEELEVILLE 150TH
<p class="p1">The 150th Steeleville 4th of July Celebration occurs during four days, July 1-4, in various locations in Steeleville. The schedule is as follows.
<p class="p1">See more information inside this issue or visit Steeleville 4th of July Celebration on Facebook. Locations of events are in parentheses.
<p class="p1">Friday, July 1
<p class="p1">Start time: 6 p.m.
<p class="p1">Old Tyme Picture Display (American Legion)
<p class="p1">Gospel Night
<p class="p1">Castle Perilous (American Legion)
<p class="p1">Laser Tag, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
<p class="p1">Open bowling
<p class="p1">Saturday, July 2
<p class="p1">Start time: 4 p.m.
<p class="p1">Carnival, 4 p.m.
<p class="p1">Old Tyme Picture Display (American Legion)
<p class="p1">Firecracker Rumble
<p class="p1">Castle Perilous (American Legion)
<p class="p1">Americana Show, 4:15 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:45 p.m.
<p class="p1">Boy Scouts of America dunking tank
<p class="p1">Bean bag tournament
<p class="p1">Steeleville police car, fire truck, MedStar display
<p class="p1">Laser tag 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
<p class="p1">Open bowling
<p class="p1">Candy Walk - St. Mark's
<p class="p1">Band "Last Date," 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
<p class="p1">Sunday, July 3
<p class="p1">Start time: 4 p.m.
<p class="p1">Carnival, 4 p.m.
<p class="p1">Old Tyme Picture Display (American Legion)
<p class="p1">"God & Country," 10 a.m. (Steeleville City Park)
<p class="p1">Ladies Auxiliary Chicken Dinner, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
<p class="p1">Uncle Sam and Livy Bell - Patriotic Award
<p class="p1">Americana Show, 4:15 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:45 p.m.
<p class="p1">Rainbow Ranch Petting Zoo, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
<p class="p1">Hula Hoop Contest
<p class="p1">Charlie Engelhardt free senior dance, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (American Legion)
<p class="p1">Face Painting (Peace Lutheran)
<p class="p1">Covered wagon rides, afternoon
<p class="p1">Boy Scouts of America dunking tank
<p class="p1">Laser tag 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
<p class="p1">Candy Walk - St. Mark's
<p class="p1">Band "Breach of Peace," 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
<p class="p1">Monday, July 4
<p class="p1">Start time: 10 a.m.
<p class="p1">Carnival, 10:30 a.m./11 a.m.
<p class="p1">Firecracker 3K run, 9:30 a.m.
<p class="p1">Parade, 10 a.m., Steele family as grand marshall
<p class="p1">Ticket stand opens at 9 a.m.
<p class="p1">Old Tyme Picture Display (American Legion)
<p class="p1">Jaycees Art and Craft show, 9 a.m. (American Legion)
<p class="p1">Oriental Band
<p class="p1">Way Cool Balloons, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
<p class="p1">Rainbow Ranch Petting Zoo, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
<p class="p1">Buffy's cow plopping Bingo!
<p class="p1">Americana Show, after parade, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
<p class="p1">Boy Scouts of America dunking tank
<p class="p1">Napa NASCAR simulator
<p class="p1">Covered wagon rides, after the parade
<p class="p1">Laser tag 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
<p class="p1">Youth Kids Area - Soft Frisbees, Pool of Kernels, Bubble Wands
<p class="p1">DJ/Karaoke "Memory Lane," 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
<p class="p1">Fireworks, 10 p.m.
<p class="p1">GOD AND COUNTRY SERVICE
<p class="p1">Past and present servicemen and women will be honored in a God and Country Community Service on Sunday, July 3, at 11 a.m. at Steeleville City Park
<p class="p1">Participation from all churches is anticipated with special music. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.
<p class="p1">KASKASKIA CELEBRATION
<p class="p2">The 47th Annual Patriotic Ceremony will take place July 4 at 12:30 p.m. at the Kaskaskia Bell State Memorial.
<p class="p2">The Liberty Bell of the West remains at Kaskaskia, a testimony to the spirit that keeps the nation strong and free.
<p class="p2">More than 230 years ago, this 313-year-old Kaskaskia community welcomed George Rogers Clark and his men, bringing the Proclamation of Independence by the Colonies to the western edge of the British occupation in North America.
<p class="p2">Illinois' original capital city celebrates two important events on July 4: Independence Day and the day that Kaskaskia was captured from British forces during the American Revolution.
<p class="p2">Waterloo Mayor Thomas G. Smith, retired master sergeant with the Illinois State Police and a Veteran, will deliver the featured remarks, "Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail 1718-2016."
<p class="p2">The 275-year-old church bell, cast in 1741, hangs proudly in the Kaskaskia Bell Shrine State Historic Site.
<p class="p2">Music by the Chester Municipal Band, with vocalist Mitchell Colonel, and a rifle volley from historic interpreters Les Companie Franche de La Marine, de Fort de Chartres, will accompany the patriotic celebration.
<p class="p2">A plate lunch, sandwiches and other refreshments will be available. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, although some chairs will be provided.
<p class="p2">A tent is not available, but there is lots of shade.
<p class="p2">The Chester Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, the City of Chester, Scouts, the Kaskaskia Church Foundation and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency are sponsoring the Independence Day Celebration.
<p class="p2">Kaskaskia Bell State Memorial, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (www.illinoishistory.gov), is located on an island in the Mississippi River, about 60 miles southeast of St. Louis.
<p class="p2">The town was once physically connected to the state as a peninsula, but the Mississippi River changed course in 1881, flooding much of the village and cutting it off from the rest of Illinois.
<p class="p2">Today, Kaskaskia is reachable by land only from Missouri. Travelers go to St. Mary, Mo., take Highway 61 to the Old Channel Bridge, turn east and then follow Kaskaskia Bell Markers for 5 miles.